Store Manager - Convenience - Central Kent

Leading in our stores: Our management teams don’t just run stores – they’re the driving force behind our business. With bold leadership, a passion for service and an eye for opportunity, they empower teams to raise the bar every single day for our customers. Whether it's product availability, safety standards, or delivering seamless daily operations, they’re hands‑on, sleeves‑rolled‑up changemakers. And the impact? Work becomes more rewarding for our colleagues, and shopping becomes a next‑level experience for every customer who walks through our doors. This is how we bring our purpose to life, one powerful action at a time.

This role will be based within Central Kent, covering the Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury area, and is ideal for a dynamic Store Manager who thrives in a fast‑paced convenience environment. You’ll be responsible for leading your store team, delivering outstanding levels of service, and driving sales and compliance while embedding a positive culture. With strong leadership and a hands‑on approach, you’ll play a key role in developing talent and ensuring consistent performance across the store.

What you’ll be doing

Our Convenience Store Managers have full control over their shop. They’re accountable leaders who ensure we deliver on our purpose to make good food, joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day. Their team of Customer and Trading Managers run the shifts, and they plan and prepare for upcoming trading activity being commercially minded and anticipating issues from today to 6 months from now, making sure everything is safe and legal. Retail’s ever evolving with new business initiatives and change programmes and there are always difficult decisions to be made. It’s a job with a lot of responsibility but also one that is highly rewarding.

What makes a brilliant Store Manager

• Our best Store Managers do everything, everyday for our customers. Ensuring they deliver brilliant customer experiences and are constantly striving to improve the customer journey.
• Has experience leading an operation with accountabilities for delivering customer, financial and organisational outcomes.
• A leader who role models excellent service and business values through teams of managers and colleagues.
• Uses data and insight to inform planning, improve performance or customer experience and/or KPI’s.
• Experience managing ER cases including dismissals, confident in understanding and interpreting HR policies.
• Can lead change, delivering engagement on purpose whilst managing team wellbeing.

Essential Criteria

• Our best store managers do everything, every day for our customers. You'll show how you deliver brilliant customer experiences and have improved customer journeys.
• You’ve managed a fast‑paced operation, delivering results across service, sales, and team performance.
• You use insight to make smart decisions that improve store performance and customer experience.
• You’re confident navigating employee relations, including dismissals, and apply HR policies with consistency and care.
• You’ve developed and supported leadership capability within your team, helping others step up and succeed.
• You know how to lead through change — keeping your team motivated and focused.
• You walk the talk — showing up every day as a role model for service and values.

Benefits

• An annual bonus scheme based on our, and your, performance.
• Discount card – 10% discount off on your shopping at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu and Habitat after four weeks. This increases to 15% discount off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
• Pension – we’ll match 4-7.5% of your pension contributions.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme – build up an investment at discounted prices.
• Wellbeing support – access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice.
• Colleague networks – link with like‑minded people to help fulfil your potential.
• Cycle to Work scheme – hire a new bike and cycling equipment, whilst saving on tax and NI.
• Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers and more.

Inclusive Workplace

We are dedicated to being a truly inclusive retailer, where every colleague can achieve their full potential and every customer feels welcome when they shop with us. To support this commitment, our colleagues may be entitled to a range of enhanced discretionary leave for families, as well as support for carers. We provide our colleagues resources to help them understand and support their role and their team effectively. Our internal colleague networks seek to ensure true representation for everyone, helping us identify and remove barriers that our colleagues may face. We are proud to offer a range of development opportunities, including mentorship, training, and career progression pathways, to help our colleagues grow and succeed. We also celebrate diversity through various initiatives and events, fostering a culture of inclusion and respect.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages, please let us know, and we will endeavour to support you.

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