About the position
National Distribution Manager
Our client, a leading South African retail and healthcare organisation, is seeking an experienced National Distribution Manager to lead and optimise its national distribution and transport operations.
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity responsible for a complex national distribution network supporting operations across South Africa and selected cross-border markets. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence across transport, distribution, customer service, third-party logistics, and continuous improvement initiatives while leading large operational teams within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
The role offers the opportunity to influence strategic distribution initiatives, optimise national logistics performance, and play a key role in supporting the continued growth of a highly successful organisation.
Duties and Responsibilities
National Distribution Leadership
- Lead and optimise national distribution operations across multiple sites and regions
- Drive operational excellence, service delivery, and customer satisfaction across the distribution network
- Support network growth, scalability, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Monitor operational performance and implement strategies to improve efficiency and service levels
- Ensure distribution operations effectively support business objectives and customer demand
Transport & Logistics Optimisation
- Drive transport efficiency, route optimisation, fleet utilisation, and delivery performance
- Identify and implement cost-saving and productivity improvement initiatives
- Monitor distribution costs and operational performance against agreed targets
- Drive operational efficiencies across transport and logistics operations
- Ensure effective utilisation of distribution assets and resources
Third-Party Logistics & Vendor Management
- Manage strategic relationships with third-party logistics providers and transport partners
- Monitor vendor performance and ensure adherence to service level agreements
- Drive accountability and continuous improvement across outsourced logistics operations
- Support supplier reviews, contract management, and operational performance initiatives
Leadership, Governance & Compliance
- Lead, mentor, and develop regional and national operational teams
- Foster a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
- Ensure compliance with transport, logistics, safety, and regulatory requirements
- Maintain strong operational governance, risk management, and health & safety standards
- Support business continuity and operational resilience initiatives
Remuneration and Benefits
- Competitive executive-level salary package
- Performance-based incentive structure
- Opportunity to lead a nationally significant distribution operation
- Exposure to large-scale logistics, transport, and supply chain optimisation initiatives
- Strategic leadership role with significant operational influence
- Opportunity to drive transformation and continuous improvement across a complex distribution environment
- Career growth within a highly successful and market-leading organisation
Minimum Requirements
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field
- 8-10+ years' experience within large-scale distribution, logistics, transport, or supply chain environments
- Proven experience managing multi-site distribution operations
- Strong transport, fleet, and third-party logistics management experience
- Experience within retail, FMCG, pharmaceutical, logistics, manufacturing, or similarly complex environments
- Strong commercial, operational, and leadership capability
What Will Make You Successful in This Role?
- A proven track record leading large-scale distribution and logistics operations
- Strong operational and commercial acumen
- The ability to balance service delivery excellence with cost optimisation
- Experience driving logistics, transport, and distribution performance improvements
- Strong stakeholder management and leadership capability
- A results-driven approach with a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement
Key Performance Indicators
- Distribution service level achievement
- Delivery performance and customer satisfaction
- Fleet utilisation and transport efficiency
- Distribution cost optimisation
- Third-party logistics provider performance
- Operational compliance and governance standards
- Continuous improvement and productivity outcomes
This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior logistics and distribution leader to take ownership of a complex national operation and play a key role in shaping the future of a highly successful organisation's supply chain network. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence strategy, drive operational excellence, and make a measurable impact across a critical business function.
Desired Skills:
- National
- Distribution
- Manager
