At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead demand planning and optimise product availability for a multi-billion-pound portfolio.
- Company: Join a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, private healthcare, and performance bonuses.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in supply chain management while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain or demand planning with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Supply Chain & Logistics
Closing date: 26 June 2026
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work/life balance. That’s waiting for you right here. Supply Chain and Logistics is the engine room that gets thousands of products from farms and factories, through the business and to millions of customers every day. We plan around everything from barbecue weekends to Sunday roasts, supporting those who want oven‑ready cauliflower cheese and those who prefer to make it from scratch. Insight and data are everything. But so is judgement — when there’s an issue or ambiguity anywhere, we’re often the first to spot it. There’s a big transformation underway. It calls for people who champion change, bring others with them, and collaborate and communicate. Because those people can go a very long way here.
About the team
Our Supply Chain function sits at the heart of delivering exceptional customer experiences across our stores and channels. The team is responsible for ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time, balancing availability, efficiency, and cost. Working closely with Commercial, Retail, and suppliers, the team plays a critical role in driving performance across a multi-billion‑pound portfolio while continually improving how we operate to meet evolving customer expectations.
More about the role
As a Category Demand Manager, you will take ownership of the end‑to‑end performance of a category, leading day‑to‑day operations to deliver high product availability, optimal stock levels, and efficient cost‑to‑serve outcomes. You will oversee demand planning activity, ensuring forecasts are accurate and aligned to trading plans, while managing performance across a significant sales portfolio.
You will also lead key programmes and seasonal events, such as peak trading periods and proposition changes, ensuring the supply chain is set up to deliver. Working cross‑functionally, you will build and execute medium‑term plans, influence senior stakeholders, and drive initiatives that improve network efficiency, working capital, and overall supply chain performance.
More about you
- You bring demonstrable experience of working within supply chain, demand planning, or a related operational environment, with the ability to analyse data and translate insights into clear actions.
- You are comfortable working with demand planning systems and using data interrogation techniques to identify and resolve performance issues.
- You have proven capability leading and developing teams, creating clear objectives and supporting individuals through coaching and feedback.
- You build effective working relationships across functions, communicate with clarity, and can influence decisions by presenting structured, evidence‑based recommendations.
- Proven experience managing demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain operations within a commercial or retail environment.
- Demonstrable ability to analyse complex datasets and apply root‑cause analysis to inform decision‑making.
- Experience using demand planning or supply chain systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, JDA, or similar) to optimise performance outputs.
- Proven track record of leading, coaching, and developing a team to achieve defined performance objectives.
- Evidence of influencing cross‑functional stakeholders to deliver measurable improvements in availability, cost, or efficiency.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
Category Demand Manager in London employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
As a Category Demand Manager at our London Store Support Centre, you'll be part of a dynamic team that is pivotal in shaping exceptional customer experiences. We pride ourselves on a supportive work culture that champions inclusivity and personal development, offering flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package including generous discounts, performance-related bonuses, and extensive wellbeing support. Join us to not only advance your career but also to make a meaningful impact in a transformative supply chain environment.
Contact Details:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Demand Manager in London
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Category Demand Manager.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Demand Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
