Manager, Operations - UK

Kids II Inc.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Generous benefits

Team activities

Job summary

Kids2 is seeking a Manager, Operations – EU/UK to own the supply chain network across Europe and the UK, managing a 3PL partner responsible for warehousing, order fulfilment, and transport. The role is based in the UK office with regular travel to Maastricht, NL, Amsterdam, and Peterborough.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in supply chain, 2+ years in a leadership role, and experience with 3PL relationships, WMS, and SAP. Hybrid work, competitive benefits, and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in supply chain/operations.
• 2+ years in a management or supervisory role.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary point of contact for 3PL partners across Europe and the UK.
• Monitor KPIs/SLAs to ensure on-time delivery and accuracy.
• Lead cost-reduction initiatives and supplier performance reviews.
• Provide rolling 6-week volume forecasts to 3PLs.
• Mentor a small team and define clear roles/objectives.
• Oversee end-to-end supply chain execution with 3PLs.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytics

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

WMS

SAP

AI tools

Job description

At Kids2, we’re really good at what we do. And when we’re great at our jobs, we help parents be great at their jobs. Parenting is demanding, and that’s where we come in. We want to reimagine how brands can make it easier for early stage parents – not by just selling them products, but by providing holistic solutions that transcend borders, categories and aisles. No matter our title or department, at Kids2, our job is to create more tiny wins for parents, so they can create bright futures for their little ones. That’s a big task! We’re serious about what we do, AND we love to have fun. Our team is hardworking, entrepreneurial, and passionate about helping families create millions, if not billions of tiny wins. UMMARY The Manager, Operations – EU/UK, has ownership of our supply chain network across Europe and the UK. This critical leadership role is centered on the management of our integrated Third-Party Logistics (3PL) partner, who handles all warehousing, customer order fulfilment, and transportation operations. Reporting directly to the Director of Operations EU/UK, the ideal candidate must thrive in a complex, high-paced environment, demonstrating flexibility and agility to adapt to constant changes in priorities and market conditions. The position is based in the Kids2 UK Office and requires regular travel to the European warehouse in Maastricht, NL, the Amsterdam sales office and the UK Warehouse in Peterborough.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Act as the primary point of contact and relationship owner for our integrated 3PL partners, who manage receiving, warehousing, customer order fulfilment, and transportation activities across Europe and the UK.
• Monitor and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the 3PLs to ensure consistently accurate order processing and on-time delivery across the region.
• Participate in business reviews with the 3PLs in conjunction with the Director of Operations – EU/UK to evaluate operational performance and identify cost-reduction opportunities and efficiencies.
• Provide a rolling 6-week volume forecast to the 3PLs on a weekly basis, with a longer-term view where significant volume uplifts are expected.
• Analyze cost to serve and recommend cost reduction opportunities.
• Validate 3PL invoices against contracted rates and support contract renewals and rate negotiations.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a small team of two direct reports based in the Amsterdam office.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities and objectives for each team member, conduct performance evaluations, and foster a collaborative culture that ensures effective oversight of the 3PLs' daily execution against customer-specific requirements.
• Define team roles and objectives, conduct performance evaluations, and foster a collaborative culture that supports and effectively oversees the 3PLs daily execution.
• Monitor the end-to-end supply chain execution managed by the 3PLs, from inbound receiving and inventory control to final-mile customer delivery.
• Rapidly assess and adjust operational priorities based on shifts in demand, market requirements, supply chain disruptions, or regulatory changes.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives for the supply chain, leveraging data and 3PL capabilities to improve process efficiency, delivery speed, and overall service quality.
• Act as a point of escalation for critical service failures or operational disruptions, coordinating rapid resolution with the 3PLs and internal teams, and escalating further if needed.
• Lead and participate in special projects as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 7+ Years of experience.
• At least 2 years' experience in a management or supervisory role.

EDUCATION & SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Demonstrated experience managing 3PL relationships covering warehousing, fulfilment, and transportation across multi-country territories (specifically Europe and the UK).
• In depth knowledge of international shipping, customs requirements, and the specific regulatory environment for EU-UK trade (post-Brexit).
• Proven ability to define and use performance data (KPIs/SLAs) to hold a vendor accountable and drive performance improvement.
• Confident presenting to multiple levels of leadership.
• Hands on approach, comfortable getting involved in and finding better processes in day-to-day activities.
• Experience using AI tools to automate reporting or improve processes is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience in using data to identify trends, forecast demand, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) is required; familiarity with SAP is highly desirable.
• Exceptional leadership and negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly across all levels of the organization.

COMPUTER/TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and data visualization tools, with the ability to extract insights from complex datasets to inform operational decisions and identify trends.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to talk or hear. The team member frequently is required to sit; have flexible use of hands; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel or crouch.

Location: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday UK Office, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Monday / Friday - option to work from home or work in the office.
Travel: Monthly travel to the European warehouse in Maastricht and the Amsterdam sales office. Monthly travel to the UK warehouse in Peterborough. Occasional (annual/bi-annual) International travel further afield.
We offer competitive pay, flexible hours, and generous benefits.
Plus, to keep things fun (because we are all kids at heart), we offer a host of team member activities and philanthropic efforts throughout the year and company-wide awards and recognition for a job well done! Check out our website at www.kids2.com and our social media pages on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram for more information and open positions in the career section.

Drug Free Workplace M/F/D/V

Kids2 is a global company that designs solutions to help early-stage parents and families create tiny wins that build bright futures. The Kids2™ brand portfolio includes the leading infant, baby, and toddler brands Baby Einstein®, Bright Starts®, and Ingenuity®.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Kids2 spans globally with 12 offices on four continents serving customers in more than 90 countries and has been inventing and reinventing baby products for 50 years. Led by CEO Ryan Gunnigle, it operates with an agile start-up approach, which fosters the company’s growing success.