Transport Operator

John Lewis plc; Aylesford; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership invites applications for a Transport Operator at the Aylesford Regional Distribution Centre. The role supports the transport office, assists Partners, and may deputise for the Transport Section Manager, with varying hours and premium pay for evenings (£3.25) and nights (£4.25).

Responsibilities include health and safety, housekeeping, regulatory compliance, and assisting the management team with Partner development in a fast-paced transport environment at the Kent site.

Qualifications

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Good computer literacy skills.
• Knowledge of basic Health and Safety procedures.
• Supply Chain experience.
• Transport/Warehouse Office experience.

Responsibilities

• Health and safety of the transport team is a priority.
• Maintain good housekeeping standards.
• Ensure compliance under EU driving regulations and Working Time Directive.
• Support management with Partners and development.

Skills

Literacy

Numeracy

Computer literacy

Health and safety

Supply chain

Transport/Warehouse office

Tools

Paragon

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Transport Operator, you'll be helping maintain the smooth, efficient running of our distribution network, ensuring productivity targets, agreed key customer service levels and KPIs are achieved within budget. You’ll help manage the general transport office and support Partners within the Transport teams. When the Transport Section Manager is off duty, you’ll deputise in their absence. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 18:00 - 22:00 will attract an Evening Premium at a rate of £3.25 per hour, and any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract a 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.

Key Responsibilities

It's a fast paced and sometime complex area to work in.

Day-to-Day responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring the health & safety of all those working in the transport team is top priority and the appropriate procedures are adhered to.
• Maintaining good housekeeping standards.
• Ensuring the operation and those working in it remain fully compliant under EU driving regulations and the Working Time Directive.
• Supporting the management team with their Partners and creating an environment for development.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Good computer literacy skills.
• Knowledge of basic Health and Safety procedures.
• Supply Chain experience.
• Transport/Warehouse Office experience.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Good working knowledge of IT systems (email/MS Office/Paragon).
• National CPC qualification.

Closing Date: October 9, 2026

Pay: £31,000.00 - £46,500.00

Annual Contract Type: Permanent

Hours of Work: Varied hours of full time work (37.5 hours per week) across seven days to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends.

Job Level: Partnership Level 9

Where You'll Be Working: Aylesford Regional Distribution Centre (Waitrose & Partners), Beddow Way, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7AT

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 also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. 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. At the John Lewis Partnership we’re not just employees; we’re co‑owners, and that’s why we’re called Partners. Being a Partner means not only do we all collectively share the responsibilities of being the UK’s largest employee‑owned business, but we also share in its rewards and successes. It’s this ownership model that makes the Partnership a very unique place to work.