Assistant Contract Manager, Support Role Milton Keynes

About the roleThe Assistant Contract Manager will support the operational business relationship with Waitrose Third Party Logistic (3PL) Provider in Milton Keynes. Acting as the operational bridge between the Contractor and Waitrose, the successful candidate will manage financial, operational and reputational risk on behalf of Waitrose in order to meet business needs and assure service to branches.

This is an exciting, demanding role in a busy, fast-paced environment and would suit a highly motivated individual able to work to tight deadlines, build strong relationships at pace, and has key influencing skills.

 At a glance:

• Salary: £39,100.00 - £55,700.00 per annum

• Contract type: This is a secondment opportunity until February 2026 

• Hours and location of the role:

  •  35 hours per week

  • A Contractor site based role with some travel required (4 out of 5 days based at Brinklow RDC or Waitrose NDC, remaining days based at home or at our Bracknell head office)

  • Your home location will be Bracknell

Key responsibilities:

• Supports the delivery of compliance through 3rd party providers

• The management and reporting of Contractor performance through the oversight of budget and capital expenditure, intervening when required to assure service levels to Branches, escalating concerns when necessary and responding robustly when circumstances demand

• Supports the principal interface between the Contractor and Waitrose Distribution, maintaining situational awareness across the division, business and retail sector and ensuring seamless two-way communication and reporting for all operational issues

• The generation and fostering of a culture of innovative collaboration, exploring potential joint business development opportunities, challenging the status quo and identifying openings for commercial advantage

• Promotes Partnership democracy and supports CSR initiatives

• Where directed, supports on individual specialist responsibilities: ie B2B,  Branch openings and closures, HMRC compliance, Network space, Recycling, Food continuity plans

• Achieve agreed service levels on contractual obligations between Waitrose and Contractors

• The individual will be expected to cover for Operations Manager 3rd Party Operations and all contracts as required for holidays

Essential skills and/or experience you’ll need: 

• Stakeholder management and relationship building 

• Distribution or retail working experience

• Strong analytical skills and a strategic thinker

• An understanding of budgetary controls

• The ability to make business critical decisions at short notice/out of hours

Desirable skills and/or experience you may have: 

• Contract management

• Commercial decision making

• Understanding of Partnership policies

• Prior knowledge of WMS/TMS operations (warehouse/transport management system)

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.