Africa Manager - Johannesburg, South Africa - Salesworx

Description

Job Description
Our client is a leading global and logistics company with an international network of 250 offices in over 120 countries.
We are looking to recruit an experienced Africa Manager for the Johannesburg Office.

Purpose:

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 of this role:

• 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 evaluate the performance of African agents regularly
  
• 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 BIL 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
  
• Utilize 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- analyze, interpret trends
  
• Prepare Africa Tradelane and EXCO reports timorously
  
• 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 tradelanes), country market and industry reports, profitability reports, risk management report, rates trends report
  

Financial Responsibility:

• Achieve Africa budget and forecast
  
• Maximize Profits by rate negotiations with suppliers and improving profits where possible
  
• Manage cash flows - invoicing, query resolution and collection
  
• Minimize financial waste
  
• Safeguard assets
  

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Matric
  
• Tertiary qualification in international supply chain essential
  
• Management post-graduate qualification will be advantageous
  
• At least 5 years management experience
  

Experience:

• Proven experience in business processes design and implementation
  
• Commercial expertise including: agent management
  
• Africa Risk management experience will be advantageous
  
• At least 5 years' relevant experience in the clearing and forwarding industry, with a focus on African trade
  
• In-depth knowledge of trade regulations, customs procedures, and logistics in the African region
  

Competencies:

• Strong leadership and managerial qualities
  
• Supply Chain knowledge will be advantageous
  
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills to interact with clients and various stakeholders
  
• Strong proven working knowledge of International Forwarding and clearing industry with a focus on African trade
  
• Must be numerate
  
• Must be familiar with African customs processes
  
• Agent relationship management
  
• Well - developed inter-personal skills coupled with expert written and verbal communication
  
• Excellent negotiation skills
  
• Sound Planning and organizational skills
  
• Ability to manage and work under pressure
  
• Customer (internal and external) centric
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions
  
• Must have a high level of emotional intelligence
  

Performance Indicators:

• Client retention and growth
  
• Meet internal and external client KPIs
  
• Adherence to business processes
  
• Minimize financial waste
  
• Compliance
  
• Meet ESG targets
  
• Meeting SHERQ objectives
  
• Timely and accurate reporting
  
• Efficient resource planning and usage
  
• Achieve Africa budget and forecast
  
• Stakeholder engagement and management
  
• Agent Query Resolution
  

Benefits

R950K CTC

Requirements
Qualifications: Secondary Education: Matric (Grade 12) Tertiary Education: B Degree or relevant Post Graduate Qualification Years of experience required: At least 5 to 10 years Sales Experience, preferably in the 3/4 PL and/or Freight Forwarding Industry. Demonstratable ability to manage and lead a team is an advantage Specific experience required: Strong sales experience and ideally has worked in a business development role. Solid working knowledge of sales, business development and strategic selling methodologies. Proven track record in Freight Forwarding, Clearing, Contract Logistics and/or 3/4 PL. E2E Supply Chain experience. Level of computer literacy: Intermediate MS Office and CRM capabilities Drivers license Code: Drivers License (Code 08) Abilities: Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems Supply Chain understanding - the ability to come up with solutions for certain supply chain scenarios Operations Analysis - Understand operations and then have the ability to analyse a clients needs and relay this back to business in an effective manner Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. Knowledge: Sales and Marketing - Ability to promote and sell the company's products or services while following the sales process and strategy. Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing a high level of customer service. This includes customer needs assessments, monthly / quarterly reviews and the evaluation of customer satisfaction. Job Requirements: Reliable and responsible with the ability to work unsupervised at times. Attention to detail when completing work tasks A willingness to lead, take charge and offer opinions and direction A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges The ability to think outside the box (innovate) and look for solutions that will meet the clients needs.