Transport First Line Manager

John Lewis Partnership; Greater London; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership is seeking a Transport/Distribution Manager for the Coulsdon Customer Fulfilment Centre. The role supports safety, team wellbeing, and operational growth while ensuring budgets and performance targets are met.

You will lead a team across shifts, drive improvements, and work within EU regulations and company standards. Expect 37.5 hours weekly, with early and late shifts and weekend rosters.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Proven experience in a Transport or Distribution management role.
• Strong knowledge of EU Working Time regulations and Health & Safety legislation.
• Experience managing disciplinary procedures.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Health & Safety compliance for team and operations.
• Oversee performance and wellbeing of the team.
• Drive continuous operational development and upskill the team.
• Manage productivity and resources to meet budgets and implement process improvements.
• Act as deputy to the Transport Shift Manager and support operational tasks as required.

Skills

Transport management

EU working time regs

Health & Safety

Disciplinary procedures

18+

Education

Transport Manager CPC

Tools

Google Sheets

Google Docs

Job description

About the role

We're an inclusive business - for our Partners and for our customers, reflecting and connecting with the diverse communities that we serve. We want people from all walks of life to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging. To find out more about Diversity & Inclusion in the John Lewis Partnership click here ttps://www.jlpjobs.com/about/diversityandinclusion/.

At a glance

Salary range - The salary range for this role is £36,600 to £57,600 per annum depending on skills and experience, plus Enhanced Hours Premium where applicable

Contract type - This is a 12 month Fixed term contract, internally known as a Secondment

Working pattern/flexible working - Between the hours of 05:00-23:00, including rota’d weekend working

Hours of Work - 37.5 hours per week

Location - Coulsdon - Customer Fulfilment Centre

Key Responsibilities

• - Safety first: You’ll look out for everyone, ensuring we’re always compliant with Health & Safety and EU driving regulations. (Could we put this one first?)
• - Leading with care: Oversee the performance and wellbeing of your team.
• - Championing growth: Drive continuous operational development and build high-performing teams through structured coaching, succession planning, and upskilling initiatives.
• - Driving efficiency: Manage productivity and resources to maintain budgets. Identify and implement process improvements.
• - Stepping up: Act as the deputy for the Transport Shift Manager; support them with operational tasks as required.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• - Be 18 or older—that’s a must for this kind of work.
• - Proven experience in a Transport or Distribution management role.
• - A strong knowledge of EU and Working Time regulations, plus Health & Safety legislation.
• - Experience managing disciplinary procedures

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• - A full UK Manual Driving Licence (with no more than 6 penalty points).
• - Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• - Confident using Google Sheets and Google Docs

Between the hours of 05:00-23:00, including rota’d weekend working

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.