Mobilisation Support Lead – InStore (Compass Group)
Brand New Sainsbury’s Café Openings | UK-Wide Mobilisation
Location: Plymouth, Flexible / UK-wide (location variable) Company Car Provided Salary: £35,000 per annum Contract: 6-month Fixed Term Contract (with further opportunities within InStore)
Be at the forefront of launching brand-new Sainsbury’s Cafés across the UK.
InStore, part of Compass Group, is behind some of the UK’s most recognisable retail and food partnerships. We’re now rolling out exciting, brand-new Sainsbury’s Café sites nationwide — and we’re looking for a Mobilisation Support Lead to help bring them to life.
This is a hands-on, fast-paced role where no two weeks look the same. You’ll be travelling across the UK, supporting multiple new café openings, working shoulder-to-shoulder with operational teams and project managers to ensure every site launches smoothly, safely, and successfully.
The role forms part of a wider mobilisation and growth programme, with the expectation that — following the mobilisation phase — successful candidates will be well-placed to move into an InStore Retail Management position within a Sainsbury’s Café, subject to business requirements and location.
If you thrive in mobilisations, enjoy building something from the ground up, and want to transition into an operational retail management role — this is the role for you.
What you’ll be doingMobilisation & Delivery
- Support the end-to-end mobilisation of new Sainsbury’s Café openings, ensuring sites open on time, on budget, and to One Retail standards
- Work as a core member of the mobilisation project team across multiple sites
- Own mobilisation plans, coordinating actions and timelines with local operational teams
- Act as the key link between Operations, Project Managers, and support functions throughout mobilisation
- Support the successful handover of cafes into InStore Retail Management following opening
Stakeholder Management
- Build strong working relationships with internal teams including Operations, Sales, HR, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, and H&S
- Liaise with external partners such as suppliers, facilities teams, contractors, and design teams
- Confidently influence, challenge, and problem-solve to keep mobilisations moving forward
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure food safety, health & safety, and brand standards are embedded from day one
- Identify risks early and work with stakeholders to implement practical solutions
- Ensure full compliance throughout the mobilisation phase
Continuous Improvement
- Capture lessons learned from each mobilisation to improve future openings
- Share insights with operational teams to support ongoing performance
- Look for opportunities to enhance efficiency, quality, and commercial results
What we’re looking for
You’ll be someone who:
- Has a “can-do” attitude and thrives in a fast-moving environment
- Is highly organised, adaptable, and comfortable juggling multiple site openings
- Brings strong stakeholder management and communication skills
- Is commercially aware, with confidence around budgets and delivery deadlines
- Enjoys problem-solving and staying calm under pressure
- Is mobile, flexible, and happy to travel across the UK (including overnight stays)
Key requirements
- Full UK driving licence
- Willingness to travel nationwide as part of a UK mobilisation role
- Experience in mobilisations, openings, or multi-site operations(Hospitality, retail, or food experience preferred)
What’s in it for you?
- £35,000 salary
- Company car
- Opportunity to work on high-profile, brand-new Sainsbury’s Café launches
- A 6-month FTC aligned to a national mobilisation programme
- Exposure to Compass Group’s wider InStore business
- Opportunity to progress into an InStore Retail Management role following mobilisation, subject to business needs
- A chance to make a visible, lasting impact from day one