Operations Manager (Road-Freight Forwarding)

Operations Manager

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Matric
• Relevant Qualification
• 5 10 years road freight forwarding experience
• 3-5 years staff management experience in a freight forwarding environment
• Multimodal freight forwarding experience required

Job Function:

Manage and Develop the team:

• Ensure that the appointed people are knowledgeable and skilled in their areas of responsibility
• Ensure that their teams master the necessary tools and processes
• Drive the Business Unit operational performance
• Apply the strategy and business processes in line with global or local policy
• Assess the operational risks, the quality of service, the financial balance, projects profitability, and business-unit competitiveness
• Ensure compliance with regulatory obligations 
• Identify competence and appoint key users in the team. Ensure that they have the resources and the time needed to share their knowledge within the team
• Be responsible for the Business Unit reporting system (to Management / HO reporting and Middle Office)
• Report issues and solution proposals to management as required
• Ensure workload is equitably shared among the team
• Check draft invoices

B. Implement The Company's procurement policy and develop solutions:

• Negotiate, define, and share the implementation policy (e.g.: allocations per carrier) in relation to the global policy
• Proactively contribute to local, cluster, and global competitive negotiations
• Rate negotiations with all transporters on a bi-annual basis and circulate within The Company
• Approve suppliers at a national level
• Oversee tender requests to national suppliers, manage contracts with the Back Office
• Be accountable for the quality of the countrys data (e.g.: rate, database)
• Assist Front Office in designing consistent solutions
• Act as main contact for the Countrys partners and maintain good relationships with them
• Monitor supplier service quality and support national road freight teams on disputes and solutions
• Gather and share information on the quality of supplier follow-up with local and HQ management

C. Monitor the quality of operational data:

• Guarantee The Company operations quality and performance policy
• Be responsible for the quality of business data in TMS, EDOC, DMP, LINK, TRANSWISE, PROGRESS (e.g.: files, events, etc.)
• Ensure the existing and new business processes are written, shared, and respected
• Challenge and support the activity and production costs
• Lead communication with supporting business units (accounting, customs, etc.) to raise and solve issues

D. Facilitate the development of business tools:

• Track IT needs within their area of responsibility
• Contribute to the development of the TMS and DMP tools
• Support the development and implementation of the new TMS

E. Participate in Business Unit Development:

• Support Front Office on visits, tenders, solution implementations, and propose KPIs
• Update Front Office or Customer on prices or service evolutions

F. Others:

• Any other delegated tasks deemed reasonable as assigned by the reporting manager

Key Skills:

• Ability to manage, align, monitor, and report on performance at all levels within the business, while identifying and taking appropriate corrective action to ensure the achievement of objectives
• Ability to verbally exchange information and ideas in a clear and concise manner, ensuring understanding and appropriate responses
• Ability to apply commercial-focused project management principles in developing and implementing best practice solutions
• Knowledge of the operations of TMS and The Company internal tools
• Ability to develop and maintain professional and positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders through demonstrating an understanding and responsiveness to their needs, culture, and differences
• Knowledge of overborder and national long-haul routes/processes and rates
• Ability to provide effective administrative support in all areas of activity