Section Manager

John Lewis Partnership; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The John Lewis Partnership is setting up a new RDC site in Avonmouth and is seeking an experienced maintenance leader to drive high standards and own the transition to full operational readiness by Q4 2026.

You will lead a multi-skilled engineering team, ensure safety governance and compliance, manage budgets, and deliver planned maintenance across campus. This permanent role offers a challenging, high-visibility position within a growing employee-owned business.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in retail or distribution maintenance with multi-skilled teams.
• Strong leadership, process development, and relationship building.
• Knowledge of site safety (H&S legislation, Legionella, LOLER, PUWER, Fire Safety) with audit experience.
• CDM, Building Management Systems, CAFM (Opuz) knowledge.
• Electrical trade background or HVAC qualification with NEBOSH certification.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, with reporting, procurement and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Leading, coaching and developing the engineering team to maintain the buildings to a high standard.
• Drive maintenance strategy and ensure compliance, safety governance and regulatory requirements.
• Manage budgetary control for revenue and capital spend across areas of responsibility.
• Oversee PPM and compliance activities, ensuring thorough documentation and timely delivery.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and contractors to deliver cost-efficient maintenance solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Site safety knowledge

Audits & compliance

Analytical reporting

Procurement & supplier management

Cost efficiency focus

People management

Education

Time-served Electrician or HVAC qualification

NEBOSH certification

CDM knowledge

Tools

Opuz CAFM

Job description

About the role

Why Join the John Lewis Partnership? At the John Lewis Partnership, you don't just join a team—you become a co-owner. As an employee-owned business, our success is built on the belief that when our people thrive, our business thrives. We are currently setting up a new RDC site in Avonmouth and are looking for an experienced maintenance leader who is ready to take ownership, drive high standards, and play a pivotal role in our transition to full operational readiness by Q4 2026. If you are passionate about leading teams, championing safety, and shaping the future of a business where your voice truly matters, we invite you to apply and help us keep our Partnership at its best.

• Contract type - This is a permanent position
• Location - Avonmouth Regional Distribution Site
• Hours/Shift Pattern - 6am - 2pm, 2pm - 10pm two week rota Monday to Friday.
• There will be a regular call out rota normally a minimum of every other week required due to the site being operational 24/7/365 with a requirement to be available on the phone and able to get to site within an hour to manage the critical situation.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting FMDM in the delivery of the Maintenance business plan for their area of responsibility.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, Specialist Contractors and third-party service providers to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery of world-class maintenance.
• Creating and maintaining a culture of high performance across all areas of responsibility, setting the highest standards of ownership, engagement, Health & Safety and customer service.
• Ensuring all compliance, safety and assurance requirements are delivered, which keep the business legal & compliant to allow trading to continue without risk or impact. Conduct compliance audits on the internal Maintenance team and contractor works
• Leading, coaching and developing the team of engineering technicians and tradesmen to maintain the building(s) to a high standard, ensuring all legislative requirements and health and safety governance are met.
• Supporting FMDM with budgetary control for revenue & planning for capital spend across areas of responsibility.
• Overseeing the timely delivery of all compliance, safety, and Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities across the campus, ensuring accurate documentation of all remedial actions.
• Actively involved in ensuring all maintenance projects are delivered safely.
• Supporting the business in delivering the Partnerships carbon reduction programme.
• Taking an active role in understanding and promoting democracy within the Partnership.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Extensive experience in retail or distribution maintenance, with proven success leading multi-skilled teams and driving cost efficiencies.
• Strong leadership skills, with a focus on process development, team motivation, and building effective internal/external relationships.
• Comprehensive knowledge of site safety (H&S legislation, Legionella, LOLER, PUWER, Fire Safety) with expertise in managing audits and statutory records.
• Technical expertise in CDM application, Building Management Systems, and CAFM platforms (specifically Opuz for PPM/reactive works).
• Time-served Electrician (or equivalent HVAC qualification) with a NEBOSH certification or equivalent in general site safety.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with strong reporting skills and experience in procurement and supplier management.

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 occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

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.