Functional Expert, Warehouse

John Lewis Partnership; Darwen; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Parkinson, part of the John Lewis Partnership, is recruiting for a Warehouse Operative to support receipt, storage, picking and despatch of materials at our Darwen office. The role reports to the Planning & Logistics Manager and runs 08:00–16:00, 38.75 hours per week, with a permanent contract and a salary range of £31,700–£47,500 depending on experience.

Night premium applies between 22:00–06:00 at £4.25 per hour; DBS checks may be required and flexible working options exist.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a Warehouse or stock control role.
• Ability to prioritise, multitask and meet deadlines.
• Flexible and able to work under pressure in a dynamic environment.
• Licence to operate FLT / Wave trucks or ability to obtain licence via training.
• Desirable health and safety qualification (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH).
• Experience working on projects and collation of goods for projects.

Responsibilities

• Promote a positive Health & Safety and Continuous Improvement culture.
• Book in and safely put away all incoming deliveries in our in‑house systems.
• Ensure timely and accurate picking to feed manufacturing lines.
• Conduct regular inventory checks and update systems.
• Investigate issues and escalate where appropriate.
• Operate warehouse vehicles safely and perform daily checks.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders to meet customer requirements.
• Coordinate with transport partners to ensure timely deliveries.
• Support planning to optimise warehouse labour to meet demand.
• Motivate Partners to achieve performance targets and report concerns.

Skills

Warehouse experience

Stock control

Prioritisation

Multitasking

Under pressure

FLT licence

Wave trucks

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

At Herbert Parkinson, a proud and historic part of the John Lewis Partnership, we are embarking on an exciting transformation journey to secure our long-term success. By investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities, streamlining our operations, and creating broader, more fulfilling roles for our Partners, we are building a more sustainable and agile future. Join us as we continue to deliver exceptional quality and service for our customers while empowering our partners to thrive

Reporting directly to the Planning & Logistics Manager, you will support & assist warehouse and logistics operations to ensure the safe, efficient receipt, storage, picking, and despatch of raw materials, consumables, and finished goods. In this role, you will power manufacturing operations and meet customer demand while driving key branch KPIsIn addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Expected salary - £31,700-£47,500 (dependent on experience)
• Contract type - This position is a Permanent role. 38.75 Hours per week
• Location - This role is based at our Herbert Parkinson Office in Darwen Nr Manchester.
• Hours of work - 08:00 - 16:00

Key responsibilities

• Promote a positive Health & Safety and Continuous Improvement culture, ensuring high standards of housekeeping are maintained. Ensure recycling tasks across production and warehouse, including coordinating collection, sorting, and processing activities. All accidents, near misses & areas for opportunity are communicated and addressed
• Ensure the timely & accurate booking in & safe put away of all incoming deliveries through our in‑house systems, reporting any discrepancies identified
• Ensure the timely and accurate picking of materials to feed manufacturing lines, confirming all inventory movements promptly in the system
• Conduct regular inventory checks to ensure physical stocks are accurately reflected on systems.
• Investigate issues identified and resolve / elevate where appropriate.
• Operate all Warehouse vehicles and equipment in a safe manner, with the relevant PPE, adhering toSOP’s. Ensuring all daily start up checks are performed prior to use
• Collaborate with cross‑functional internal stakeholders to ensure all customer orders are accurately located, consolidated, and ready for despatch to meet customer requirements
• Collaborate with transport partners & field team to ensure timely & accurate delivery of all customer orders
• In addition to fulfilling Warehouse activities, you will liaise with the Planning & Logistics Manager to optimise the Warehouse labour plan to meet customer requirements
• You will motivate the team; supporting & encouraging all partners to achieve performance targets, sharing performance concerns through your direct reporting line
• Ensure Partners have all the relevant tools & equipment to perform their role inclusive of available & working equipment
• Ensure the work environment - internal & external, is kept safe, clean and tidy, reporting any concerns of unsafe, hazardous activity through your reporting line

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Demonstrable experience in a Warehouse, Stock control role

• Strong capacity to prioritise, multitask, and manage competing deadlines

• Flexible, adaptable and able work well under pressure in a dynamic environment

• Licence to operate FLT, Wave trucks & other relevant Warehouse equipment / Ability to obtain licence via training

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Sound knowledge of Continuous improvement methodologies, problem solving & root cause analysis.
• Recognised health and safety qualification (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH
• Experience working with projects and with collation of goods for projects

#LI-CS1

Closing Date:

November 5, 2026

Pay:

£31,700.00 - £47,500.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

38.75

Job Level:

Partnership Level 9

Where You’ll Be Working:

Herbert Parkinson, Harvest Mill, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0HR

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.