Corporate Security Specialist in Coventry

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work‑life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. As the link between sellers and buyers, retail and head office, our Retail Operations team is the cog that keeps things running. With teams focused on store‑facing activity, labour, transformation, online, delivery and contact centres, we touch almost every part of the business. It’s an incredibly fast‑paced environment, where you need to pivot not just daily, but often hourly. So while we plan as much as we can, it’s vital that we all think beyond our job descriptions and look for ways to optimise and improve everything we do. There’s also a real team ethos here. After all, it’s people like you who will truly transform this part of the business. This role can be based from any of our Store Support Centres in Manchester, Coventry or London.

What You Are Accountable For

• Developing and delivering security initiatives, training and awareness activity that strengthens security culture across the business.
• Identifying, designing and implementing proactive security solutions informed by industry benchmarking, crime forecasting and emerging risks.
• Creating and maintaining robust security operating procedures aligned to legislation, supported by clear guidance for managing incidents effectively.
• Establishing governance routines that support programme and project delivery, keeping key security initiatives moving at pace.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to influence and deliver business change.
• Completing dynamic threat and risk assessments across the estate, producing clear reports that highlight vulnerabilities and improvement opportunities.
• Supporting incident management routines, including the design and facilitation of scenario‑based desktop exercises to test readiness and resilience.
• Representing the business in external forums, working groups and events to gather insight, share best practice and influence industry thinking.

Essential What you need to know and show

• A comprehensive understanding of criminal investigations, processes and procedures, and the application of criminal law within a commercial environment.
• Strong knowledge of emergency services protocols and incident management procedures.
• Detailed understanding of current and upcoming legislation, and how to translate requirements into practical delivery through effective project management.
• Knowledge of the security industry, including crisis and incident management solutions.
• A solid understanding of threat and risk assessment principles, both within the UK and internationally.
• Experience of working collaboratively across multiple business functions and stakeholder groups.
• Proven ability to manage projects end to end, influencing others and maintaining momentum in complex environments.
• Strong communication, decision‑making and problem‑solving skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive better outcomes.

Desirable

• A well‑developed external network, particularly across UK policing, partner agencies and Home Office‑aligned activity.
• Experience within retail, logistics or large operational environments, with insight into colleague and customer safety risks.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whatever 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. Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and in‑store 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 10% 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. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before payday) as well as 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.