SATY SANDHU
Experienced Operations Leader
Summary
Award-winning senior leader with 19 years of management experience, including more than eight years as a Woolworths Store Manager. Recognised nationally for delivering exceptional operational performance, building high-performing teams, and leading business transformation across high-volume operations.
Proven success in opening new supermarkets, improving profitability, and developing senior leaders through coaching and mentoring. Experienced in managing complex operations with annual sales exceeding $80 million and leading workforces of more than 230 team members. A strong track record of driving commercial results, operational excellence, and customer-focused outcomes across a network of 47 supermarkets.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
Melonba
09.2025 - Current
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for high-volume supermarkets, delivering strong commercial performance, exceptional customer outcomes and highly engaged teams.
- Managed full Profit & Loss accountability, workforce planning, safety, compliance, operational execution, and leadership development to drive business performance.
- Successfully led the end-to-end delivery of one of Woolworths’ newest supermarkets.
- Led the complete opening strategy from planning through to launch.
- Developed and built a new leadership team to enhance operational effectiveness and team engagement.
- Established operational standards, compliance frameworks, and customer service expectations to ensure seamless operations from day one.
- Embedded a culture focused on accountability, ownership, safety and continuous improvement.
Operational Excellence Coach
Woolworths Supermarkets
Norwest
04.2025 - 09.2025
- Assisted stores across the region with improving operational execution and business performance.
- Enhanced execution of key operational processes, leading to more effective operations.
- Streamlined business processes to achieve greater consistency across operations.
- Identified opportunities to reduce waste and improve productivity.
- Supported implementation of major business initiatives.
- Used operational data to develop practical improvement plans.
- Built leadership capability through coaching and mentoring.
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
North Parramatta
08.2023 - 04.2025
- Opened North Parramatta supermarket, establishing high performance through effective operational strategies.
- Led recruitment, onboarding and operational readiness for the new supermarket.
- Achieved year-on-year sales growth.
- Delivered double-digit Online sales growth.
- Delivered one of the region’s strongest Back to School trading periods.
- Built a strong leadership culture focused on accountability and customer outcomes.
- Delivered first Internal Audit with minor findings, securing Light Green result that reflects operational integrity.
- Embedded new operational processes, ensuring seamless integration while upholding high customer service standards.
Contract Based Model (CBM) Lead – Zone 4
Woolworths Supermarkets
Norwest
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Appointed to lead implementation of the Contract Based Model across 47 supermarkets.
- Improved workforce planning, labour productivity and operational efficiency while supporting stores to deliver exceptional customer experiences within wage budgets.
- Improved workforce planning, labour productivity, and operational efficiency while supporting stores to deliver exceptional customer experiences within wage budgets.
- Coached Store Managers and leadership teams on labour planning and workforce optimisation to drive performance improvements.
- Partnered with Group Managers to improve labour performance across the region.
- Ensured optimal customer service while effectively managing operational execution within wage investment parameters.
- Collaborated with Group Managers to elevate labour performance across the region.
- Recognized as a regional subject matter expert for workforce planning.
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
Marrickville Metro
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Oversaw operations of highest-volume supermarket in region, driving sales and customer engagement.
- Managed approximately $1.7 million in weekly sales.
- Led a workforce exceeding 230 team members.
- Managed a leadership team of 20 Department and Assistant Department Managers.
- Successfully implemented Freshest Flow across Fresh departments.
- Led implementation of eCommerce Scan-to-Location to improve Online operations.
- Enhanced operational consistency by coaching and developing leadership team.
- Achieved strong customer service ratings and commercial success in complex trading environment.
Skills
- Customer experience management
- Team leadership and development
- Performance management
- Staff training and development
- Change management strategies
- Operational improvement initiatives
- Labour optimization
- Financial and commercial oversight
- Stakeholder engagement strategies
- Strategic planning and execution
- Safety and compliance management
Professional Highlights
- Woolworths NSW & ACT Store Manager of the Year, 2025
- Woolworths Group Store Manager of the Year, 2024
- Launched the first "Quiet Hour" project for Woolworths NSW
- Led the opening of very first Assisted checkout for Australia ( accessible team member workplace adjustment)
- Successfully opened two brand-new Woolworths supermarkets from recruitment through to launch.
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
09.2025 - Current
Operational Excellence Coach
Woolworths Supermarkets
04.2025 - 09.2025
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
08.2023 - 04.2025
Contract Based Model (CBM) Lead – Zone 4
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2023 - 08.2023
Store Manager
Woolworths Supermarkets
01.2018 - 01.2023