VALUE CHAIN OPTIMISATION PROJECT MANAGER

Listing reference: woolw_001340

Listing status: Under Review

Apply by: 21 October 2025

Industry: FMCG & Supply Management

Job category: Other: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: No

Drive the delivery of value to our Foods business, our suppliers and customers by co-ordinating and supporting the Foods Value Delivery team in their program of work to identify, shape and implement value chain improvements. Facilitate and supporting Foods Category teams to track and anchor value chain optimisation opportunities for the business.Support, track and report on Value Delivery benefits realisation for Foods. Act as custodian of the Foods Value Delivery capability, co-creating and embedding Value Delivery processes, tools and ways of working within the Foods business and with our suppliers.

Management of Value Delivery Process

• Co-create and operationalise the appropriate value delivery process, tools and methodology, within the Foods teams.
• Establish, own and drive the Foods value delivery governance and steering structure to execute the stage gate decision process, central to the overall Value delivery process.
• Accountable for managing a risk and issues log that is communicated within the respective Value Delivery steering structures, Foods leadership and executive structures.
• Lead collaboration and communication across the multiple functions in order to deploy Value Chain capability improvements and continuously develop and implement best practices across the business
• Integrate closely with the Central Trade Price & Commercial Optimisation teams to drive Trusted Value and Accessibility as a critical strategic lever for sustained profitable Foods business growth.
• Monitor and support the teams in documenting processes and deploying their Value Chain initiatives within agreed timelines
• Collaborate with, and equip the Value Delivery team to ensure Value delivery initiatives are delivered on time and in alignment with the defined Foods Value Delivery principles and processes.

Reporting, Analytics and Value Optimisation

• Ensure Value Delivery benefits are delivered to the Food Group's P&L liaising with Foods Finance to ensure appropriate allocation, tracking, financial accounting principle compliance and governance.
• Analyse margin and value chain performance based on defined goals/initiatives and track key milestones
• To ensure the Foods Value Delivery trackers are accurate and reflect the latest information
• Co-ordinate and support facilitation of workshops with both internal and external stakeholders to identify new initiatives and value chain improvements.
• Identify, leverage and manage integration and interdependencies with other projects and business activities ensuring alignment.
• The creation and refinement of project business case presentations for leadership steerco c reation, documentation and facilitation of Value Delivery training materials.
• Bachelors degree in Commerce, Business Science, Industrial engineering or equivalent qualification
• Minimum 8 years relevant experience with proven track record of executing improvement programs
• Analytical and data analysis capability
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Proven experience leading change
• Exposure to processes requiring compliance across multiple functions
• Experience in or exposure to Value Chain thinking (Joint Value Optimisation Initiatives, Lean thinking, Six Sigma)
• Understanding of Foods FMCG retail business processes, procurement principles and total cost of goods
• Understanding of the industry parameters/legislation/business principles
• Advanced MS suite proficiency for project management, analysis and communication - Excel, Project and Powerpoint

Leadership Competencies (self and others)

• Extremely strong collaborative, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Agile mindset, comfortable working in a fast-paced ambiguous environment
• Able to think creatively to solve problems and drive value
• High levels of EQ
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to challenge and manage conflict
• Tenacious and resilient self-starter
• Able to manage demanding timescales and work with competing priorities
• Proven application of sound judgement and decision-making
• Strong integrator across a matrix team with proven leadership skills
• Self-driven, with attention to detail, capable of managing tight deadlines
• Operates with integrity
• Passionate Foodie, with a solid understanding of the Woolies' differentiators and values
• Coaching and mentoring across functional teams
• Ability to present ideas and solutions based on facts to influence buy-in, decision-making and action