Shipping & Logistics Manager

• Competitive salary
• Hertfordshire

As Shipping & Logistics Manager you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end global supply chain operations, ensuring the timely, cost-effective, and accurate movement of goods from suppliers to customers. This includes managing international shipments, coordinating with factories and freight forwarders, and maintaining accurate stock records through the ERP system. A key aspect of the role involves owning the relationship with the third-party warehouse, ensuring service levels are met and inventory flows seamlessly.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Product, Purchasing, Accounts, and Compliance to deliver operational excellence, maintain KPI performance, and support the business in delivering premium products to market efficiently and reliably.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain a strong relationship with the factories and ensure all new orders are sent to the factory, meeting business expectation.
• Manage and control orders placed following approval.
• Work closely with the Directors with purchasing numbers and check prices on new orders sent to the factories and sign PI’s.
• Ensure all dates are approved on PIs by the Creative Director and Production.
• Once PIs are signed and approved send this to accounts for deposits and full payments
• Work closely with the Head of Production to keep up to date with shipping dates from suppliers and when the products will be available for sign-off and despatch.
• Work closely with the Head of Production to ensure timely production of goods, to manage the shipping critical path and meet customer needs.
• Review shipping processes and procedures regularly to ensure a more streamlined and efficient approach.
• When required, proactively chase factories to ensure timely preparation of goods and accurate shipment documentation.
• Help to organise all paperwork for the shipments including pro-forma invoices, commercial invoices, bills of lading, GRN’s, carton markings, and ERP stock booked in and updated to all team’s stock is available.
• Work with Customer Service/Account Managers to arrange all orders and arrange the shipping with customer also check with account department on deposits and final payment.
• Arrange all Paperwork for FOB shipments.
• Coordinate drivers, vehicles, loads and journeys and cost.
• Devise a cost efficiency strategy to negotiate better rates where possible to control all shipping and courier costs for the business to become more sustainable and competitive.
• Analyse the data to assess the performance of the suppliers as well as the shipping companies and feedback through the KPI process.
• Monitor stock levels where appropriate and with the Purchasing Team so shortfalls are kept to a minimum as well as overstock situations.
• Run weekly shipping meetings with Production and Operations.
• Manage escalated cases, liaise with clients to let them know when they will receive their deliveries and manage any shortfalls or overages and implement necessary measures to manage expectations.
• Liaise with the warehouse to ensure smooth receipt of deliveries and effective communication around incoming stock.
• Take ownership of the relationship with the third-party warehouse, acting as the main point of contact, overseeing daily operations, and ensuring service level agreements and performance KPIs are consistently achieved.
• Liaise with the warehouse on specific deliveries to ensure the smooth flow of products in and out.
• Once stock is fully checked and approved book on to ERP and advise all teams this is available to order
• Check and verify supplier invoices against shipment details to ensure accuracy before approval and processing.
• To carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in line with your main duties.

Qualifications and Prior Experience

• 5+ years experience of working at Shipping Manager level, with a consumer products brand that supplies to retailers
• Experience working with and demonstrate having strong contacts with international suppliers especially in the Far East and also with global freight forwarders.
• Previous experience of working with a third-party warehouse to understand their process and ways of working.
• A thorough understanding of customs processes, tariffs and HS codes.
• Experience of shipping large quantities into global markets.
• Proven ability to negotiate costs of freight where possible.
• Great knowledge of Word, Excel and previous experience with an ERP system
• Strong communicator with great attention to detail.
• A probative individual who can adapt and be flexible to meet manufacturing demands and changes.
• Ability to build strong relationships (internal, external and stakeholders)