Section Manager, Nights

John Lewis & Partners; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A large UK retail company is seeking a Section Manager for its National Distribution Centre in Milton Keynes. This full-time role involves leading a team to ensure efficient supply chain operations, managing team development, and achieving site KPIs. Ideal candidates will have team management experience, stakeholder relationship skills, and knowledge of IT systems. Night shifts required, along with a night premium for hours worked between 22:00 - 06:00.

Benefits

Night Premium of £4.50 per hour

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in managing a team and empowering employees.
• Ability to manage stakeholder relationships effectively.
• Experience in a logistics or supply chain setting is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage development and performance of your team.
• Align team resources with operational demands.
• Identify and implement improvement opportunities.

Skills

Team management

Stakeholder management

Fast-paced environment

IT systems knowledge

Tools

Warehouse Management Systems

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

About the role

As a Section Manager in one of our National Distribution Centres (NDCs), you'll have an important role of leading and motivating your team of Partners and ensuring the smooth running of the supply chain operation within your area of the site. You'll ensure the right stock in the right place at the right time for our shops and, ultimately, our customers, helping to drive sales and profitability for the Partnership.

At a glance

Role title: Section Manager, National Distribution Centre - Nights

Contract type: This position is a Permanent role

Location: Manga Park NDC, Milton Keynes

Hour of work: Full Time 37.5 Hours, 22:00-06:00, working 5 out of 7 nights a week.

Please note: In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract a Night Premium at a rate of £4.50 per hour. This can be discussed further at the interview stage.

The next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include a face-to-face interview, commencing week 20/10/25.

Key Responsibilities

Working in one of our NDCs is fast paced. Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Managing your team's development, ensuring they have the tools and time they need to thrive.
• Aligning Partner resource with the expected demand, maintaining a smooth operation.
• Identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing them with your team.
• Liaising with other departments and Partners to deliver site KPIs.
• Developing and maintaining communication between key stakeholders to ensure communication across teams remains effective.
• Building solid relationships with Partners and empowering them to take ownership of their operational success and personal development.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Previous experience managing a team and empowering employees
• Managing stakeholder relationships
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Previous Experience supporting and managing employees through a change agenda.
• Working knowledge of IT systems (MS Excel, MS Word, Warehouse Management Systems, DLx, email).

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Flexibility to cover other parts of the operation as required.
• Previous experience of working within a logistics/supply chain environment.
• Experience of dealing with full disciplinary procedures according to ACAS guidelines

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 essential 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; 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.