Head of Road Freight

DHL Global Forwarding; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development opportunities

Global company environment

Job summary

DHL Global Forwarding is seeking a Head of Road Freight & IWS in Johannesburg, South Africa, to lead Road Freight and Integrated Warehousing Solutions across ZA and BLNS. You will drive profitability, develop cross-border strategies, and optimise resources and assets across the region.

The role requires extensive logistics experience, strong leadership, and exceptional stakeholder management. A degree in business management or related field is essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of road freight and integrated warehousing solutions.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop potential, sustainable customer relationships.
• Lead engagements with Key Account Contacts and set KPIs.
• Provide leadership in product development, resource utilisation and country activities.
• Coordinate development and localisation of key initiatives and programmes.
• Support regulatory and compliance programs and supplier governance.
• Oversee cost analysis and continuous improvement across operations.

Skills

Logistics industry knowledge

Leadership

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in business management or related field

Job description

Head of Road Freight & IWS

Would you like to be part of the most international company in the world? A company operating in more than 220 countries worldwide and has been pioneering cross-border express shipping since 1969. Would you like to be part of a business that connects people across the globe and want to make a difference? Then waste no time and join our amazing team at DHL Group. DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (DGFF) is the Group's air, ocean, and road freight specialist. We offer standardized transport as well as highly specialized end-to-end solutions to customers in a wide range of industries globally.

Job Purpose:

Manage, control and develop the Road freight (RFR) and IWS business activities in ZA and BLNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) area in accordance with the group business strategy and local business environment to deliver maximum profit and optimize business assets and human resources. Achievement of targets for RFR as per budgets in the country. Responsible for strategies aligned to developing and implementation of Cross border Solutions and Warehousing for Neighbouring countries such as BLNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) as well as Southern Africa.

DHL Global Forwarding

has an opening Head of Road Freight & IWS Johannesburg, South Africa. Join us in connecting people and improving lives!

In this Head of Road Freight & IWS position

• Identify and develop potential, sustainable customer relationships
• Respond to customer enquiries / complaints
• Lead in engagements and strategic customer interfaces with Key Account Contacts
• Provide leadership in the areas of product and business development, resource utilisation, Country organization and activities
• Support and co-ordinate the development, implementation and localisation of key initiatives and programmes
• Facilitate and support country’s efforts in maintaining healthy relationships with trade bodies and government agencies & authorities, including being an active subscriber or participant of global research agencies
• Establish KPI’s and obtain agreement & commitment from Country management
• Provide guidelines and support for the implementation of programs such as security regulation to meet country mandated regulatory requirements
• Carrier contact/negotiation (RFR) according to corporate policy and local requirements.

Stakeholders

• Oversees the transport portal (Saloodo)
• Carrier contract/relationship and performance management
• Interact with commercial team (at country level) in terms of pricing
• Defines, implements, monitors and enforces service and quality standards, in cooperation with product management (in Regional Office)
• Responsible for EBIT result at country/country group level AFR.

Process

• Defines, monitors and enforces targets to the operational units
• Select and assigns key positions to reach targets
• Analyses costs and cost structure of production on country/country group level, and derives improvement measurements and actions
• Responsible for constant improvement and optimization of production means (cost management), e.g., make or buy.
• Defines and implements ISO standards in line with corporate instructions
• Responsible for operational management, Production sites, Traffic management, Technical support (buying, capacity etc.), Local purchasing on country/country group level for RFR according to corporate policy
• Proposes IT needs
• Responsible for Preferred Carrier adherence
• Responsible for Operational KPI’s

People management

• Determine organization’s structure, roles and responsibility and performance targets for the function
• Develop a culture of quality, service excellence (for internal customers), flexibility and cost consciousness
• Develop a team spirit and multitasking capabilities within the team
• Plan, organise and direct an efficient and effective function
• Develop KPI’s with team members and monitor individual performance
• Conduct performance appraisal, including coaching
• Manage the allocation of appropriate resources and commitment of staff to the achievement of Global, Regional and Country objectives and targets
• Identify training needs and opportunities to develop a highly skilled functional department

IWS (Integrated Warehousing Solutions)

• Directing the customer to the right WH solution.
• Work with logistics engineers in development of Resources Planning and Manage Solution Design
• Preparation of the contracts with the customers, with whom an agreement on the new business is reached.
• Providing market research and information on the basis of managed customers, rivals and sector.
• Determining the needs of the customers and business model.
• Liaises with Sales on Sales activities and provides pricing and margin guidance, supports on bids, RFQs and customer presentations
• Ensure smooth and safe operations for the respective sites, following respective SOP’s and optimizes the costs of operations using all available levels such as work force, site related and technological topics.

Now, here is what we need from you!

• In-depth knowledge in the Logistics industry especially the Road freight product and Integrated Warehousing Solutions
• Excellent country and regional geographical knowledge for cross boarder routings
• Commercially astute with excellent business acumen
• Presentation and facilitation skills.
• Excellent training skills
• Strong Customer-facing and interaction skills
• Excellent Communication skills - spoken and written.
• Outstanding Negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Strong Leadership skills
• Analytical, organisational and motivational skills
• People Management skills
• Experience: Minimum 10 yrs. in Logistics Industry
• Must have worked at the position of a Manager within Road Freight for at least 8 years in a reputed Organization
• Education: Degree in business Management or a related field

We offer:

• Opportunities in a global company where you can contribute your ideas and skills to move towards our shared goals.
• Possible further career development
• Competitive salary

Why join DHL Global Forwarding?

We are part of Deutsche Post DHL, the world's leading logistics provider with operations in over 220 countries. Visit our career site on the web at https://www.logistics.dhl/us-en/home/careers.html

Our TOP EMPLOYER prestigious certification attests to our best-in-class efforts to attract and retain talent by fostering a positive work environment and encouraging personal and professional development among employees. The development of talented women in our organization will be a focus for us and an important part of our DGF Strategy 2025.

We aspire to become the undisputed leader in our industry, when people think of forwarding; we want them to think DGF because we have:

• The largest global network with more than :30,000 passionate employees
• The most efficient processes and fastest response times
• The best solutions and best customer service

Our Vision: The Logistics Company for the World.

Our Mission: Excellence. Simply Delivered.

Our Purpose: Connecting People, improving lives.

Our Values: Respect & Results

Our Goals: Employer, Provider, and Investment of Choice, Living Responsibility

DHL Global Forwarding is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.