At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire your team to deliver exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, known for its commitment to quality and service.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, night premium, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of care and belonging while growing your career with us.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building high-performing teams and enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in a customer-focused retail environment.
As a Team Manager in one of our Waitrose shops, you'll influence and motivate your team and be a positive role model for delivering outstanding Partner-led, customer service that is distinctively Waitrose, passionate Partners serving food lovers. Your strong leadership and team working skills will make all the difference to your team and, ultimately, the impression our customers have about the Waitrose brand. Keeping them returning again and again by earning their trust and loyalty for a lifetime, whilst helping to maximise sales and profit.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.75 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Due to the nature of this role, applicants must be 18 years or over to apply.
Key Responsibilities
- It's fast paced and at times you'll oversee the entire day-to-day operation of the shop.
- Using your commercial skills to maximise sales and profit while minimising wastage.
- Ensuring consistently high levels of availability and merchandising as well as delivering an efficient, legal, and secure store operation.
- Improving and maintaining customer satisfaction.
- Using your people skills to manage your team, from leading and inspiring to people related tasks like organising holidays and managing absences.
- Create a supportive culture of care, belonging, pace and productivity.
- Engage and lead partners in delivering and embedding change consistently and effectively within your shop.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Experience of leading a team with a proven track record in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
- Ability to build high-performing teams, recognise talent, and hold regular, honest performance conversations.
- A passion for retail, understanding competitors and the economic factors impacting the Partnership.
- Ability to assess workload realistically and adapt plans to ensure deadlines are hit and stakeholder relationships are maintained.
- Ability to communicate with clarity and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Experience with Disciplinary & Grievance processes.
- Hiring Manager/ Recruitment experience.
- Food Hygiene Level 3.
- Personal licence holder.
- Experience in regulatory compliance management.
Closing Date: June 17, 2026
Pay: £32,000.00 - £45,600.00 Annual
Contract Type: Temporary
Hours of Work: Varied hours of full time work (37.5 hours) across seven days to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends.
Job Level: Partnership Level 8
Where You'll Be Working: Witney (Waitrose & Partners), 25 Woolgate Centre, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6AR
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.
Team Manager in Witney employer: John Lewis
At Waitrose, we pride ourselves on being the largest employee-owned business in the UK, fostering a culture of partnership where every team member is valued and empowered. As a Team Manager in our Witney shop, you'll not only lead a passionate team dedicated to exceptional customer service but also benefit from flexible working arrangements, competitive pay including night premiums, and ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within a supportive environment that champions diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager in Witney
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager in Witney
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to John Lewis:Don’t forget to personalise your application for John Lewis! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that John Lewis offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at John Lewis and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
