Location: Japan
State/Province/City: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Business Unit: Store Support Centre (SSC)
Time Type: Full-time
Distribution Manager
Description & Requirements
The team is responsible for the flow of all products to stores and to the hands of our guests (ecom), in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner, ensure the entire operations are in compliance with company policies such as finance, inventory control and accounting, assets protection, data security.
Reporting to the Asia Fulfillment Senior Manager, this position is to develop and manage 3rd party logistics supplier operated Logistics and (future) DC for omni-channel fulfillment, which includes but not limited to retail and digital sales. The manager is also responsible for leading the function of outbound logistics within Japan. As for long term business plan, to support Asia Fulfillment Senior Manager for strategic setting of Lululemon distribution network within Japan.
- Monitors the transportation flow of all Retail Orders from the Distribution Centers (located in HK and JP) to Stores in Japan
- Support and coordinate with Courier vendors and GECs to ensure Ecom orders can meet our guest SLA’s.
- Monitor DC ship dates and transit time of all Retail orders on a daily basis.
- Work with internal partners and vendors to identify actions to improve our vendor performance. Ensure actions are implemented successfully.
- Support the Retail Operations team and Retail Stores in all Special Projects & Logistical related matters; New Store Openings, Transfers & Returns.
- Support the logistics arrangement for stores pullback and ecom return from stores or guests to DC.
- Audit and submit logistics vendor invoice to Account Payable team.
- Coordinate and manage monthly/quarterly performance meetings with LSPs.
- Support outbound volume forecasts for carriers & 3PL partners
- Acts as the subject matter expert when it comes to vendor KPIs related to outbound shipping.
- Regularly review KPIs to ensure metrics meet Lulu standards.
- Prepare relevant documentations to support the shipping of store orders.
- Own the responsibility for all aspects of DC operations, including inbound receiving, outbound distribution, store pullback, E-commerce return, value added service for products and non-merchandise fulfillment to all channels
- Drive and monitor logistics flow for product to achieve speed to market. Support other business functions to enhance customer satisfaction among channels
- Safeguard procedures (SOP’s), identify problems and quickly resolve them.
- Build up cross-functional collaboration with other internal parties, including inbound logistics, trade and compliance, product, digital, retail, IT within Japan Store Support Center (SSC) as well as our counterparty in APAC
- On an aligned regular basis, share operational knowledge relating to DC and logistics to store manager, retail and other teams who can be benefit from know-how and improve efficiency from both sides
- Maintain and execute effective operation control and performance index to measure against logistics partner. Ensure the measurement is associated with the latest business requirement.
- Participate in monthly performance reviews with our 3rd party DC partners. Report on their performance and communicate any gaps in SLA to key internal stakeholders.
- Establish best practice and methodology with logistics partner for continuous improvement in terms of operation efficiency, speed to market and cost effectiveness, which can be applied to all lululemon DCs within Japan.
- Manage and develop the team, engage the team in problem solving, ensure each team member is clear about their roles and responsibilities. Assess team member’s strength and motivate them to reach individual goals as well as team targets
- Prepare annual DC operating budget and capital request, communicate forecasts and changes efficiently with internal parties as well as our logistics partner properly by holding the sensitivity of data
- Ensure inventory integrity and accuracy both physical and system wise
- Proactively identify risks and create contingency plans that minimize impact under unanticipated circumstances
- Create compliance between operations and company standards or legal requirements
- Provide a work environment that is upbeat, fun, and inspiring
- Other duties and projects may be assigned
- Degree or diploma in business administration, operations management, supply chain management, logistics, industrial engineering, or equivalent
- Minimum 5 years of experience in self‐managed or 3PL distribution center and logistics operations distribution environment of both offline & online order fulfillment experience. Apparel retail related experience is preferred.
- Have deep market intelligence and sound knowledge of LEAN thinking concept and implementation
- Solid understanding of all aspect of enterprise management system, especially in RMS
- Excellent time management, planning and organizational capability
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills are required, experience of leading a team is preferred
- Good team spirit and proactive personality, hands on position
- Clear communications skills to inspire, motivate and provide cross‐functional leadership
- Strong IT skills (Microsoft office applications, familiar with WMS software applications and retail systems)
- Ability to think “outside of the box,” enjoy challenges and is solutions‐oriented
- Good command of spoken and written English & Japanese
- Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.
- Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
- Communicates with honesty and kindness, and creates the space for others to do the same.
- Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
- Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
- Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
In-person collaboration and/or office-based work is necessary or important for the role. Work is mainly performed onsite, 4-5 days per week depending on role requirements.
additional notesAuthorization to work in Japan is required for this role.
Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest. Lululemon is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on race, color, creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state or provincial and local laws and ordinances. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request. This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all practices relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, discipline, transfer, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. While management is primarily responsible for seeing that Lululemon equal employment opportunity policies are implemented, you share in the responsibility for assuring that, by your personal actions, the policies are effective.
lululemon is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you would like someone from our team to contact you for individualized support, email us at[email protected]
. In your email, please include the position title, the location of the position and the nature of your request.
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