At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and innovation for Article Management and Regulatory Technology.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's Tech, a leader in multi-channel retail technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to making a difference.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail tech and impact millions of customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and enterprise-scale technology leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
- Description
- In a nutshell
At Sainsbury's Tech, we power the UK's leading multi-channel, multi-brand retailer.
Our product teams are made up of inspiring and multidisciplinary individuals who are empowered to solve complex problems for colleagues, customers and our business.
The Head of Product is a critical leadership role, responsible for creating, driving and championing the long-term vision for a strategic product domain.
Relentlessly focused on delivering business value, this role combines commercial understanding, product leadership and technology expertise to shape the future of retail technology at scale.
As Head of Product for Article (Product Data, Compliance & ERP), you will lead a portfolio of products that sit at the heart of how Sainsbury's creates, manages and governs product information across the enterprise.
Your domain will be responsible for two strategically important areas
Regulatory & Legislative Technology
Leading our capabilities to respond to evolving legislation and compliance requirements through technology solutions, including initiatives such as:
- Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
- Digital Product Passports (DPP)
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Emerging UK and international regulatory requirements
This is naturally required cross-functional working across many technology and business teams for end-to-end propositions.
Article Management
Owning the technology products that support the end-to-end lifecycle of product creation and maintenance across our business, including:
- Technology used for article (Food & General Merchandising) sourcing & creation. Master Data Management with a focus on data quality
- Integration of product data across the wider enterprise ecosystem
This area is at the centre of one of Sainsbury's most significant technology transformations- you will play a leading role in modernising product master data capabilities whilst delivering upgrades, migrations and integrations into our green-field SAP landscape and platforms.
This is a unique opportunity to shape foundational capabilities that impact thousands of colleagues, millions of customers and every product sold across Sainsbury's.
- What I need to do
- Product Leadership
- Define and communicate a compelling vision, strategy and roadmap for the Article Management & Regulatory Technology domain.
- Bring together multiple product strategies into a coherent and compelling long-term vision.
- Own prioritisation across the product family, balancing strategic transformation, regulatory obligations, technical sustainability and business value.
- Define measurable outcomes and product success metrics that demonstrate value delivery.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Commercial, Own Brand, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, Sustainability and Retail Operations.
- Represent the domain in senior governance forums and influence investment decisions.
- Oversee large-scale migrations and platform modernisation initiatives.
- People Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Product Managers and Senior Product Managers.
- Create a high-performing, high-trust culture focused on customer and business outcomes.
- Develop product capability and craft excellence within the team.
- Foster a culture of learning, experimentation and continuous improvement.
- How I will succeed
- Be the recognised product authority for Article Management and Regulatory Technology.
- Champion the strategic importance of high-quality product data as a core business asset.
- Successfully balance short-term legislative commitments with long-term transformation goals.
- Ensure the team maintains clear roadmaps, prioritised backlogs and transparent communication of progress and risks.
- Build highly collaborative relationships with Engineering, Architecture, Data, Commercial and Transformation teams.
- Drive alignment across dependent product areas and influence enterprise-wide decisions.
- Create an environment where teams are empowered to innovate while remaining laser-focused on business outcomes.
- Lead resolution and prioritisation of live product incidents and operational issues where required.
- What I need to know
- Strong understanding of product management principles and modern product operating models.
- Experience leading enterprise-scale technology products and product teams.
- Knowledge of master data management, product information management or enterprise data platforms.
- Understanding of retail, commercial operations and product lifecycle processes.
- Experience working with ERP platforms, preferably SAP.
- Understanding of Agile delivery methodologies and modern engineering practices.
- Experience working within large-scale transformation programmes.
- What I need to show
- Strategic Vision
- Ability to create, communicate and execute a compelling long-term product strategy.
- Ability to balance regulatory commitments, operational needs and transformation objectives.
- Commercial Acumen
- Strong understanding of business value, investment trade-offs and return on investment.
- Ability to prioritise effectively across competing demands and stakeholders.
- Customer & Colleague Focus
- Relentless focus on understanding and improving colleague experiences.
- Ability to simplify complex processes and remove operational friction.
- Data & Technology Leadership
- Ability to translate complex technology concepts into simple business outcomes.
- Curiosity and confidence to challenge, influence and guide technical decisions.
- Leadership
- Proven ability to build, lead and develop high-performing teams.
- Excellent influencing, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading through ambiguity and organisational change.
- Delivery Excellence
- Experience delivering complex programmes across multiple teams and domains.
- Ability to manage risk, dependencies and prioritisation at enterprise scale.
- Strong focus on outcomes over outputs.
- Resources available to me
- Team of Product Managers and Senior Product Managers
- £Multi-million capital investment portfolio
- Dedicated engineering, architecture and delivery partners
- Product community of practice
- Significant enterprise transformation programme support
- Learning and development opportunities across Sainsbury's Tech
We are committed to making Tech a place where people love to work where diverse and engaged team make a purposeful contribution.
Sainsbury’s is committed to being the most inclusive retailer, and flexible working including job sharing is welcomed wherever possible.
In Tech we welcome such conversations and are proud to champion a diverse and inclusive culture.
#LI-KF1
Responsibilities
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance.
That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s.
Think about the scale it takes to feed the nation.
The level of data, transactions and variety involved.
Then you’ll realise this is a modern software engineering environment, because it has to be.
We’ve made significant investment in the standards and principles that shape how we work.
We iterate, learn, experiment and champion ways of working such as Agile, Scrum and XP.
So you can look forward to exciting opportunities across everything from AI to reusable tech.
Head of Product - Article in London employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's in Torquay offers a vibrant work environment where teamwork and customer service are at the heart of everything we do. As a Night Shift Trading Assistant, you'll benefit from comprehensive training, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to make a real difference in our community by ensuring our store is well-stocked and welcoming. Join us for a rewarding experience in a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and encourages career advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product - Article in London
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Sainsbury's!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Sainsbury's would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Sainsbury's through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product - Article in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Head of Product - Article, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Head of Product - Article position at Sainsbury's. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
