Senior inventory, freight and distribution manager

Salary: The salary range for this role is £50,000 - £55,000 depending on experience.

Location: London

Use data, forecasting and sales trends to manage stock and keep books moving efficiently between the UK and US.

Nosy Crow is a multi-award winning, independent children’s publishing company with operations in both the UK and the USA. We make child-focused, parent-friendly children’s books for ages 0-12. We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join as our Senior Inventory, Freight and Distribution Manager working across both our UK and US lists.

Purpose of the Job

Reporting to the Operations Director, the Senior Inventory, Freight and Distribution Manager is responsible for managing inventory, freight and distribution across Nosy Crow’s UK and US businesses.

Using data, forecasting and market insight, the role balances stock availability with effective working capital management, while ensuring the efficient and cost-effective movement of stock from manufacture through to customer delivery.

The role also manages the Inventory Assistant and works closely with colleagues, distribution centres and external partners across the UK and US.

Key responsibilities and tasks

• Lead the management of inventory across our UK and US businesses, using data, forecasting and sales trends to optimise stock availability while minimising excess inventory and working capital
• Analyse stock performance and demand, identifying risks and opportunities and making recommendations on reprints and other stock decisions
• Manage our operational relationships with third-party distribution centres, ensuring effective communication, accurate stock information and timely resolution of issues
• Work closely with UK and US sales teams to manage direct deliveries, special fulfilment requirements and other stock-related needs
• Lead the management of international freight across air, sea and land, ensuring stock is moved efficiently, cost-effectively and in line with customer and distribution centre requirement
• Manage relationships with freight partners, including reviewing service levels and KPIs, negotiating rates and addressing underperformance
• Make effective freight decisions based on cost, lead times, service requirements and business priorities, while monitoring freight spend
• Identify and implement improvements to inventory, freight and distribution processes, systems and reporting
• Lead regular UK and US stock meetings, providing analysis, highlighting stock and availability risks and ensuring agreed actions are followed through
• Line manage, coach and develop the Inventory Assistant.

Key skills, characteristics and capabilities:

• Strong inventory management experience, including stock analysis, forecasting and managing stock availability and excess inventory.
• Good knowledge of international book publishing distribution; UK and US distribution experience would be an advantage.
• Experience of international freight and logistics, including working with freight forwarders and third-party distribution centres.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with excellent Excel skills and the ability to turn data and trends into practical recommendations.
• Good commercial judgement, with an understanding of the balance between stock availability, customer service, cost and working capital.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy operational environment.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
• Effective people management skills, with the ability to coach, delegate and support development.
• Excellent attention to detail, combined with a practical, can-do approach and willingness to muck in when needed.

The successful candidate will have the right to live and work in the UK. This is a hybrid role working 3 days per week in our office near to London Bridge.

To apply please email your CV, salary expectations and an email of no more than 500 words detailing why you think you would be the right person for the job. Please also refer to where you discovered this vacancy in your application. The closing date for applications is midnight on the 1st September.

Benefits:

• Pension scheme
• Hybrid working
• 25 days paid holiday, plus bank holidays
• Christmas closure
• Summer hours
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Income ProtectionCritical Illness cover
• Group Life Assurance
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/partner/adoption leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Eye care vouchers
• Up to 80% off RRP for Nosy Crow book purchases
• Emergency loans

Please let us know, if you are comfortable doing so, whether or not there are any reasonable adjustments that we should consider that would help during the recruitment process.

Nosy Crow is a Disability Confident, committed equal opportunities employer. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is an important factor in success and make recruiting decisions based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership.

Applications are treated with due confidentiality.

Nosy Crow is a member of the Living Wage foundation.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access