At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic procurement for FM soft services and property, driving impactful projects.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a dynamic and innovative retail leader.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, private healthcare, and performance bonuses.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous learning and growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategic procurement and supplier relationship management.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
This role can be contractually based from any of our Store Support Centres in London, Coventry or Manchester, however the majority of your time will be spent visiting stores or suppliers across the UK (typically once a fortnight), with the rest of your time working remotely.
Joining Sainsbury's as a Senior Procurement Manager looking after FM soft services, Head Office FM, Estates & Property Professional Services, means becoming a valued leader within a dynamic and innovative organisation that is committed to driving exceptional results and delivering value to our customers. With a focus on strategic sourcing, complex negotiations, and relationship management, you will have the opportunity to showcase your expertise, influence business strategy at a senior level, and lead impactful projects that contribute to the overall success of our procurement function. At Sainsbury's, you will be part of a collaborative team that encourages continuous learning, growth, and development, where your leadership skills and commercial acumen will be instrumental in shaping the future of our procurement operations.
You’ll take end-to-end ownership of the commercial and sourcing strategy for your categories, along with 1 direct report, creating clear and compelling category plans that provide a fit-for-purpose, people-focussed supply chain. These are highly business-critical areas of spend, where supplier performance directly impacts our ability to maintain safe, compliant and well-run environments for colleagues and customers. You’ll lead large-scale, complex projects and senior supplier relationships, ensuring strong commercial rigour, accountability and risk management across categories where minimum health and safety standards must be upheld and human rights considerations, including working conditions, are an important part of responsible sourcing. You’ll also play a key role in ensuring we have the right suppliers on board — partners who align to Sainsbury’s values and help us deliver meaningful social value through our supply chain. With change constantly happening across these categories, you’ll need to manage reputational risk carefully and make sure the decisions we take deliver the right outcomes for the business, our colleagues, our customers and the people providing these services.
You’re a resilient & ambitious strategic procurement professional with a proven track record of operating at a senior level, demonstrating exceptional leadership behaviours and delivering change at scale. A self-starter and dynamic leader, you bring the confidence to set direction, take ownership and act as a change agent across complex categories and stakeholder groups. You are values-focused and aligned to Sainsbury’s values, with the empathy needed to lead human-provided services. Your ability to build strong relationships, communicate clearly, keep pace in a constantly changing environment and drive responsible business change, sets you apart as a trusted source of insight and solutions within the procurement function. Retail sector experience and previous line management experience would be advantageous.
Essential criteria:
- Demonstrable experience developing and delivering end-to-end category and sourcing strategies.
- Evidence of managing strategic supplier relationships, including commercial negotiations.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and contribute to business strategy, providing commercial insight, challenge and recommendations to support decision-making.
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you here at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not leading projects, we’re supporting teams across the wider group to achieve their goals. And here, you can see the impact of your work as soon as you walk into a store, giving you a real sense of purpose and responsibility. Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The scale and complexity of our business mean there’s always something new to learn, and we’ll support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen.
Qualifications:
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 www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Procurement Manager - Property PS & Soft FM in London
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Sainsbury's.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Procurement Manager - Property PS & Soft FM in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Sainsbury's:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Sainsbury's. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Sainsbury's.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Sainsbury's!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Sainsbury's. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Sainsbury's's culture.