Waitrose & Partners
First Line Manager – Warehouse PM Shift

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About The Role
In this role, you’ll be a Warehouse First Line Manager. You’ll help the warehouse operate efficiently by following clear operational procedures and leading a team of Partners. You’ll also be the person your team turns to for support. You’ll create an inclusive environment by focusing on individual growth, providing consistent guidance, and making sure everyone has what they need to succeed.
Our aim is to become the UK’s most 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 here.
At a Glance
- Salary: The salary offered for this role is between £36,700 to £57,600, depending on skills and experience
- Working Hours: Full time role, 37.5 hours per week, between the hours of 14:00-23:00 and including weekend working
- Contract type: This is a permanent role
- Location: Coulsdon Customer Fulfilment Centre
Our goal is to ensure stock is in the right place at the right time for our customers. To keep our operations running smoothly, you will be responsible for:
- Safety and Standards: Following and enforcing all Health and Safety guidelines and legal requirements to ensure everyone stays safe.
- Operational Efficiency: Managing day-to-day warehouse tasks, finding practical ways to improve how we work, and implementing those changes with your team.
- Team Support: Guiding and training your team, offering consistent support, and acting as a reliable point of contact for all Partners. Acting as Deputy Warehouse Shift Manager when required
- A Respectful Environment: Making sure all Partners are treated fairly, kindly, and with respect.
- Site Collaboration: Helping out other teams at the site when needed. This includes occasionally stepping in to cover for the Warehouse Shift Manager when they are away.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What you will need
To be successful in this role, you should have the following experience and skills:
- Be 18 or older: That’s a must due to the nature of the role and/or hours
- Management Experience: A proven background in a management or team lead role within a distribution or warehouse environment.
- Systems Knowledge: Experience using warehouse management systems to track inventory and operations.
- Stock Management: A good understanding of how to manage and monitor stock levels accurately.
- Safety Legislation: A clear understanding of Health and Safety laws and how to apply them.
- Personnel Procedures: Confidence in handling team matters fairly, including understanding formal policies like disciplinary procedures, in line with ACAS guidelines.
Skills and experience that would be great (but aren't essential!):
- IOSH certificate
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.


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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.
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