3PL Supply Chain Support

This role is remote job opportunity with some occasional Travel to Canary Wharf.

Job Overview The 3PL Ops Support provides essential operational support to the 3PL Delivery Manager, assisting with the day-to-day management of third-party logistics (3PL) provider performance, stock management and distribution activities. The postholder plays a key role in ensuring the accuracy of vaccine inventory data and the effective resolution of operational queries. Our Storage and Distribution Team in VCD leads on the storage and distribution of vaccines and countermeasures, working closely with delivery partners such as 3PLs, NHS supply teams and all UK nations. We ensure seamless delivery by maintaining robust relationships, upholding the highest quality standards and leveraging our expertise. Daily operational management of our 3PL is a critical component of our work. This includes monitoring contractual performance, addressing operational issues promptly and ensuring that delivery schedules and service level agreements (SLAs) are consistently met. By maintaining close oversight of 3PL activities, we can quickly identify and mitigate risks, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted distribution of vaccines and countermeasures. The team ensures supply chain security by implementing measures that protect the integrity of vaccine storage and distribution. This includes preventing theft or diversion through strict chain-of-custody protocols and performing risk assessments to mitigate vulnerabilities. We also maintain traceability of inventory to ensure compliance and reduce potential disruptions. In addition to routine operations, we play a vital role in readiness activities to ensure the system is prepared for product updates, new vaccine launches or unexpected demand spikes. This includes working closely with internal teams to align stock availability with demand forecasts, stress-testing distribution plans and refining processes to ensure swift mobilisation during public health emergencies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day operational management of 3PL provider activities, acting as a point of contact for routine logistics queries and escalating issues to the 3PL Delivery Manager as appropriate.
• Monitor vaccine stock levels and inventory data held by 3PL providers, flagging discrepancies, stock shortages, or expiry concerns to the Delivery Manager.
• Process and track distribution orders, ensuring accurate and timely fulfilment in line with delivery schedules and operational requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of vaccine movements, receipts, despatches, and returns, ensuring data quality across parties
• Support cold-chain compliance monitoring, assisting with the review of temperature data and the escalation of excursion events in line with SOPs.
• Assist in the preparation of performance reports and KPI dashboards, collating data from 3PL systems and internal sources.
• Coordinate logistics-related correspondence with 3PL providers, NHS delivery sites and internal teams.
• Support the planning and execution of routine stock checks, audits and reconciliation activities.
• Contribute to the maintenance and updating of operational SOPs, procedures and guidance documents.
• From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing appropriate expertise within the CVCD Incident response cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Essential role criteria

• Experience supporting day-to-day logistics or supply chain operations, with involvement in coordinating orders, tracking deliveries or managing operational queries.
• Strong data accuracy and administration skills, with experience maintaining inventory records, processing transactions or reconciling stock information across systems.
• Understanding of inventory management principles, including stock monitoring, expiry control and the importance of traceability in regulated environments.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and support compliance activities, including cold-chain monitoring and incident escalation.
• Good communication and organisational skills, with the ability to work effectively with external suppliers, NHS delivery sites and internal teams in a fast-paced operational setting.
• Minimum GCSE Maths and English