Customer Service Manager

Edge Executive Search Group; Durban; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency seeks a Customer Service Manager in Durban to establish and lead a national Customer Service function. This role involves transforming and standardizing service practices, enhancing customer satisfaction, and managing a high-performing team. Ideal candidates will have proven leadership experience in customer service or logistics and strong change management skills. The position offers the opportunity to embed service excellence in a competitive market.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in customer service or operations within logistics or shipping.
• Demonstrated success in team building and operating model transformations.
• Confident decision-maker able to set standards and hold teams accountable.

Responsibilities

• Establish and embed a centralized national Customer Service model.
• Lead customer service transformation, standardization, and change management.
• Own national service performance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing customer service team.

Skills

Leadership experience in customer service

Change management

Stakeholder engagement capability

Operational credibility

Customer-focused

Job description

Customer Service Manager | Durban | Permanent

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a national Customer Service function from the ground up. You’ll take ownership of service performance end-to-end, embedding consistency, accountability, and excellence across a complex, multi-branch operation.

Reporting to senior leadership, this role is responsible for establishing a centralized Customer Service model based in Durban, transitioning from fragmented branch-based practices to a standardized national operation. It is a hands-on leadership role that requires strong change management capabilities, operational credibility, and a deep commitment to customer outcomes.

You will lead a national team with full accountability for service quality, responsiveness, and data integrity. Beyond day-to-day performance, the role focuses on uplift: improving capability, embedding best practice processes, strengthening governance, and driving continuous improvement across all customer-facing service activities.

The client is a well-established player in a complex, operationally intensive environment, serving a diverse customer base across multiple commodities. The business is investing in structure, discipline, and service excellence as a key differentiator in a competitive market.

What You’ll Do

• Establish and embed a centralised national Customer Service model based in Durban
• Lead customer service transformation, standardisation, and change management
• Own national service performance, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing customer service team
• Act as the senior escalation point for key customers and complex service issues
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of bookings, documentation, and service data
• Drive proactive customer communication standards and escalation protocols
• Lead specialised customer service streams, including temperature-controlled cargo
• Partner closely with Operations, Sales, Logistics, and Documentation teams

What You Bring

• Proven leadership experience in customer service or operations within logistics, shipping, or a complex service environment
• Demonstrated success in building or transforming teams and operating models
• Strong change management and stakeholder engagement capability
• Operationally credible, commercially aware, and customer-focused
• Confident decision-maker with the ability to set standards and hold teams accountable

What Success Looks Like

• A fully embedded, high-performing national Customer Service function
• Consistent service delivery and improved customer satisfaction across the network
• Clear processes, strong governance, and reliable service data
• A capable, engaged team operating to common standards