Logistics Manager

Logistics Manager Permanent

Port Elizabeth

Overview We are a Supply Chain and Sales & Merchandising partner adding value to your business through a fully integrated, temperature-controlled network in Southern Africa.

But we are also more than that. We are people serving people. While we boast the best in tech and infrastructure, our people are our greatest resource. With our skilled, curious, can-do people at the forefront, our assets become your assets, our service your solutions.

Vector's vehicle fleet includes a food industry first in 'multi-temperature' vehicles enabling the company to service business across frozen, chilled and ambient temperature zones on a single delivery.

Job Purpose To manage the overall logistics, both inbound and outbound, ensuring that operations within the Vector single depot are handled seamlessly.

Key Responsibilities

• Work in conjunction with the Regional Operations Manager to co-create the
  regional operations strategy, based on a 1-to-3-year view of requirements.
• Work closely with the rest of the business to ensure the delivery of an
  integrated supply chain benefit and strategic target achievement.
• Drive the implementation of improvements in operating processes and
  systems to optimise warehouse and transport efficiencies.
• Determine operational capacity requirements across both the medium and the
  long term and plan required asset utilisation and capex requirements
  accordingly.
• Use growth and investment opportunities to ensure warehouse design and
  flow is optimised.
• Stay abreast of latest international trends by visiting facilities (local and
  international) and integrating best practice into future solutions.
• As a central point of the supply chain, identify supply chain bottle necks and
  opportunities and develop solutions through collaboration with all relevant
  parties in the business.
• Constantly monitor and drive the achievement of single depot strategic and
  operational targets.
• Ensure the agreed operational targets are achieved through team targets and
  that these targets align cross-functionally within the area of responsibility.
• Conduct weekly management meetings to address challenges, review
  performance and plan for future optimum performance.
• Maintain an accurate record of planning forecasts for the week before as well
  as a five week future plan to enable accurate decision-making and longer term
  planning.

Logistics Management

• Integrate business systems successfully to support operational processes.
• Monitor the quality, quantity, cost and efficiency of the movement and storage
  of stock.
• Control stock accurately across all single depot functions.
• Initiate and manage stock loss reduction programmes.
• Deliver system support to all internal and external customers.
• Manage and utilize the single depot base vehicle fleet by optimizing routes
  and vehicle requirements between depots.
• Ensure continuous improvement in reverse logistics systems and processes
  by on-the-job observation, benchmarking and analysis.
• Drive the logistics team on a daily basis to ensure that it deploys stock through
  the network to effectively meet customer service levels at minimal cost.
• Drive a culture of commitment to key performance indicator's (KPI's) by
  creating awareness and providing recognition for attainment of KPI's within
  the team.
• Utilise regular communication channels and team meetings to promote
  continuous improvement and best practice on a daily basis across the single
  depot.
• Work closely with Principals to ensure inbound and outbound alignment.
• Work closely with customers to develop solutions that best fit customer needs
  as well as suit warehouse and transport capabilities at the lowest cost.

Risk Management

• Mitigate risks against people and physical assets.
• Ensure consistent application of the Group risk management policy across the
  single depot.
• Drive the risk committee process and activities by having monthly meetings,
  analysing findings and ensuring corrective action is undertaken.
• Ensure full legal compliance with all relevant legislation.
• Re-evaluate the risk profile of the single depot on an annual basis.
• Measure and manage sustainability practices across the single depot.
• Maintain and implement food safety standards across the single depot and
  ensure that enhancements are implemented based on on-going learning.
• Ensure that security is maintained and that appropriate investigations take
  place where incidents occur.

Information and Data Management

• Ensure the team accurately and regularly captures operating data onto the
  information system to enable access to reliable data and reporting for trend
  analysis and decision making.
• Analyse management information on a daily basis to ensure productivity and
  logistics/distribution targets and standards are being met.
• Suggest system changes to ensure the ongoing relevance and accuracy of
  information.
• Share relevant data with the management team to enable reliable business
  decision making.

Maintenance Management

• Manage the formulation of a maintenance plan that is aligned to the
  operational plan for the single depot.
• Drive sustainable maintenance practices throughout the single depot.
• Manage the transport maintenance team and ensure that planned
  maintenance programmes are implemented to enable optimal asset utilisation.
• Ensure that maintenance practices are aligned to business standards.

Financial Management

• Compile the annual distribution budget for the single depot.
• Manage costs to ensure lowest cost storage and distribution and the optimal
  utilisation of assets.
• Report on a weekly basis on actual KPI's versus budget and work with the
  relevant teams to address areas of non conformance proactively and
  promptly.
• Report on and manage all input costs within the single depot and manage any
  over or under spend appropriately to ensure that issues are addressed before
  significant financial loss occurs.
• Authorise expenses within the level of authority and monitor spending activity
  within teams to ensure compliance with financial and ethical standards.
• Implement and encourage cost cutting initiatives within the single depot where
  these do not impact on long term business sustainability.
• Enforce accountability for budget expenditure by the management team.
• Mitigate business risks within budgetary constraints through the allocation of
  spend to areas of high priority.
• Ensure correct operational planning to meet budgeted volumes across a 2 3 year time horizon.
• Review and authorise capex documentation and align the proposals with the long term strategy, taking into account the return on investment and sustainability requirements.
• Manage external supplier relationships and contracts in collaboration with the
  procurement team to ensure agreed service levels are met.
• Ensure all general ledger accounts are reconciled, and deadlines are met.
• Ensure optimal deployment of physical and human resources using best
  practice standards, productivity measurements and on the job observation.

Leadership

• Lead the single depot management team towards meeting strategic objectives and targets through regular communication and utilisation of the full organisational talent management tool set.
• Lead a single depot team and workforce and maintain a stable IR climate through a constructive relationship with unions.
• Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.
• Drive employment equity within the team to ensure that diversity is achieved at all levels and that statutory targets and requirements are met.
• Champion training and development of the team through the utilisation of available training opportunities or by contributing to the development of new training solutions in collaboration with regional and national training specialists.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals with subordinates and ensure that the process is cascaded throughout the single depot.
• Develop and manage high performance multi disciplinary teams in order to solve problems within the single depot.
• Encourage skills workshops between multi disciplinary teams and across the single depot to realise the transfer of skills.
• Conduct weekly management meetings and ensure that records are kept and shared across the team and that action plans agreed to within team meetings are delivered upon.
• Manage the employee relations climate and ensure corrective action is taken where required in line with relevant legislation and company policy.
• Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback.
• Coach and support team members where necessary to achieve objectives.

Key Relationships Internal

• Sales.
• Finance.
• The broader supply chain management team (especially supply chain and
  transport planning).

External

• Suppliers and service providers.
• Principals.
• Customers.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job Qualifications and Experience

• Matric.
• Minimum of a degree or diploma in logistics management.
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