Operations Product Manager

Operations Product Manager
£48,000 - £55,000 plus excellent benefits (Work Level 5) 
6-month secondment
Home-based - South region. This role supports locations across the South and involves frequent travel, so you'll need to live within the region to enable regular visits to stores and sites (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).  

We're looking for an Operations Product Manager to join our Operations team and help us deliver lasting improvements across our food stores. In this role, you'll lead a large team of managers, providing the direction, coaching and support they need to deliver great outcomes for colleagues, customers and our business. Working closely with operational leaders and key stakeholders across Co-op, you'll help drive large-scale change, build capability and create an environment where high-performing teams can thrive.

Why this role matters

This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role in one of the largest operational change programmes across our Food business. You'll have the chance to influence how we support store colleagues, strengthen leadership capability and drive consistent ways of working across a large and complex operation. We're looking for someone who enjoys developing people, leading through change and bringing others with them, while delivering meaningful improvements that make a real difference for our colleagues and customers.

What you’ll do

•    Lead, coach and develop a team of managers, creating a culture of high performance, accountability and continuous improvement
•    Provide day-to-day leadership, support and direction, helping your team deliver consistently strong outcomes
•    Build capability across your teams through effective coaching, development planning and regular feedback
•    Work closely with operational and business leaders to support large-scale change and transformation activity
•    Use operational insight, colleague feedback and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement
•    Remove barriers, solve problems and support your teams in overcoming operational challenges
•    Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the business, providing updates, recommendations and constructive challenge when needed
•    Champion Co-op values and create an inclusive environment where colleagues feel supported, respected and able to do their best work

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant experience leading high-performing operational or retail teams within a large and complex organisation
•    Experience managing and developing managers, with a strong track record of building capable, engaged and high-performing teams
•    Experience delivering large-scale operational change, transformation or business improvement programmes
•    Strong leadership skills, with the ability to create clarity, motivate others and lead through change
•    Experience building effective relationships and influencing senior stakeholders across multiple functions
•    The ability to interpret operational data, feedback and insight to drive improved performance and decision-making
•    A strong understanding of retail operations, colleague experience and customer outcomes within a fast-paced environment

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion