Job Description

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 xbpsjku 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