We are looking for a Head of Shipping Logistics to join Team OB in our Support Office.

As Head of Shipping Logistics at OB you will have full ownership of the department's vision, performance, and people.

You will work in close partnership with the Heads of Warehouse & Logistics, Fulfilment & Returns, Facilities, and Merchandising to ensure the entire product journey, from origin to customer is seamless, cost-effective, and strategically aligned. You will ensure the brand's supply chain is resilient, efficient, and future-ready.

Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week.

A bit about us …

At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.

Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.

Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.

More about the role …

An OB Head of Shipping Logistics will:

Define and own the long-term departmental strategy for shipping and logistics, aligned to overall business growth plans
Set the vision for a best-in-class global supply chain, identifying opportunities for innovation, automation, and continuous improvement
Represent the Shipping & Logistics function at senior management level, contributing to cross-functional strategy
Build and manage annual budgets for freight and logistics costs, delivering against targets and ensuring robust financial governance
Drive a minimum 15% reduction in product transportation costs year-on-year through strategic carrier management, route optimisation, and process efficiencies
Champion sustainability within the supply chain, working cross-functionally to identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact across international freight
Investigate digital tools and systems to optimise internal processes, working with IT and Data teams to enhance data-driven decision-making across the supply chain
Maintain expert-level knowledge of HMRC import/export regulations, ensuring full business compliance across all freight movements
Proactively monitor geopolitical developments, trade policy changes, and tariff updates — advising the Leadership Team on business risk and mitigation strategies
Collaborate with the Buying and QC teams to ensure data accuracy, owning and governing all product tariff code classifications to ensure ongoing accuracy, compliance, and correct duty payment
Lead the business response to any compliance incidents, regulatory audits, or customs enquiries
Establish and maintain a robust compliance framework, including internal audit processes and documentation standards
Liaise with the Head of Facilities on Marine and cargo insurance renewals, ensuring freight coverage is adequate and aligned to OB's operational risk exposure
Oversee the end-to-end freight lifecycle — from origin planning with suppliers to final inbound delivery into the warehouse
Lead strategic sourcing and management of freight forwarding companies, shipping lines, and haulage providers globally
Set, review, and renegotiate carrier and freight forwarding contracts to ensure best-in-class service levels and commercial terms
Ensure delivery timelines are planned and executed in line with the Oliver Bonas business calendar and seasonal critical paths, in close collaboration with Merchandising teams
Oversee the review and authorisation of all freight, duty, and VAT invoices — ensuring accuracy and timely payment in conjunction with Finance
Maintain oversight of all import entry checks, ensuring irregularities are identified and resolved promptly
Build strong cross function collaboration including Warehouse & Logistics, Fulfilment & Returns, Buying, Merchandising, IT, and Data Teams
Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing Shipping Logistics team, fostering a culture of accountability, curiosity, and collaboration
Set clear objectives and performance expectations across the team, conducting regular progress conversations and formal appraisals
Coach and mentor direct reports, supporting their growth and development
Own the department's reporting framework, producing regular analysis of transportation costs, carrier performance, and supply chain KPIs
Present strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership, translating data into clear business narratives
Lead contribution to seasonal supplier appraisals, ensuring comprehensive supply chain data and delivery performance analysis is available to Merchandising teams
Proactively identify and communicate supply chain risks, cost pressures, and commercial opportunities

Bonas Benefits:

Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
Flexible holiday – 33 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
Auto-enrolment into our pension plan
Free access to our onsite gym
Cycle to work scheme
Refer a Friend incentive
Quarterly free lunch
Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
Mental Health First Aider support
Education and support through 360L eLearning platform

What we look for:

Significant experience in international shipping and logistics, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams
Expert knowledge of national and international import/export legislation, customs compliance, and tariff classification
Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic relationships with global logistics partners
Strong commercial acumen with experience managing significant freight budgets and delivering cost savings
Proven track record of delivering transformational change and process improvement within a logistics function
Exceptional negotiation skills, with experience renegotiating carrier and freight forwarding contracts at scale
Strong analytical capability — able to translate complex data into clear strategic recommendations
Excellent leadership and people development skills, with experience managing managers
Confident cross-functional collaborator, with experience building productive relationships across Operations, Merchandising, Finance, and IT
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the gravitas to influence at senior leadership level
Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, commercially driven retail environment

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB

At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.

It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.

Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.

To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity