At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure excellent customer service and efficient stock replenishment.
- Company: Join the Waitrose family, known for its commitment to quality and customer care.
- Benefits: Earn a competitive hourly wage plus a Night Premium for late shifts.
- Other info: Flexible full-time hours with opportunities for career growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in customers' shopping experiences while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong people skills and experience in retail or customer service.
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 a Partner‑led service and passion for food that our competitors can't match. Your drive to go the extra mile to help both customers and Partners will make all the difference to the impression our customers have about the Waitrose brand, earning their trust and loyalty for a lifetime while helping maximise sales and profit. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 – 06:00 will attract a Night Premium of £3.75 per hour, applied also to existing Partners with Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements. Applicants must be 18 years or over to apply.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supporting the shop's management team with managerial tasks and working with all other areas of the shop to meet customer demand.
- Ensuring Partners are operating in a safe and legal manner.
- Fulfilling online customer orders ready for our drivers to deliver their shopping directly to their doors.
- Stock replenishment – ensuring our shelves remain full and products are in the right place at the right time.
- Working with the wider shop team to support when needed, including checkout support, managing Click & Collect orders and fulfilling on‑demand customer orders.
- Being proactive in helping to drive the commercial performance for the shop and offering ideas for continuous improvement to the operation.
- Reducing wastage by following product due diligence and marking down items reaching their sell‑by dates.
- Maintaining a safe and tidy working environment with general shop‑keeping tasks.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS / EXPERIENCE YOU'LL NEED
- Good people and leadership skills.
- Good understanding of retail and how to maximise commercial success.
- Experience of working in a customer‑facing role.
- Good stakeholder‑management skills when working with third parties and the wider Partnership.
DESIRABLE SKILLS / EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE
- Duty Manager Training (Internal Partners only).
CLOSING DATE: July 18, 2026
PAY: £14.58 Hourly
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
HOURS OF WORK: Varied hours of full‑time work across seven days to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends.
JOB LEVEL: Partnership Level 10
WHERE YOU'LL BE WORKING: Comely Bank (Waitrose & Partners), 38 Comely Bank, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH4 1AW
Team Leader - Night Replenishment, Supermarket Assistant 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 Team Leader - Night Replenishment, Supermarket Assistant
✨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 Team Leader - Night Replenishment, Supermarket Assistant
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!
