Why join us

As the Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Wellbeing, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact by driving initiatives that foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture. You will lead the development of our diversity and inclusion strategy, creating an environment at Sainsbury’s where difference is embraced, and individuals can flourish. Working with the Director of Talent and Capability, you will engage with senior leaders to gain their commitment to initiatives which create long-term value both to our organisation and wider society. This is a role where you can truly make a long-lasting impact.

What you'll do

You will play a critical role in driving and implementing initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive workforce, leading the DE&I and Wellbeing team to deliver on our diversity, equity and inclusion and wellbeing commitments. Working closely with the Director of Talent and Capability, you will engage with senior leaders to gain their commitment to initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive environment, both within the organisation and in society at large. You will ensure that the strategy drives tangible change and improvements for colleagues and customers, fostering an inclusive culture and challenging stakeholders to foster diversity in the supply chain and customer offerings. Your role will involve leading and overseeing the design and implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing activities across the business, collaborating with leaders, colleague networks, and HR colleagues to integrate inclusive and wellbeing practices into all aspects of the company.

Externally, you are the voice of DE&I and Wellbeing on behalf of Sainsbury’s, representing the organisation at external events and in committees, whilst staying informed about industry developments, and drive continuous improvement through data analysis and feedback from colleagues and stakeholders. Your strategic leadership skills, stakeholder management abilities, and deep understanding of the diversity and inclusion agenda will be essential in driving positive change and embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing into Sainsbury's culture and operations.

Who you are

You bring strategic output focused leadership, with a deep understanding of the DE&I and wellbeing agenda. With a track record of driving change and effective stakeholder management up to Operating Board level, you know how to build lasting relationships and gain commitment to initiatives that create long-term value for the organisation and society at large. Your strategic thinking, practical approach to execution, and creative flair enable you to develop robust strategies and programmes that drive tangible change and improvements for colleagues and customers. As an influential voice in both internal and external settings, supported by a substantial inclusion network, you champion inclusivity and wellbeing, ensuring they are embedded into the fabric of the business. Your ability to navigate ambiguity, make methodical data-driven decisions, and display bravery and resilience set you apart as a leader. With your

open-minded thinking, you know how to pursue a strategy knowing there will be a multitude of differing views on the best way to tackle the issue. Strong communication skills and commercial awareness means you have a high impact on driving a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

What you need to do

• Lead the DE&I and Wellbeing team to deliver on our diversity, equity and inclusion and wellbeing commitments.
• Support the Director of Talent and Capability to drive the future diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing strategy, identifying and prioritising the key areas that will create the most impact
• Work with senior internal stakeholders up to Operating Board level across a broad spectrum of agitation, challenge, and support
• Foster excellent working relationships with each Operating Board strand sponsor to ensure that they are fully aligned with our broader aims
• Work with our internal networks / employee resource groups to optimise their support of our colleagues.
• Be the voice of D,E&I and Wellbeing on behalf of Sainsbury’s in external events and committees.
• Remain at the forefront of developments in the D,E&I and Wellbeing industries using your external network.
• Manage the timely and quality delivery of activities, programmes and tools created to further the D,E&I and wellbeing customer, and colleague agenda.
• Take accountability for all mandatory and voluntary D,E&I and wellbeing reporting.
• Ensure that we have robust data and metrics in place to measure our progress, and ensure the most relevant external benchmarking and understanding of best practices takes place
• Work with the other HR leaders to ensure we are taking a truly inclusive approach to people development, attraction, assessment and selection to deliver on business needs and improve representation and progression at every level.
• Effectively influence key stakeholders (commercial, marketing, procurement etc) to improve customer and supplier diversity through more inclusive products, propositions and relationships
• Continually seek qualitative and quantitative feedback from our colleagues and key stakeholders on the effectiveness of our strategies and programmes
• Provide expert advice and assessment on the inclusivity of our people, customer and wider organisational practices
  

What you need to know and show

Essential

• Experience in and a deep understanding of the D,E&I and wellbeing agenda and best practices and a track record of driving change
• A demonstrable external inclusion and wellbeing network
• Experience of effective stakeholder management up to Operating Board level
• Ability to think strategically allied with a practical approach to execution and creative flair
• Strategic, output focused leadership
• High tolerance for ambiguity
• Structured, methodical and data driven thinking
• Strong relationship building and influencing skills at all levels
• Bravery and resilience - to pursue a strategy or plan in the knowledge that there will be a multitude of differing views on the best way to tackle the issue
• Open mindedness to take on board different viewpoints and flex a plan when appropriate
• Displays mature and grounded confidence in the presence of senior people, responding in an appropriate manner to criticism and remaining optimistic in the face of obstacles
• Commercially aware with sound business and wider industry knowledge – can think ahead to ensure that the organisation takes a long-term view on inclusion and wellbeing
  

Desirable

• Clear sense of ownership. Able to follow through tenaciously to resolve issues and drive change
• Sets and pursues own direction and is able to manage complex, conflicting priorities
• Experience working with networks / employee resource groups
• Ability to challenge the existing thinking and approaches where appropriate, and defining new and creative solutions that build on the work to date
• Empathy and creativity to ensure we are ambitious in building on the work to date
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A high level of planning and organisation skills

#PeopleTeamHiring

Qualifications

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 get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. 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 65% of salary, depending on how we perform (in cash and shares).

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional 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, pay 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. You'll also receive a company car cash allowance unless you are going to travel 10,000 business miles in your role, then you'll be able to choose a car. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.

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).

Responsibilities

Our people are at the heart of our business, and we are looking for those that are just as passionate about that as we are. Join our People team, and come with us on a journey as we transform the way we do HR. Our team is made up of business partners working with leaders to get the most out of their teams, specialist knowledge in our centres of expertise, and colleague-centric, efficient people services. Our work ranges from making sure that our 150,000+ colleagues are paid on time to attracting brilliant talent to drive our strategy, to unlocking the skills and capability of our colleagues. This is a fast-moving business, and we make sure our policies and rewards keep up with that too. We know flexibility is important and helps you be more productive so there's more choice than ever about where and when you work. When it comes to your development, we'll support your growth in your own unique way. When you join us, you’ll be joining a team that knows just what it means to be happy and engaged, and who makes a real impact across our business.