Product Returns Process Lead (Logistics)

As a result of strong business growth, industry-leading product development in our biosensor portfolio, and a long-term commitment to high-volume manufacturing at our Witney Centre of Excellence, Abbott's Diabetes Care business has a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Process Lead to join our expanding, highly skilled team, with a particular focus on returned product logistics. Reporting to the Complaints Manager, this role plays a critical part in the smooth, compliant, and efficient handling of incoming product across the world. You will lead a large, operationally focused team responsible for the receipt, sorting, booking-in, movement, storage, and disposal of returned products, working closely with affiliates, logistics partners, warehouses, and internal quality and Health & Safety teams. This is a people-centric leadership role with a strong operational backbone. You will own end-to-end logistics processes for incoming product, ensure systems and suppliers are performing effectively, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen service, compliance, safety and efficiency across the product returns/complaints investigation lifecycle. What you'll be doing

• Lead, manage, and develop a team responsible for incoming product and returns logistics across the product portfolio
• Oversee booking-in processes, ensuring accurate, timely receipt of product into internal systems and physical warehouse locations
• Act as the primary point of contact for global affiliates, managing expectations, resolving issues, and maintaining strong working relationships
• Manage courier returns and third-party logistics providers, ensuring compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
• Monitor warehouse-related activities, including storage, product movements, and disposal processes, ensuring audit-ready standards at all times
• Track supplier performance and financials, including cost control, invoice validation, and trend analysis
• Optimise team capability, productivity, and capacity planning through effective people management and process design
• Ensure all activities are carried out in compliance with divisional regulatory requirements, as well as HSE and EH&S standards
• Drive clear, proactive communication across Post Market Surveillance, EHS, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams
• Identify risks, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks within logistics processes and lead continuous improvement initiatives to address them
• Role-model Abbott's values and behaviours, creating a high-performing, engaged, and accountable team culture
Key areas of responsibility
• Global courier returns and inbound logistics coordination
• Booking-in of incoming product into complaints and logistics systems
• Product storage, movement, and compliant disposal processes
• Affiliate communication and issue resolution
• Supplier management
• Team development, coaching, and succession planning
  
  Further or Higher education qualification plus GCSE, or equivalent qualification in Maths and English
• 2nd line people leadership experience, with a passion for developing high performing teams
• Experience of working within the Medical Devices industry is preferred
If you're an experienced people leader with strong logistics, warehouse, or operational expertise - and you thrive in a regulated, fast-paced setting - this role offers a unique opportunity to shape a critical operational function within a global healthcare leader.

At Abbott, you'll join an organisation that combines cutting-edge technology with real-world impact. Our Witney site is at the heart of global operations, supporting millions of people living with diabetes. We invest heavily in our people, our systems, and our leadership - providing the opportunity to make a tangible difference while growing your career in a stable, purpose-driven environment.