First Mile Manager

ABOUT QUINCE Quince is a destination for builders, creators, innovators, and operators who want to come together and challenge the status quo. Our mission is simple: make really high quality essentials for really low prices, fairly and sustainably. We deliver on that mission through a unique manufacturer-to-consumer (M2C) model eliminating the layers of traditional retail that add cost and result in consumers paying more than they need to. We find, build relationships with, and work directly with the manufacturing partners behind some of the world’s finest products. From there, our teams design smart, efficient operational processes and build and deploy proprietary technology, AI, and analytics to help us scale fast. What began with a small assortment of elevated basics has quickly grown into a cross-category brand spanning apparel, accessories, home goods, and more. Today, tens of millions of people across a growing number of countries come – and return – to Quince because they trust us to deliver. OUR CULTURE Quince is a culture built for builders by builders. Our way of working starts with a blank sheet of paper. We question conventional thinking, use technology and data to uncover new opportunities, and move quickly to turn ideas into reality. We aren’t interested in replicating how others do retail. We’re building a better way – at a speed and scale unlike anything that’s been done before. • We dream big and chase the hard problems others shy away from. Rejecting long-held assumptions is part of our company's DNA. Where conventional wisdom says you have to choose – soft or durable, speed or rigor, quality or price – we ask why that trade-off has to exist in the first place. • Our pace is fast and the bar is high because our customers expect a lot from us and we refuse to let them down. We believe the best results come from challenging ourselves, learning from one another, and building on each other's strengths. • Here, responsibility is not determined by role, tenure, or seniority. Every team member - no matter their level - has the opportunity to drive our business and shape our trajectory. If you’re someone who likes to imagine new possibilities and build better systems rather than plug-in to outdated ones, Quince is the place for you. About the Role You’ll run day-to-day first-mile execution, moving inventory from vendor manufacturing sites in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Turkey, Peru, Mexico, and Italy to our warehouses in the US, China, and Europe. You’ll manage forwarders and logistics partners, keep shipments on time and on budget, and help onboard new vendors as our supplier base grows. You’ll work closely with Sourcing, Planning, Compliance, and Finance, and you’ll have real ownership over how the network performs. What You’ll Do • Coordinate air and ocean freight with forwarders, including rate negotiation, capacity planning, and delivery terms • Manage VDDP and non-VDDP vendor shipments, including duty codes, export documentation, and customs requirements • Track forwarder performance and escalate underperformance, and maintain redundancy in the forwarder network • Monitor and hit first-mile SLAs: under 9 days P90 from ASN to stock-in, under 7 days P90 from pickup to warehouse delivery, and under 45 days P90 for ocean transfer • Support drop-ship coordination, including routing, customs paperwork, and vendor SLA compliance • Document logistics playbooks for new vendors, covering VDDP vs. non-VDDP requirements, documentation, and SLAs • Build and maintain KPI dashboards, identify cost and process improvements, and help shift more volume from air to ocean • Lead and coach a small team of coordinators What You Bring • 4+ years of first-mile, inbound, or freight operations experience (5+ preferred) • Hands-on experience with air and ocean freight forwarding, including vendor coordination and rate negotiation • Working knowledge of VDDP processes, customs documentation, HS codes, and India export/import regulations • Experience managing 3P partners such as forwarders, warehouses, or transporters • Fluency in Hindi, verbal and written, for daily work with vendors and partners • Strong analytical skills and comfort using data and tools, including AI and automation, to solve operational problems • Clear communication with internal teams and external partners across geographies Nice to Have • Experience with customs or export compliance at an operational level • Background in DTC, e-commerce, or retail logistics • Experience with TMS or freight management platforms WHY QUINCE? Joining Quince means being part of a mission-driven team reshaping retail. You will work alongside talented colleagues, tackle meaningful challenges, and contribute to building a more sustainable, accessible future for customers and partners alike. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & HIRING INTEGRITY Quince provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applications for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Quince is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete your application or to perform the essential functions of a role at Quince, please let us know by completing this accommodation form. We review all requests individually and will work with you to determine appropriate accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Quince will conduct background checks in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Security Advisory: Beware of Frauds At Quince, we're dedicated to recruiting top talent who share our drive for innovation. To safeguard candidates, Quince emphasizes legitimate recruitment practices. Initial communication is primarily via official Quince email addresses and LinkedIn; beware of deviations. Personal data and sensitive information will not be solicited during the application phase. Interviews are conducted via phone, in person, or through the approved platforms Google Meets or Zoom—never via messaging apps or other calling services. Offers are merit-based, communicated verbally, and followed up in writing. If personal information is requested to initiate the hiring process, rest assured it will be through secure and protected means.