At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver exceptional customer service and manage shop operations.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Earn £14.58 per hour with flexible hours and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Enjoy a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in customers' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong people skills and experience in customer-facing roles.
Overview
About the role: As a Team Leader within one of our Waitrose shops, you’ll help our difference be felt by our customers on every visit, providing the Partner-led service and passion for food that our competitors can’t compete with.
Your drive to go the extra mile to help both customers and Partners will influence the customer impression of the Waitrose brand and support trust and loyalty, while helping maximise sales and profit.
Night premium applies for hours between 22:00 and 06:00 at £3.75 per hour, including existing Partners enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Responsibilities
- Support the shop’s management team with managerial tasks and collaborate with all areas of the shop to meet customer demand.
- Ensure Partners operate in a safe and legal manner.
- Fulfill online customer orders ready for drivers to deliver to customers’ doors.
- Stock replenishment: keep shelves full and correctly placed for customers.
- Work with the wider shop team to support when needed, including checkout support, managing Click & Collect orders, fulfilling on-demand orders, and more.
- Be proactive in driving commercial performance, offering ideas for continuous improvement.
- Reduce wastage by following product due diligence and applying markdowns for items nearing sell-by dates.
- Maintain a safe and tidy working environment with general shopkeeping tasks.
Essential skills/experience
- Good people and leadership skills.
- Understanding of retail and how to maximise commercial success.
- Experience in a customer-facing role.
- Good stakeholder management when working with third parties and the wider Partnership.
Desirable skills/experience
- Duty Manager Training (Internal Partners only).
- Role specifics
- Closing Date: July 22, 2026
- Pay: £14.58 per hour
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Hours: 22.5 hours on a 2-week rotation (WK1: Sun, Mon, Fri; WK2: Mon, Thu, Sat). Hours between 06:00–22:30
- Job Level: Partnership Level 10
- Location: Horley (Waitrose & Partners), 26 Victoria Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 7PZ
- About the Partnership
We’re the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
Partners share in ownership and rewards, with a culture of collaboration, kindness, and respect.
We support flexible working where possible and welcome applicants who value a good work-life balance.
We’re not just employees; we’re Partners, owned by our people.
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Supermarket Assistant, Team Leader in Horley employer: John Lewis plc
John Lewis plc is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture at The Odney Hotel in the picturesque setting of Cookham, Berkshire. Employees benefit from competitive pay, flexible part-time hours, and opportunities for growth within a renowned company known for its commitment to customer service excellence. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and fosters a rewarding career in hospitality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supermarket Assistant, Team Leader in Horley
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like John Lewis plc, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like John Lewis plc!
We think you need these skills to ace Supermarket Assistant, Team Leader in Horley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at John Lewis plc, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at John Lewis plc and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show John Lewis plc that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis plc
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
