Logistics Lead

SUMMERILL & BISHOP LIMITED; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Summerill & Bishop Limited is seeking a hands-on Logistics Lead to own end-to-end logistics from overseas factories through to warehouse, stores, and customers. You will manage inbound freight, customs, carriers and ensure stock accuracy across the business, working closely with Buying, Finance, Wholesale and Ecommerce.

This role requires about 5 years’ experience in logistics within a product-led retail environment, with a proactive approach to improving processes, reducing costs and ensuring

Qualifications

• Experience in logistics, supply chain or inventory control within a product-led retail business.
• Strong understanding of stock accuracy and cycle counting.
• Proficiency with ERP/inventory systems and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end logistics from suppliers to warehouse and stores.
• Manage relationships with freight forwarders, customs agents and delivery partners.
• Maintain inbound/outbound schedules and monitor performance and costs.
• Ensure stock accuracy across the business and coordinate with Finance on reporting.
• Develop and enforce stock control processes and regular stock takes.
• Collaborate with Buying, Finance, Wholesale and Ecommerce to optimize stock allocation and delivery.

Skills

Logistics

Supply chain

Inventory control

Excel reporting

ERP system

Tools

Brightpearl

Shopify

ERP system

Job description

Summerill & Bishop is looking for a hands‑on, commercially minded Logistics Lead to take ownership of our end‑to‑end logistics operation and stock control.

This is a key role in ensuring our products move efficiently from overseas factories to our warehouse, from our warehouse to our retail stores, and ultimately to our customers. Alongside managing inbound freight, customs, carriers and customer deliveries, you will be accountable for stock accuracy across the business.

We are a growing luxury homeware business selling through our website, two retail stores and wholesale channels. Our products range from delicate decorative pieces to textiles and larger homeware items, so careful handling, reliable stock information and dependable delivery are essential to the customer experience.

You will work closely with Buying, Finance, Wholesale, Retail and Ecommerce to ensure that stock is received, recorded, stored, allocated and delivered correctly. You will establish clear processes, improve visibility and take responsibility for resolving issues rather than allowing them to become recurring problems.

This is a hands‑on role in a close‑knit business, making it the ideal step for a professional with around 5 years of experience, who is ready to step up and grow alongside us. We need someone who is comfortable working in the detail while also learning to look at the bigger picture, improving how the business operates and that takes pride in getting the basics right.

Key Responsibilities

Own the movement of goods from our suppliers and overseas factories through to receipt at the warehouse.

• Manage relationships with freight forwarders, hauliers, customs agents and other logistics partners.
• Take responsibility for organising inbound deliveries in line with production readiness, business priorities and warehouse capacity.
• Maintain an accurate inbound delivery schedule, tracking shipments from dispatch through to warehouse receipt.
• Monitor freight forwarder portals and shipment milestones, identifying delays, customs issues and other risks early.
• Work closely with Buying to prioritise deliveries and communicate changes to expected arrival dates.
• Ensure import documentation and product data are accurate, including commodity codes, country of origin and other relevant customs information.
• Coordinate customs clearance and duty payments with Finance.
• Reconcile freight, duty and associated charges, investigating discrepancies and reporting changes in costs.
• Ensure purchase orders are received correctly in Brightpearl, with landed costs allocated appropriately.
• Provide clear updates on expected intake, delays and supply risks at weekly trading meetings.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of relevant import, customs and freight requirements.

Own the movement of stock from the warehouse to our retail stores and wholesale customers, and the delivery of customer orders through to their final destination.

• Manage relationships with parcel carriers, couriers, hauliers and specialist delivery partners.
• Oversee outbound logistics across ecommerce, retail replenishment, wholesale and other sales channels.
• Ensure store deliveries and inter‑store movements are planned, recorded and completed reliably.
• Monitor delivery performance, costs, service levels, claims, failed deliveries and customer issues.
• Act as the main escalation point for significant delivery problems, coordinating resolution with carriers and internal teams.
• Review carrier performance and challenge rates, surcharges and service standards where appropriate.
• Ensure delivery solutions are suitable for our product range, including fragile, high‑value and bulky items.
• Work with Ecommerce, Retail and Customer Service to resolve fulfilment and delivery issues promptly.
• Oversee returns and the associated movement, inspection and recording of stock.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery reliability, reduce avoidable costs and improve the customer experience.

3. Stock Control & Inventory Accuracy

Take overall responsibility for stock accuracy and the control of stock movements across the warehouse, both retail stores and all sales channels.

• Own stock control processes across the business, ensuring every movement is recorded accurately in Brightpearl.
• Plan and oversee regular Cycle Counting and periodic physical stocktakes across the warehouse and stores.
• Investigate stock discrepancies, identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure all transfers between the warehouse and stores, and between stores, are properly authorised, recorded and completed.
• Maintain clear controls over damaged, faulty, quarantined, sample and other non‑saleable stock.
• Monitor stock accuracy by location, SKU and discrepancy type, using reporting to identify patterns and improvement opportunities.
• Establish clear rules for stock allocation, availability and the handling of urgent or exceptional requests.
• Work with Retail, Ecommerce and Wholesale to reduce failed fulfilment, avoidable transfers and orders that cannot be fulfilled from the expected location.
• Ensure stock records reflect physical reality and that issues are investigated before adjustments are made.
• Work with Finance to maintain accurate stock reporting in both units and cost value, support stock valuation and inform stock provision decisions.

4. Warehouse & Fulfilment

Work with the warehouse fulfilment team to ensure the operation is organised, efficient and consistently delivers the service required by the business.

• Support team to ensure orders are fulfilled accurately, efficiently and within agreed service expectations.
• Monitor fulfilment performance, identifying bottlenecks, errors and opportunities to improve productivity.
• Ensure stock discrepancies, damaged goods and fulfilment exceptions are reported and resolved promptly.

5. Systems, Reporting & Operational Governance

Ensure our systems and processes provide reliable stock information and support effective decisions across the business.

• Maintain Brightpearl as the authoritative source of inventory information across all locations and channels.
• Ensure physical stock movements are reflected accurately and promptly through the appropriate Brightpearl transactions.
• Work with relevant teams to ensure Shopify and Shopify POS inventory remains aligned with Brightpearl.
• Prevent uncontrolled stock changes, undocumented movements and retrospective adjustments without investigation.
• Develop practical reporting covering stock accuracy, inbound deliveries, freight costs, fulfilment performance, transfers and delivery service levels.
• Produce clear operational updates for the Director of Operations and senior leadership team.
• Work closely with Finance to map, document and maintain stock‑related processes and controls.
• Establish appropriate approval and investigation processes for Inventory Adjustments and stock discrepancies.
• Use data to identify recurring operational problems, understand their causes and measure improvement.
• Reduce dependence on spreadsheets, manual workarounds and individual knowledge by establishing clear, repeatable processes.

6. Commercial Improvement & Cross‑Functional Projects

Take an active role in improving how the business operates as it grows.

• Challenge freight rates, carrier costs, surcharges and duties, identifying opportunities for savings without compromising service.
• Support new sales channels, fulfilment requirements and operational projects as the business develops.
• Review supplier delivery performance and recurring issues relating to booking, packaging, labelling and documentation.
• Improve the accuracy of freight and duty assumptions used in product costing, working with Buying and Finance.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce waste and improve productivity across the supply chain.
• Keep up to date with relevant logistics, customs and transport requirements, escalating compliance risks where necessary.
• Contribute to practical improvements in packaging efficiency, product protection and waste reduction.

Experience & Skills

We are looking for someone who combines operational experience with a practical, solutions‑focused approach.

• Experience in logistics, supply chain, inventory control or a closely related operational role within a product led retail business.
• Experience managing inbound freight, international shipments, customs clearance and associated costs.
• Experience managing domestic carriers, couriers and customer delivery operations.
• Experience across multiple sales channels.
• Strong understanding of inventory movements, stock accuracy, physical stocktakes and discrepancy investigation.
• Experience using an ERP or inventory management system to control stock and maintain accurate records.
• Some experience managing operational costs, reviewing supplier performance and identifying savings.
• Strong Excel and reporting skills, with the ability to interpret data and turn it into practical action.