This role can be based from any of our UK Store Support Centres. We operate a hybrid working approach, so while there is no requirement to attend your local office a set number of days each week, there is an expectation that colleagues spend time working from both home and office locations to meet business needs, support collaboration, and build relationships. In addition, there will be an expectation to travel to our London site on average twice per month, as well as occasional international travel.
Why join us
Joining Sainsbury's as the Head of Partnership Management offers a unique opportunity to lead and shape enterprise-wide partnership management capability for one of our most strategically important supplier relationships. You will play a pivotal role in driving operational performance, governance, and improvements, while fostering trust, collaboration, and commercial discipline within the organisation. This role presents a dynamic and challenging environment where you can make a meaningful impact and contribute to the realisation of our strategic objectives.
What you'll do
You’ll design and continuously improve the partnership management framework, lead the strategic governance rhythm, join internal teams to create shared ownership of partnership outcomes, shape reporting and analytical capability, and represent Sainsbury's with senior stakeholders internally and externally. You’ll ensure that the partnership delivers against its business case, benefits, governance, and risk expectations.
Who you are
You have extensive experience in leading complex strategic supplier partnerships and outsourcing relationships within a matrix organisation. Your strong commercial acumen, ability to build governance frameworks, and track record of translating data into actionable insights enable you to drive performance, innovation, and sustainable value. You bring a strategic and customer-centric approach to managing major supplier relationships and delivering tangible business impact.
Essential criteria
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Demonstrable experience leading strategic supplier partnerships in outsourced services across Business Process Operations, Managed Services and Tech, including accountability for performance, governance and delivery against agreed business outcomes.
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Evidence of using data and performance metrics to generate actionable insights.
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Proven ability to influence and manage senior Executive & board-level stakeholders, building alignment and shared ownership across multiple functions within a matrix organisation.
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Experience of acting as senior relationship lead into a strategic supplier on overall operational performance and driving improvements to business outcomes at an enterprise level.
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