Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cross-functional teams to drive cost reduction initiatives and deliver transformation outcomes.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leading UK retailer committed to innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of business transformation with real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing large-scale change projects and strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Other info: Ideal for those with a growth mindset and a passion for driving innovative solutions.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Working as a Transformation Manager within our cost reduction team you will be responsible for the delivery of key outcomes that contribute to the success of the strategy. You’ll be part of an agile team shaping and delivering our 3+ year Transformation agenda led by the Director of Business Transformation. Here you will work on our cost transformation portfolio where you will pull together & drive the right cross-functional team on programmes from ideation through to delivery working collaboratively with stakeholders across the business at all levels to accelerate change. You will drive end-to-end thinking, employing an outcome-centric & hypothesis-led approach to problem solving & innovation. Your programmes will be set-up & run brilliantly to deliver change at pace, creating high-performing end-to-end teams. You will galvanise others to get behind the change, and champion a Transformation mindset.
What I am accountable for
- Excellent thought leadership: Driving end-to-end thinking, employing an outcome-centric & hypothesis-led approach. Drive clarity and simplicity from positions of ambiguity by framing the right business questions and employing an outcome-centric & hypothesis-led approach. Be creative in bringing the right insights and people together to help solve our toughest business problems and make practical recommendations to the business. Demonstrate curiosity to stretch business thinking end-to-end, challenging the status quo & driving innovative solutions. Form clear & robust narratives & use storytelling to inspire change. Leverage the power of Sainsbury’s, using your network to liaise regularly with subject matter experts to maximise our collective knowledge and capability.
- Brilliant strategic programme management: Leading change at pace through excellent cross-functional working. Brilliantly drive complex programmes of work, including scoping, building cross-business support, engagement and investment, trialling, iterating, and embedding. Forward-thinking & proactive leadership, to shape the narrative as well as to manage/mitigate risks. Employ an agile mind-set to break down & accelerate delivery of complex programmes. Set up the right ways of working to galvanise change & support programme delivery at pace. Support engagement at critical governance meetings to underpin the programme delivery. Quickly build great relationships and high-performing working teams to land change at pace. Underpin the plan with strong business cases that set clear outcomes & deliverables to measure progress against. Champion a transformation mindset and collaborative ways of working that are truly cross-functional and connected. Challenge and work with the business to ensure projects deliver at pace; embed the discipline to build the right scope, team constructs & end-to-end ways of working.
What I need to know
Essential Criteria
- Extensive evidence of successful cross-functional working (across the breadth of the business) at scale (£20m+ benefits) and over a multi-year horizon.
- Successful experience of working on shaping and implementing major Change projects/programmes.
- Experience in partnering with Finance colleagues (preferably FP&A) to interrogate, challenge, and report back on how projects are tracking against committed cost reduction benefits.
- Strong examples of working with large teams of cross-functional stakeholders to deliver transformation.
- Strong examples of acting as a 'critical friend' to cross-functional stakeholders to ensure that risks and blockers to delivery are appropriately escalated, acted upon, and reported back to the business.
- Strong examples of distilling complex, end-to-end, long term activities into a clear and concise narrative for senior internal & external audiences (Divisional Directors, Operating Board, external market & investors).
What I need to show
- A growth mindset.
- Strength in driving end-to-end strategic thinking, being outcome-centric & hypothesis-led.
- Well organised with experience of working in change or programme management.
- Curiosity & drive to identify & chase potential opportunities / challenges.
- Role model positive, collaborative, and agile ways of working with all areas of the business.
- Facilitate an environment for delivery at pace and celebration of learn and fail quickly.
- Ability to innovate and implement, combining analytical perspectives with pragmatism.
- Ability to communicate effectively and influence at the highest level of the business, forming strong working relationships.
Transformation Manager - Cost Reduction Team employer: Sainsbury's
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Transformation Manager - Cost Reduction Team
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in transformation management and cost reduction strategies. This will not only help you understand the role better but also allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews, showcasing your knowledge and enthusiasm for the position.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of transformation and change management. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet people who work in similar roles. Building these connections can provide you with insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during the application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive change. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easier for interviewers to see your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of agile methodologies and how they can be applied to transformation projects. Be ready to discuss how you've used agile principles in your previous work to accelerate delivery and improve collaboration among teams, as this aligns closely with the expectations for the Transformation Manager role.
We think you need these skills to ace Transformation Manager - Cost Reduction Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Transformation Manager position. Identify key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these aspects.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to drive cross-functional working and manage complex programmes. Use specific examples that showcase your success in delivering change and achieving cost reduction.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that tells a story about your journey in transformation management. Emphasise your outcome-centric approach and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams through change, focusing on your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, illustrate your leadership style and how you foster collaboration and innovation within teams. Highlight instances where you've acted as a 'critical friend' to stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and risk management.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Experience
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully worked across different teams in previous roles. Highlight any projects where you delivered significant benefits, especially those exceeding £20m, and explain your role in driving collaboration.
✨Demonstrate Your Change Management Skills
Share your experiences in shaping and implementing major change projects. Discuss the strategies you used to engage stakeholders and manage risks, and be ready to provide examples of how you’ve driven change at pace.
✨Communicate with Clarity and Confidence
Practice distilling complex information into clear narratives. During the interview, aim to communicate your ideas succinctly, especially when discussing your approach to problem-solving and innovation. Use storytelling techniques to inspire and engage your interviewers.
✨Exhibit a Growth Mindset
Show that you have a curiosity-driven approach to challenges. Be ready to discuss how you've identified opportunities for improvement in past roles and how you fostered an environment that encourages learning from failures while celebrating successes.
