Logistics Manager in Elgin

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Logistics Manager to join our Supply Chain team in Elgin. This is a permanent, full-time role working 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday, on site. The salary for this role starts from £38000 per annum, dependent on experience.

About the Role

The Logistics Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the logistics and consumables warehouse function. You will be responsible for managing end-to-end processes, procedures, negotiation, and performance relating to inbound and outbound logistics across imported, exported, and domestic freight. The key objective of this role is to enhance cost efficiency, service levels and operational flexibility, while driving a culture of continuous improvement across the team.

This role requires close collaboration with key internal stakeholders including Commercial, Customer Services, Production, Supply Chain, Fulfilment, and Warehouse teams. You will also manage relationships with key external partners such as 3PL providers, import/export agents, carriers, and freight forwarders. As the business’s subject matter expert on all customs-related matters, you will provide guidance, ensure compliance, and support the organisation in navigating relevant import/export regulations and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy and Development
• Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practice Logistics and Warehousing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance.
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects. Reviewing and communicating the impact on textile manufacturing and sales activities.
• General and Task Management
• Responsible for managing the daily operation of logistics and consumables stores, including processes and procedures.
• Manage relationships with key outbound and inbound providers. Facilitate regular meetings with key suppliers reviewing carrier performance, costs, negotiation on rates and opportunities for IT integration.
• Maintain market knowledge of alternate transport solutions and establish ability to gain added capacity when necessary.
• Explore and advise on new transportation options or consolidation methods to maximise economy.
• Apply understanding of customs procedures to the creation of robust processes and guides to ensure smooth and compliant import and export of goods.
• Create effective process for management of inbound goods, ensuring regular communication and delivery to internal and external customers.
• Contribute to and support the delivery of capex plans by offering logistical and storage solutions as required.
• Manage all courier activities and maintain relationship with carriers.
• Liaising with internal sales and dispatch team to schedule orders.
• Troubleshoot delays and solve issues with Customs Agents.
• Manage commercial invoices and other customs documentation.
• Assist with management and audit of customs records for the company's customs authorisation.
• Plan for growth to ensure sufficient capacity ahead of demand, maximising flexibility and minimising operational costs.
• Develop, implement and manage KPI’s for each area of responsibility and driving service levels.
• Ensure legislative compliance.
• Champion highest standards of Health & Safety.
• Project management – manage & support projects which affect the departments directly and indirectly, ensuring timelines are met.
• Strive for business improvements and cost reduction initiatives.
• Promote and advise on embedding best practice.
• Investigate and resolve issues that arise.
• Recruitment of staff and support staff development and training requirements.
• People Management
• Manage, coach and develop a high performing team that meets agreed objectives and which delivers best practice results, added value and continuous improvements.
• Set objectives/KPI’s and review and assess ongoing performance of any direct reports.
• Report on achievement of targets and identify any actions required.
• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the team to ensure the standards and behaviours expected are understood.
• Ensure the delivery of the strategy within area of accountability.
• Manage and lead the team, ensuring adequate staffing levels.
• Motivate and coach the team to operational success.
• Monitor the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems.
• Review, implement and update company records e.g. training matrices, performance reviews, risk assessments.
• Communicate KPI’s from the strategic plan.
• Ongoing skills/competencies and development needs assessment for direct reports with plan for addressing needs and gaps.
• Develop a strong sense of co-operation and teamwork with a focus on common business goals and KPIs.
• Financial and Budget Control
• Input and hold responsibility for logistics budget for the Elgin mill operations.
• Contribute to the annual budget and forecasts, providing logistics and warehousing costs and consideration of all Capital Expenditure proposals as well as ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• Relationship Management
• Work as part of the team to share ideas and improve operation, recommending, supporting and implementing continuous improvement activities and process and procedure improvements to optimise results and improve quality of delivery, in line with quality standards requirements delivery in line with Company and Customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance.
• Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the strategy.
• Liaise and communicate with other departments, customer, transporters and other service providers.
• Ensure an effective interface with other departmental staff is maintained.

About You

Essential

• Experience in a similar management role (preferably within manufacturing).
• Demonstrable track record in leadership and people management within a logistics and warehousing role.
• A confident leader and decision maker, able to articulate and deliver the operational vision and bring culture change within team.
• Working knowledge of global import and export landscape and shipping industry including customs documentation post-Brexit such as duty, HTS codes, COO preparation.
• Excellent in-depth knowledge of warehousing, stock control and transport operations including fleet optimisation, fleet compliance and fleet preventative maintenance.
• Experience in stock takes, stock reconciliation between 3rd party warehousing.
• Experience managing a large range of 3rd party logistics partners.
• Excellent stock control and warehousing knowledge familiar with planning optimal stock flow and layouts within the warehouse across goods in, put away, pick, pack, vehicle loading and dispatch within a busy, fast paced environment.
• Practical knowledge of warehousing, stock control and transport KPI’s and experience of embedding these within an operation to drive performance, add value and improve profitability.
• Experienced driving and presenting business improvement initiatives to senior executives.
• Ability to work as part of a team with colleagues across professional, operational, and cultural boundaries.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle a number of tasks at once and meet deadlines as required.
• Strong understanding of customs procedures.

Desirable

• Understanding of lean manufacturing and Continuous Improvement.
• Understanding of domestic and international government regulations.
• Relevant professional membership.

About Us

Founded in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin is an innovative, luxury clothing brand celebrating 225 years of experience in working with the world’s finest fibres. Across three centuries, our family-owned company has carefully sourced cashmere and fine woollen fibres from around the world, applying the latest technology and highest quality craft expertise in our very own vertical Scottish mills. Employing over 1,000 staff, our valued employees and communities are at the heart of everything we do, producing unique, high-quality designs that are made to last. Our brand is focused on sustainability, working with natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibres and we are committed to maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.

Johnstons of Elgin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer wholeheartedly supporting the principles of equality and diversity to build an inclusive workforce. Our aim is to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do to create an environment where our employees feel safe to be their whole authentic self without having to downplay or change parts of their identity. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, which goes beyond those characteristics protected by law to include everything that makes us unique, from our backgrounds and experiences to our personalities and ways of thinking.

We endeavour to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and encourage any candidate who requires assistance to contact us.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement or qualification. At Johnstons of Elgin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but think your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Please note all applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to remain and take up paid employment in the country the job is based.