FMCG Depot Manager (Cold Storage)

FMCG Depot Manager (Cold Storage) – Ladysmith, KZN.

An opportunity for an experienced FMCG & Cold Chain FMCG Depot Manager is available for permanent employment based in Ladysmith.

The Branch Business Manager takes responsibility for the branch income statement, the staff and the performance thereof.

The Branch Business Manager must administer the branch in a profitable and sustainable way to increase the sales income at the branch, control and administer all branch functions, processes, and procedures, and ensure all strategic objectives are met monthly and annually. In short, to run the branch in a successful, sustainable, and profitable manner to meet the required business objectives.

The Branch Business Manager needs to serve as a link between the company sales, dispatch, and logistics/distribution. The Branch Business Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the branch and interfacing with logistics and distribution in order to ensure timely loading of the branch trucks for deliveries.

A Branch Business Manager must have a comprehensive understanding of business management as well as supply chain management for effective coordination and liaison with the DC, customers, and sales, and for the efficient loading of trucks for delivery purposes.

The core functions of the Branch Business Manager are planning, leading, organizing, and control and productivity-based performance measurement. It is envisioned that the job requires approximately 60% of the incumbent’s time spent in the market doing sales and marketing and the remaining 40% performing administrative, planning, and organizing functions.

Salary: R30 000 – R40 000 per month.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Drive and facilitate the organization’s strategy for cultivating a fully engaged and productive workforce.
• Develop quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Measure performance and employee output against daily targets.
• Maintain and care for the branch, vehicles, equipment, and fridges.
• Manage the sourcing, tracking, and reception of products and materials.
• Evaluate and review the organization’s depot and dispatch operations and business practices, updating and developing process documentation, streamlining opportunities, and eliminating non-value-added services.
• Drive an efficient branch.
• Implement cost-saving systems and practices.
• Take responsibility for stock control.

Key Performance Areas:

• Stock control, all finished goods and raw materials in stores:
  • Daily stock take.
  • Stock received from dispatch/distribution.
  • Stock received from returns.
  • Stock sold.
  • Stock rotation (first in and first out).
  • Stock to returns.
  • Crate and pallet stock.
• Branch management, focusing on:
  • Sales and merchandising.
  • Marketing.
  • Distribution.
  • Service management: manage service levels and relationships with:
• Customers:
  • Correct stock dispatched at the right time in the right quantities.
  • Service providers.
  • Local key accounts.
• Be part of the sales and marketing team.
• Staff management; daily attendance, man-day planning for maximum productivity.
• Training and career development of your team:
  • Mandatory annual training.
  • Sales management: ensure sales budget is understood and sales are managed.
  • Brand is well entrenched and marketed.
  • Develop a marketing and sales strategy.
• Efficiencies
  • Staff productivity.
  • Dispatch accuracies.
  • Stock shrinkage and waste.
• Maintenance of
  • Buildings.
  • Vehicles.
  • Equipment.
• Report on all of the above and perform any other related duties as requested by the MD.

Requirements:

• A Business degree/diploma is preferred/advantage.
• Over 5 years’ experience in FMCG/Cold-Chain/Perishables/Depot (Branch) environment, of which 3 must be in a similar role with experience in managing a large number of staff.
• A proven sales and marketing track record.
• Strong entrepreneurial skills.
• Computer literate.
• Driver's license.

Skills Required:

• Strong business acumen for effectively managing costs and revenues, anticipating market and client opportunities, and responding appropriately.
• Self-managing and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Professional demeanor and appearance.
• Effective in building customer relations.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills.
• Geographical knowledge of clients, service providers, competition, economic trends, etc.
• Understanding client needs and anticipating responses and changes appropriately.
• Ability to persuade clients to accept reasonable solutions.
• Negotiation skills to protect the interests of the organization.
• Proficiency in computers, especially spreadsheets, MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel).
• Familiarity with software programs such as SAP, Mosaic, Appgen.
• 100% accountability.
• Budgeting skills to set, monitor, and control budget and expenditure.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Sales and marketing skills.
• Management skills in planning and prioritizing the work of others.
• Personnel management skills.
• Reporting and measurement skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and manage a team of approximately 150 employees.