Supply Chain Manager - (22.5 hours per week, fixed term contract) in Marden

As a Supply Chain Manager at smol, you’ll take accountability for the successful day-to-day running of the business, focusing on efficient production planning, inventory management and stock optimisation to support overall business growth. You will be responsible for communicating with external suppliers to ensure a sufficient supply of raw materials to meet finished goods demand. This is a part time role (22.5 hours per week) on a fixed‑term contract covering a maternity leave period, expected to be 9‑12 months depending on start date.

Responsibilities

• Stock Management
  • Maintain and accurately update all product stock sheets and systems.
  • Identify potential tight spots or upcoming issues with both finished goods and raw materials, flagging these in advance and providing potential solutions.
  • Contribute to production and demand planning as required – supporting the creation of production plans that sufficiently meet demand and allow for four weeks finished stock cover across all lines.
  • Input into production planning for our international business, providing international teams with expertise developed in the UK.
  • Manage NPD planning to ensure production is accounted for in good time, alongside ongoing review of performance and re‑orders.
  • Update applicable suppliers with the production plan on a monthly basis.
  • Place accurate purchase orders to ensure sufficient raw materials satisfy production and ongoing stockholding ambitions.
  • Manage stockholding accurately in line with established targets.
  • Plan transport for raw materials and finished goods produced in the UK for the international market to maximise truck efficiency.
  • Take full ownership of the monthly stocktake, ensuring accurate records and ongoing visibility of stock.
• Supplier Management
  • Act as the main point of contact for key suppliers, managing orders and resolving issues while holding suppliers accountable.
  • Support supplier relationships, attending weekly calls to coordinate orders and deliveries while ensuring safety stock levels are maintained.
  • Liaise with new suppliers to source materials for upcoming NPD once transitioned from the innovation team.
  • Manage supplier set‑up for all new suppliers sourced internally or transitioned from innovation.
• Projects
  • Support the implementation of the WMS system, ensuring accurate data input and stakeholder engagement while driving continuous improvements post‑go‑live.
  • Utilise project management tools, specifically Asana, to their full potential, acting as an in‑house expert to drive efficient project tracking and collaboration.
  • Lead or support other ad hoc company projects as and when required.
• Culture and Impact
  • Ensure that your work reflects our values as a B Corp company and our internal company values.
  • Act as an ambassador for smol both inside the business and externally with our stakeholders.
  • Drive an inclusive and values‑led approach to the work, ensuring that talent and ideas are nurtured and shared.
  • Champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), supporting the workplace to remain a fair and empowering environment for all.

Qualifications

• Significant previous experience in production planning and inventory management.
• Proven experience in stock optimisation.
• Experience in cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Previous experience in working with suppliers.
• Excellent communicator.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to focus and identify priorities.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• A volunteer day to spend on a cause you care about.
• Flexible working from home.
• Credits for local co‑working hubs when you’re out and about or just need a change of scenery.
• Healthcare cash plan and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Quarterly wellbeing allowance.
• Enhanced parental leave policies (16 weeks full maternity pay, 6 weeks full secondary caregiver's pay).
• Paid fertility leave.
• 45 day nomad working policy.
• Employee share scheme.

The smol Print

This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of two days based at our warehouse in Marden, Kent. The role is part time, working 22.5 hours per week, ideally over three or four days but we are open to discussing alternative working patterns based on individual circumstances.

Inclusion at smol

At smol we believe that a great team is made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, beliefs and experience. We are an inclusive employer and will not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or disability. Ensuring valuable and quality job opportunities for those who face barriers to employment is not only part and parcel of our social responsibility but also brings great benefit to us as a business. Giving people the chance to build up work skills, gain independence, earn a wage, develop strong self‑esteem and to become just as strongly skilled as those who never faced employment barriers is a process we remain committed to. We hope to hear from those who share our values and want to help make a difference.