Remote Distribution Manager Ice Cream (Exports, BNLS & Independent)

Unilever; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 60 000 - 90 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the consumer goods sector is seeking a Distribution Manager for their Ice Cream division in Johannesburg. This role focuses on enhancing customer satisfaction through effective supply chain management and operational efficiencies. The successful candidate will lead a team, manage key stakeholder relationships, and drive data-driven decision-making to optimize performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer operations and supply chain management.
• Strong analytical skills for decision-making.
• Ability to manage relationships with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of CX specialists ensuring effective daily operations.
• Manage relationships with key senior stakeholders within the customer organization.
• Drive cost-to-serve analysis discussions to support business decision-making.

Skills

Customer Relationship Management

Data Analytics

Supply Chain Optimization

Team Leadership

Cost Analysis

Job description

Unilever is currently hiring for a Distribution Manager Ice Cream (Exports, BNLS & Independent)

Function: Customer Operations

Reports to: Customer Experience Manager SA Exports/Imports

Scope: South Africa

Location: Sandton Head Office, Johannesburg, South Africa

Terms & Conditions: Full time, Local terms and conditions, Open to SA citizens only

About Unilever

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

Category/Function Introduction

Customer Operations drives superior experiences for our consumers by ensuring product availability on line and on shelf and superior customer experiences through being the no. 1 supplier. The department links the supply and demand sides of the organization through digital platforms and ensures accurate forecasts, optimized inventory, superior customer service, reduced logistics costs and efficient order to cash processes.

Job Purpose

The key purpose of this role is to ensure high customer satisfaction and that the customer voice is translated into deliverables according to SLAs and customer efficiency metrics – order to delivery lead times adherence, DROO, CCFOT, Truck load utilization, optimal customer inventory management, and other key metrics related to driving efficiencies in both customer and UL network. This role is externally and internally focused, aiming to create a holistic customer view of CX capabilities across a trade that lacks structure. The incumbent will introduce insights and analytics as data sources for decision-making and translate market development strategies into operational efficiencies that drive primary sales targets. CX leads are responsible for driving automation, joint business plans, and process simplification to support a leader mindset while driving a cost, service, and cash agenda.

Main Responsibilities

1. Partner with Customer Development, Marketing, and Finance Teams for Future Markets, ZZMM, BNLS
2. Oversee a team of CX specialists ensuring effective daily operations, focusing on driving primary sales and continuous improvement
3. Understand retail customer needs through internal reviews and support strategies with proactive actions
4. Manage relationships with key senior stakeholders within the customer organization
5. Lead SC JBP discussions to facilitate supply chain optimization projects using delivery platforms for competitive advantage
6. Drive cost-to-serve analysis discussions to support business decision-making via cross-functional collaboration
7. Improve long-term customer service metrics such as Dispatch Rate/Strike Rate, OSA, TAT, Utilization
8. Enhance CPFR capabilities with key distributors
9. Provide operational insights derived from data analytics and propose policy revisions, presenting findings in forums like weekly meetings and quarterly updates
10. Run pilots and POCs for initiatives like VMI systems to increase efficiencies
11. Standardize methodologies and trading terms across trading blocks to reduce costs
12. Evaluate logistics efficiency and cost, initiating improvement actions
13. Manage invoices from intercompany and third-party service providers
14. Support audit control processes for relevant markets
15. Conduct root cause analysis on claims to reduce claim numbers
16. Drive transition from off-invoice to on-invoice CPP, simplifying trading terms to unlock efficiencies and promote mutual benefits
17. Manage recalls, including quality support for destruction at customer sites and cost monitoring
18. Partner strategically with the CD team to present a unified