Supply Chain Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Supply Chain Manager will play a pivotal role in overseeing demand planning, inventory management, distributor relationships, and logistics operations across Vanity Group and La Bottega, forming part of the La Bottega Collective.

Responsibilities include sourcing warehouse/3PL services, managing tenders, and overseeing freight forwarder activities.

This position requires hands‑on involvement across these key areas to ensure efficient supply‑chain operations and effective management of resources for the UK and Europe regions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the demand planning file, aligning historical order patterns with sales forecasts to ensure stock levels are well maintained and regularly updated across La Bottega and Vanity Group, forming part of the La Bottega Collective.
• Oversee inventory levels across all direct and distributor warehouses, maintaining optimal stock to deliver excellent customer service while minimising SLOB.
• Work closely with the Sales Team and chair monthly S&OP meetings with key stakeholders to improve inventory and SKU efficiency for wholesale billing units.
• Align purchase orders with centralised procurement, coordinating with group offices as required.
• Obtain sales forecasts from the Sales Team and manage forecasting, new hotel opening orders, and production planning with manufacturing partners.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies for supply issues as they arise.
• Own the operational management of distributors across the UK and Europe.
• Build strong distributor relationships to maximise efficiency and output.
• Understand the unique requirements of each market and recommend strategies to mitigate business risk, including out‑of‑stocks (customer risk), excess stock (financial risk), customer service standards, and accountability.
• Set standards and manage performance on an ongoing basis, allocating dedicated resources accordingly.
• Oversee and support the Customer Success team on performance and queries.
• WAREHOUSING
• Maintain relationships with all 3PL warehouses, resolving operational issues and driving continuous improvement in direct markets to facilitate excellent customer service.
• Hold weekly meetings with 3PL warehouses, holding them accountable against key KPIs.
• Monitor each warehouse's performance, benchmark rates annually, and re‑tender where required.
• Manage and take responsibility for the annual stock take.
• Review all logistics provider invoices and manage the associated budget and costs.
• Review warehouse efficiencies monthly to ensure costs are well managed.
• Oversee the monthly inventory reconciliation before posting variances in the system.
• Ensure all monthly open POs and SOs in the system are updated, with valid reasons recorded for any remaining open.
• Ensure the business has the right logistics partners to support international trade routes across the UK and Europe, including in‑market delivery partners, freight forwarders, and courier services for hotel gifting, sampling, and retail orders.
• Plan and improve the logistics network in line with the group's growth plans.
• Maintain freight forwarder relationships and hold them accountable for performance and service levels through monthly meetings.
• Execute tenders for freight providers, building requirements, creating briefs, sourcing and shortlisting providers, and negotiating terms.
• Regularly review sea freight quotes to secure the best costs and most efficient outcomes for the business.
• Oversee Packing Room operations from a process perspective, ensuring key internal customers and the hotel Sales Team are well serviced.
• Ensure Packing Room stock levels are accurate and the environment complies with HSE requirements.
• Act as the owner of supply chain systems, including the ERP supply chain model and MRP.
• Conduct training for team members and other stakeholders.
• Drive problem‑solving and continuous improvement to support the group's growth across the UK and Europe.
• Generate reports to monitor performance and improve efficiency.
• Lead a team of three direct reports, Senior Demand & Supply Planner, Supply Chain Planner, and Customer Success Manager, coaching, supporting, and providing feedback through Company values.
• Create structure, process, and discipline across the department.
• Act as the supply chain gatekeeper, owning departmental processes and procedures and making improvements where required.
• Deliver weekly and monthly reporting to the Executives on all key supply‑chain aspects, including inventory planning, team management, logistics, Packing Room operations, and system optimisation.
• Protect the business by keeping system and operational manuals up to date, creating them where missing.
• Operate both strategically and tactically as the situation requires.
• Lead the warehouse transitions.
• Lead the EU integration project of establishing VG/LB Stock based in Italy Warehouse.
• Contribute to general process efficiency initiatives related to Palatino in collaboration with supply chain management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in supply chain management.
• Experience setting up a supply chain and logistics framework.
• Experience with major forecasting and planning system.
• Have worked in a high SKU environment.
• Solid experience on 3PL and warehouse management is a must.
• Solid knowledge and experience in freight forwarder management.
• Team management and advanced Excel skills.
• Being able to deal with different levels of stakeholders from junior to directors.
• Solid understanding of supply chain and logistics management principles.
• Proactive problem solver with calm execution under pressure.
• Comfortable working hands‑on, independently, and in a fast‑scaling environment.
• Hybrid working conditions.
• Flexible start and finish times.
• Generous discounts & gifts from in‑house and partner skincare and haircare brands including Jo Loves, APPELLES, ESPA and more.
• Discounts with Vanity Group hotel partners locally and internationally.
• Birthday leave to celebrate your special day.
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