Talent Programmes Executive
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Group HR
Closing date: 12 September 2025
Requisition ID: 400010629
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. We’re the first to say we do HR differently here. For a start, we work as business partners and specialists. That’s whether we’re making sure that nearly 180,000 colleagues are paid on time, or that our strategy is helping us attract the right people, put them in the right place, and unlock their talent. This is a fast-moving business and our policies and rewards keep up too. That’s why we’re as flexible as we can be about where and when you work. We’re also flexible about your future. There’s always room to move up or across, if that’s what you want. We really value different perspectives so there’s no one opinion, no single path, and yours is important. What’s certain is that you’ll be joining one of the happiest, most engaged teams in the business.
About the team
Step into the heart of Sainsbury’s People Division, specifically our dynamic Talent Capability and Development team. As champions of growth and inclusion, we design and deliver innovative talent programmes that shape the next generation of Sainsbury’s leaders. Our team collaborates closely with stakeholders across SSC, retail, and external partners to ensure our programmes are forward-thinking, inclusive, and impactful. You’ll join a supportive, hybrid-working environment that values learning, creative problem-solving, and continuous improvement, all with the shared goal of unlocking the potential of our colleagues and business.
More about the role
As a Talent Programmes Executive, you’ll be pivotal in delivering and enhancing our portfolio of early careers initiatives, including graduate schemes, apprenticeships, and school leaver programmes. Your responsibilities will span programme coordination, event management, and stakeholder engagement—from planning and scheduling activities to managing relationships with internal teams and external partners. Day-to-day, you’ll drive the smooth execution of career development events, induction days, and workshops, ensuring each touchpoint is engaging and meaningful.
You’ll also oversee programme data, tracking progress and gathering feedback to support continuous improvement. The projects you lead will directly contribute to attracting, developing, and nurturing diverse early-career talent, ensuring our programmes reflect both current market trends and the highest standards of best practice. Expect to play a key role in campus engagement, digital campaigns, and the evolution of our talent strategy.
More about you
You are passionate about talent development and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. Your organisational skills are second to none, enabling you to manage multiple projects and deadlines with precision. You are an effective communicator, comfortable forging partnerships across teams and presenting information to a variety of audiences. With a keen analytical mindset, you use data and feedback to drive decisions and deliver measurable improvements.
You demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional development, and you’re proactive in problem-solving and risk management. Your approach is inclusive and innovative, always seeking to enhance the experience for participants and stakeholders alike. You’re motivated by the impact your work has on individuals’ careers and the wider business.
Essential criteria
- Demonstratable experience in coordinating early careers programmes (e.g., apprenticeships, graduate schemes, internships, or similar initiatives).
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects or tasks with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with a range of stakeholders, including internal teams and external partners.
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, evidenced by presentations or reports delivered in a professional context.
- Ability to analyse data, track programme metrics, and support continuous improvement based on feedback and insights.
#LI-AJ1
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 10% of salary (which may vary for Nectar360), 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. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, 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).
