Africa Manager

Manager – Logistics

Location: Gauteng
Employment Type: Permanent

**Salary:              **Negotiable – dependent on experience

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced logistics professional to support and manage the organisation’s network of clearing and forwarding agents across Africa.

The Manager will build strong relationships with agents, monitor service levels and assist internal teams with shipping, customs and operational matters relating to African trade lanes.

The role would suit someone who understands the clearing and forwarding industry, is comfortable working with different stakeholders and enjoys finding practical solutions to logistics challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Agent Relationship Management

• Maintain positive working relationships with clearing and forwarding agents across Africa.
• Communicate regularly with agents regarding service delivery, operational requirements and areas for improvement.
• Assist with identifying and onboarding additional agents where required.
• Monitor agent performance against agreed service standards.
• Help resolve queries or disputes between agents and internal operational teams.

Operational and Risk Support

• Keep informed of relevant customs regulations, shipping requirements and trade developments across African countries.
• Work with agents and internal teams to identify potential risks relating to customs, documentation, transport and shipping.
• Assist in resolving delays, disruptions and other operational challenges.
• Support operations with routing and logistics solutions where needed.

Commercial and Client Support

• Work with sales, operations and trade-lane teams to support suitable pricing and service solutions.
• Assist with supplier and agent rate negotiations.
• Understand client requirements and help internal teams develop appropriate solutions for African trade.
• Monitor market activity, pricing trends and competitor developments.

Reporting and Administration

• Maintain accurate Africa trade-lane and agent information on internal systems.
• Monitor agent and trade-lane performance.
• Prepare regular management reports on service delivery, market developments, risks and profitability.
• Provide relevant information to management and other internal stakeholders.
• Handle business and client information confidentially.

Financial Awareness

• Support the achievement of agreed budgets and profitability targets.
• Monitor costs and identify opportunities to improve margins.
• Assist with resolving invoicing and payment-related queries.
• Promote the responsible use of company resources.

Minimum Requirements

• Matric.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in international supply chain, logistics or a related field.
• At least five years’ relevant experience within the clearing and forwarding industry.
• Experience working with African trade lanes, customs processes or logistics operations.
• Previous experience managing agents, suppliers or logistics partners.
• A good understanding of international forwarding and clearing.

A postgraduate management qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Good planning and organisational ability.
• Practical problem-solving skills.
• Commercial awareness and basic financial understanding.
• Confident negotiation skills.
• Customer-focused approach.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Comfortable interpreting operational and performance information.
• Good written and verbal communication.
• Professional, reliable and collaborative working style.

Key Measures of Success

Success in the position will be measured through:

• Positive and productive agent relationships.
• Reliable service delivery across African trade lanes.
• Effective resolution of agent and operational queries.
• Accurate and timely reporting.
• Compliance with business and customs requirements.
• Customer satisfaction and retention.
• Support for agreed budget and profitability objectives.

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