Branch Manager - East Rand

University of Fort Hare; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Fort Hare is seeking an experienced Retail Branch Manager to take ownership of operations, sales performance, customer service, stock control and profitability of a branch in Johannesburg. You will lead and develop a high-performing team, drive branch sales and ensure strong financial controls.

The role requires strong leadership, SAP/Excel proficiency, and a proven track record in high-level sales with budgeting responsibility. Travel and overtime may be required to meet targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• 10+ years of high-level sales experience, with leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the branch sales team to achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Develop and implement effective branch sales plans and strategies.
• Monitor sales performance and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Work closely with senior management to align branch activities with overall business objectives.
• Assist with annual sales budgets using historical performance and regional market insights.
• Ensure ongoing product, sales and skills development for branch employees.
• Drive a customer-centric culture across the branch.
• Develop and implement processes to measure and improve customer satisfaction.
• Monitor service delivery and ensure customer service targets are consistently achieved.
• Collaborate with Head Office technical teams to streamline support processes.
• Oversee branch stock control and ensure accurate SAP records.
• Monitor debtor collection performance and ensure financial targets are achieved.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training and development within the branch.

Skills

Sales leadership

Customer service

Budgeting

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

SAP ERP

MS Excel

Job description

Monthly Cost To Company (Market related)

A leading organisation is seeking an experienced and results-driven Retail Branch Manager to take overall responsibility for the operations, sales performance, customer service, stock control and profitability of a branch.

The successful candidate will lead and develop a high-performing team, drive branch sales and contribution targets, ensure exceptional customer service, and maintain strong operational and financial controls.

Sales & Business Development

• Lead and motivate the branch sales team to achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Develop and implement effective branch sales plans and strategies.
• Monitor sales performance and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Work closely with senior management to align branch activities with overall business objectives.
• Assist with annual sales budgets using historical performance and regional market insights.
• Ensure ongoing product, sales and skills development for branch employees.

Customer Service

• Drive a customer-centric culture across the branch.
• Develop and implement processes to measure and improve customer satisfaction.
• Monitor service delivery and ensure customer service targets are consistently achieved.
• Work closely with technical and customer service teams to improve service procedures.
• Keep the team informed and trained on changes to processes and service requirements.

Technical Support

• Collaborate with Head Office technical teams to streamline support processes.
• Monitor technical service levels and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure technical staff maintain high standards of service and professionalism.

Stock & Inventory Management

• Oversee branch stock control and ensure accurate SAP records.
• Maintain high levels of stock accuracy and integrity.
• Minimise stock losses, theft and discrepancies.
• Optimise stock levels in line with lean management principles.
• Investigate and report stock variances.
• Monitor debtor collection performance and ensure financial targets are achieved.
• Review customer accounts and credit limits to assess trading health.
• Ensure adherence to financial controls and procedures.
• Monitor cost centre performance and address budget variances.
• Manage branch budgets with a focus on profitability and sustainable growth.

People & HR Management

• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training and development within the branch.
• Build and maintain a motivated, engaged and high-performing team.
• Provide performance feedback and ensure compliance with company policies and labour legislation.
• Promote a positive working environment and support employee retention.
• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety requirements.

Growth & Profitability

• Take accountability for overall branch profitability and sustainable growth.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and increase revenue.
• Drive continuous improvement across sales, service and operational processes.
• Ensure branch performance remains aligned with organisational targets.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources or a related field.
• 10+ years’ high-level sales experience, with at least 2–4 years in a senior management/branch management position.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of sales, customer service and business operations.
• Proven experience managing and motivating sales teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting and cost control.
• Advanced proficiency in SAP ERP and MS Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret performance metrics and make informed business decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly and work overtime when required.
• Strong leadership and people-management abilities.
• Highly organized, meticulous and results-oriented.
• Self-motivated, driven and deadline-focused.
• Positive, energetic and resilient under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong commercial and business management acumen.
• Customer-focused with a passion for service excellence.
• Analytical and comfortable working with performance data and KPIs.
• Strong negotiation and decision-making abilities.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

What You'll Be Responsible For

The successful candidate will be accountable for:

Sales & Business Development

• Lead and motivate the branch sales team to achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Develop and implement effective branch sales plans and strategies.
• Monitor sales performance and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Work closely with senior management to align branch activities with overall business objectives.
• Assist with annual sales budgets using historical performance and regional market insights.
• Ensure ongoing product, sales and skills development for branch employees.

Customer Service

• Drive a customer-centric culture across the branch.
• Develop and implement processes to measure and improve customer satisfaction.
• Monitor service delivery and ensure customer service targets are consistently achieved.
• Work closely with technical and customer service teams to improve service procedures.
• Keep the team informed and trained on changes to processes and service requirements.

Technical Support

• Collaborate with Head Office technical teams to streamline support processes.
• Monitor technical service levels and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure technical staff maintain high standards of service and professionalism.

Stock & Inventory Management

• Oversee branch stock control and ensure accurate SAP records.
• Maintain high levels of stock accuracy and integrity.
• Minimise stock losses, theft and discrepancies.
• Optimise stock levels in line with lean management principles.
• Investigate and report stock variances.

Debtors & Financial Management

• Monitor debtor collection performance and ensure financial targets are achieved.
• Review customer accounts and credit limits to assess trading health.
• Ensure adherence to financial controls and procedures.
• Monitor cost centre performance and address budget variances.
• Manage branch budgets with a focus on profitability and sustainable growth.

People & HR Management

• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training and development within the branch.
• Build and maintain a motivated, engaged and high-performing team.
• Provide performance feedback and ensure compliance with company policies and labour legislation.
• Promote a positive working environment and support employee retention.
• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety requirements.

Growth & Profitability

• Take accountability for overall branch profitability and sustainable growth.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and increase revenue.
• Drive continuous improvement across sales, service and operational processes.
• Ensure branch performance remains aligned with organisational targets.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources or a related field.
• 10+ years’ high-level sales experience, with at least 2–4 years in a senior management/branch management position.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of sales, customer service and business operations.
• Proven experience managing and motivating sales teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting and cost control.
• Advanced proficiency in SAP ERP and MS Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret performance metrics and make informed business decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly and work overtime when required.

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership and people-management abilities.
• Highly organized, meticulous and results-oriented.
• Self-motivated, driven and deadline-focused.
• Positive, energetic and resilient under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong commercial and business management acumen.
• Customer-focused with a passion for service excellence.
• Analytical and comfortable working with performance data and KPIs.
• Strong negotiation and decision-making abilities.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

The successful candidate will be accountable for:

• Achieving branch sales and contribution targets.
• Maintaining strong customer satisfaction and service levels.
• Controlling branch costs and budgets.
• Ensuring stock accuracy and effective inventory management.
• Maintaining effective debtor controls.
• Developing a high-performing branch team.
• Driving branch profitability, growth and operational excellence.