Logistics Manager

Highland Spring Group; Blackford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Highland Spring Group is seeking a senior logistics professional to lead relationships with 3PL warehouse partners and drive end-to-end operational excellence. The role requires steering commissioning, transitions and stock control, while maintaining service levels and cost efficiency across the logistics network.

You will analyse performance data, collaborate with internal teams and customers, and develop the logistics function to deliver reliable on-time, in-full service.

Qualifications

• Experience within logistics, warehousing or 3PL management in FMCG, manufacturing or high-volume environments.
• Hands-on experience with warehouse commissioning/start-up or major operational transitions.
• Ability to translate data into performance insights and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead relationships with 3PL warehouse partners and set clear performance KPIs.
• Track performance, escalate issues and ensure corrective actions are followed through.
• Manage logistics costs, storage, handling, fuel and other charges to improve utilisation.
• Oversee commissioning/start-up of new or changing warehouse operations.
• Coordinate warehouse transitions across inbound and outbound operations with internal teams, customers and partners.
• Plan stock transfers, migrations and systems cutover with clear ownership and sequencing.
• Identify and mitigate service risks during transitions to protect customer service.
• Own stock accuracy across the external logistics network and resolve discrepancies.
• Translate production and demand plans into warehouse and transport capacity requirements.
• Identify capacity constraints early and implement effective plans.
• Support OTIF and customer service goals across the logistics network.
• Lead improvements across warehouse, logistics, rail and multimodal operations.
• Provide reporting across service, cost, stock, capacity, risks and actions.

Skills

3PL management

Logistics

Warehouse commissioning

Stock control

Supplier management

Negotiation

Data-driven decisions

People leadership

Job description

What you'll be doing

• A major part of the role will be leading our relationships with our 3PL warehouse partners.
• You'll establish clear expectations, track performance against meaningful KPIs and make sure actions are followed through when things aren't where they need to be.
• You'll have a strong commercial focus too, managing logistics costs, challenging storage, handling, fuel and additional charges, and identifying opportunities to improve utilisation and productivity.
• You'll also:
  • Lead the commissioning and operational start-up of new or changing warehouse operations, ensuring effective mobilisation and readiness.
  • Lead warehouse transitions and transfers across inbound and outbound operations, coordinating activity across internal teams, customers and logistics partners.
  • Plan and manage customer migration, stock transfers and systems cutover, ensuring clear ownership, sequencing and operational control throughout.
  • Identify and manage service risks during warehouse transitions, putting appropriate contingency and mitigation plans in place to protect customer service.
  • Own stock accuracy performance across our external logistics network, ensuring discrepancies are properly understood and resolved.
  • Translate production and demand plans into clear warehouse and transport capacity requirements.
  • Identify capacity constraints and operational risks early and put effective plans in place.
  • Ensure our logistics network supports customer service and OTIF performance.
  • Lead the resolution of recurring logistics and service issues.
  • Support contract renewals, tenders and commercial negotiations with logistics partners.
  • Lead agreed warehouse, logistics, rail and multimodal improvements.
  • Provide clear reporting across service, cost, stock, capacity, risks and actions.
  • Lead, support and develop the Logistics team, creating clear accountability and helping people perform at their best.
  • Continuously look for better ways of working across the logistics network.

About you

• You'll bring strong experience within logistics, warehousing or 3PL management, ideally gained within FMCG, manufacturing or another high-volume environment.
• Crucially, you'll have experience of warehouse commissioning, start-up or significant operational transition.
• You'll understand what it takes to move from planning into live operation while maintaining control of stock, systems, service and customer requirements.
• You’ll be comfortable operating at both an operational and commercial level - able to get into the detail when required while keeping sight of wider business priorities.

We’d particularly like to hear from you if you have:

• Strong experience managing external logistics or warehousing partners.
• Experience commissioning or starting up warehouse operations.
• Experience leading warehouse transitions or transfers, covering inbound and outbound operations.
• Practical experience of customer migration, stock transfers and systems cutover.
• Experience identifying and managing service risk during major logistics or warehouse change.
• A good commercial understanding of warehousing and transport operations.
• Experience managing inventory controls and stock accuracy.
• Strong supplier-management and negotiation capability.
• Confidence using data to understand performance and constructively challenge where required.
• Strong organisational skills and a reputation for following things through.
• Experience leading and developing others.
• The ability to take a strategy or pla