About the position
Our client, a leading International Logistics company based in Johannesburg, is looking to fill the position of Africa Manager.
Purpose of the Role:
Africa Agent performance and relationship management, Identifying and addressing potential risks related to shipping, customs, documentation, or other logistical challenges in the Africa trade lanes, keeping the business up to date with African countries' trade regulations, customs laws, and import/export requirements, keeping track of market trends, competitor strategies, and changes in African trade, problem solving, support operations with route optimization.
Key Responsibilities:
Africa Agent Network Management:
- Facilitate the signing up of additional agents where necessary.
- Cultivate strong relationships with agents by fostering trust and cooperation.
- Define relevant KPIs to measure the performance African agents.
- Set up a system to regularly evaluate the performance of African agents.
- Have regular engagements with African agents to foster continuous improvement.
- Facilitate dispute resolution between agents and the operations teams.
- Maintain open and regular communication with African agents.
Risk Management:
- Ensure the African agents stay up to date with international trade regulations, customs laws, and shipping requirements in their countries and they share those updates with the company in order to avoid potential delays or penalties.
- Identify and address potential risks related to shipping, customs, documentation, or other logistical challenges.
- When issues arise, such as delays, damages, or disruptions in the supply chain, find solutions promptly and efficiently.
Collaboration on Pricing Strategy:
- Collaborate with sales, operations, and trade lane to ensure that Africa pricing strategies align with business objectives and profitability targets.
- Collaborate on pricing strategy development considering market dynamics, competitive landscape, and customer demands.
- Conduct regular market research and analysis to monitor competitor pricing, identify emerging trends, and make data-driven pricing decisions.
Client Management:
- Understand client-specific Africa trade needs, and support business development and operations to provide effective solutions to meet their requirements.
Managing information and Reporting:
- Put in place and maintain processes and procedures to ensure accurate upload of Africa information on internal system e.g. CargoWise.
- Utilise relevant management information system (e.g. Monthly dashboard and KPI's) in decision making.
- Interpret and use information on system delivery from service reports and customer surveys.
- Interpret and use information from balanced scorecard - analyse, interpret trends.
- Prepare Africa trade lane and EXCO reports timeously.
- Disseminate information to direct reports and ensure it filters down to teams.
- Provide inputs for the balanced scorecard (if required).
- Ensure confidential information is treated as such and put measures in place to ensure it is treated appropriately.
- Conduct market research to identify potential trade opportunities, trade patterns, and emerging trends in the African region.
- Monitor each African trade lane performance, costs, and revenue to ensure profitability and identify areas for improvement.
- On agreed intervals, prepare the following reports: KPI reports (for agents and trade lanes), country market and industry reports, profitability reports, risk management report, rates trends report.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Grade 12 Senior Certificate
- Tertiary qualification in international supply chain essential
- Management post-graduate qualification will be advantageous
- At least 5 years management experience
- At least 5 years relevant experience in the clearing and forwarding industry, with a focus on African trade
- Proven experience in business processes design and implementation
- Commercial expertise including agent management
- Africa Risk management experience will be advantageous
- In-depth knowledge of trade regulations, customs procedures, and logistics in the African region
If you are interested in applying for this role, please send a detailed copy of your CV to [Email Address Removed]
If you have not been contacted within two (2) weeks, please consider your application as unsuccessful.
Desired Skills:
- Relationship Management
- trade
Desired Work Experience:
Desired Qualification Level:
