Returns Manager, EU

Quince
London, United Kingdom

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates comfortable with reverse logistics and fraud detection, who have experience in EU markets and can manage cross-functional teams.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in reverse logistics and fraud detection across EU markets
    — “Returns Manager to own end-to-end reverse logistics performance across our UK and EU operations”
  • Individuals who can manage cross-functional teams and align operations with business goals
    — “Partner with customer service, supply chain, finance, and merchandising to align returns operations with broader business goals”
  • Candidates who can balance fraud prevention with customer experience and avoid over-blocking returns
    — “Balance fraud prevention with customer experience, avoiding over-blocking of legitimate returns”

Things to consider

  • This role demands comfort with EU-specific consumer rights and VAT regulations
    — “Ensure returns operations comply with UK and EU consumer protection, distance selling, and VAT/duty rules”
  • The position requires managing both internal teams and external partners like carriers and 3PLs
    — “Manage carrier performance for return pickups, label generation, and inbound transit times”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with returns forecasting and logistics optimization in your resume and interviews
    — “Build and maintain returns volume forecasting models across UK and EU markets”
  • Demonstrate ability to manage fraud detection and prevention systems in the context of returns operations
    — “Build and refine fraud detection processes for returns abuse”
  • Showcase your ability to turn data into actionable insights for leadership decision-making
    — “Build reporting and dashboards to track returns KPIs and turn data into actionable recommendations for leadership”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • build returns operation
  • forecast returns volume
  • manage refunds
Typical background
returns managementreverse logistics

Skills & requirements

Required

Returns ForecastingReverse LogisticsRefund ProcessingFraud PreventionResale

Preferred

UK And EU Consumer Rights RegulationsInventory Management

Stack & domain

Returns ForecastingReturns Volume ForecastingReturns Operations PlanningReturns Rate Trends MonitoringStaffing PlanningProcessing Capacity PlanningWarehouse Space PlanningRefund ProcessingGrading StandardsQuality ChecksRefund Discrepancies ResolutionRefund Disputes ResolutionRefund Turnaround Time TrackingReverse LogisticsFraud PreventionResaleReturns Operation OptimizationRoot Cause AnalysisPartners And Carriers ManagementReportingLeadershipProblem-solvingCommunicationTeam ManagementCollaborationOrganizational SkillsRetailLogisticsReturns Management

About the role

Original posting from Quince via Greenhouse

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

We're looking for a Returns Manager to own end-to-end reverse logistics performance across our UK and EU operations. From forecasting incoming volume through grading, refunds, fraud prevention, and resale, you'll build a returns operation that's fast, accurate, and cost-efficient — while turning returned inventory back into recovered value. This is a hands-on role for someone who can dig into root causes, manage partners and carriers, and build the reporting to prove it's working.

What You'll Do

Returns Forecasting & Planning

Build and maintain returns volume forecasting models across UK and EU markets, factoring in seasonality, backlog, promotions, and category-level return patterns

Translate forecasts into staffing, processing capacity, and warehouse space plans for returns operations

Monitor returns rate trends and flag volume shifts to inventory, finance, and merchandising teams

Customer Refunds

Oversee timely, accurate refund processing in line with UK and EU consumer rights regulations

Audit warehouse/QRC staff on grading standards and quality checks

Partner with customer service and finance to resolve refund discrepancies and disputes

Track refund turnaround time against SLA and resolve bottlenecks in the refund workflow

Fraud Detection & Prevention

Build and refine fraud detection processes for returns abuse (wardrobing, serial returners, empty-box claims, item-not-as-described fraud)

Partner with risk and customer service teams to develop fraud rules/flags and investigate high-risk cases

Balance fraud prevention with customer experience, avoiding over-blocking of legitimate returns

Returns Root Cause & Logistics Feedback

Track and categorize return reasons, with particular focus on logistics-driven returns (damaged in transit, wrong item shipped, late or failed delivery, packaging failure)

Partner with warehouse, supply chain, and carrier teams to reduce logistics-driven returns through root cause analysis and corrective action

Present return reason trends to leadership to inform packaging, product, and logistics improvements

Returns Resale & Recommerce

Manage resale/recommerce channels for graded inventory (open-box, refurbished, clearance, secondary market and liquidation partners)

Maximize recovery value on returned inventory while minimizing time-to-resale

Build and manage relationships with resale/liquidation partners and evaluate new recommerce channels across UK and EU markets

Reverse Logistics & Carrier Management

Negotiate rates and service levels with carriers for return shipments across UK and EU markets

Manage carrier performance for return pickups, label generation, and inbound transit times

Evaluate and roll out returns-specific shipping options (paperless returns, drop-off points, pickup services) to reduce cost and improve the customer experience

SLA & Performance Management

Define and manage SLAs across the returns lifecycle — receipt to grading, grading to disposition, refund turnaround, and time-to-resale

Monitor 3PL and warehouse partner performance against returns SLAs; escalate and resolve issues as needed

Build reporting and dashboards to track returns KPIs and turn data into actionable recommendations for leadership

Cross-Functional & Compliance

Partner with customer service, supply chain, finance, and merchandising to align returns operations with broader business goals

Ensure returns operations comply with UK and EU consumer protection, distance selling, and VAT/duty rules (including treatment of re-imported goods and refund-related VAT adjustments)

Stay current on evolving returns-related regulation across UK and EU markets

What You'll Bring

Required

5–8+ years managing returns or reverse logistics operations in a high-volume ecommerce or retail environment, ideally across UK and EU markets

Experience building returns forecasting and capacity planning models

Solid understanding of UK and EU consumer rights, refund, and distance-selling regulations

Experience designing or managing returns fraud detection and prevention programs

Track record reducing logistics-driven returns through root cause analysis and cross-functional fixes

Experience managing return resale, refurbishment, or liquidation channels

Carrier negotiation experience for reverse logistics/return shipping

Strong SLA and KPI management skills, with reporting experience (Excel, SQL, or BI tools)

Hands-on experience with WMS/OMS returns modules

Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred

Experience in DTC, fashion/apparel, or other high-return-rate ecommerce categories

Familiarity with recommerce or liquidation platforms and partners

Experience operating across multiple EU countries and languages

Background in fraud/risk analytics

Experience managing reverse logistics SLAs with UK/EU carriers (e.g., Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, DHL, GLS)

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.

Source: Quince careers (Greenhouse)

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