Operations Director – Logistics Zimbabwe

Jobs 4 All; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobs 4 All in South Africa seeks a seasoned logistics executive to lead strategic operations, transport, warehousing and cross-border supply chain initiatives across regional networks.

You will drive performance with KPI-led management, optimise routes and fleets, and ensure safety and compliance while building resilient teams and partnering with customers for service excellence. The role requires 10–15 years of senior logistics experience and a postgraduate mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, SCM, Transport Management or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA or Master’s) advantageous.
• Professional logistics or supply chain certifications are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the operational strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Provide executive leadership across logistics operations.
• Identify growth opportunities and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop long-term operational plans to support expansion and profitability.
• Participate in executive management meetings and contribute to strategy.
• Establish operational KPIs and monitor performance.
• Drive a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
• Oversee transport, fleet, warehousing, distribution and inventory management.
• Lead cross-border logistics and route optimisation.
• Ensure safety, compliance and cost control.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Cross-border logistics

ERP / SAP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics/SCM

MBA or Master's degree

Tools

SAP

WMS

TMS

ERP Systems

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the company's operational strategy aligned with overall business objectives.
• Provide executive leadership across all logistics operations within Zimbabwe.
• Identify growth opportunities and drive continuous operational improvement initiatives.
• Develop long-term operational plans to support expansion and increased profitability.
• Participate in executive management meetings and contribute to overall business strategy.
• Establish operational KPIs and monitor business performance.
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Oversee and optimise:

• Transport Operations
• Fleet Management
• Warehousing
• Distribution
• Inventory Management
• Cross-border Logistics
• Supply Chain Planning
• Route Optimisation
• Last Mile Delivery
• Customer Service Operations

Ensure efficient movement of goods while maintaining service levels and cost control.

Transport Operations

• Manage national and cross-border transport operations.
• Ensure optimal fleet utilisation.
• Improve vehicle productivity and asset performance.
• Monitor delivery performance and turnaround times.
• Develop transport optimisation strategies.
• Reduce transport costs without compromising service.
• Ensure compliance with transport legislation.
• Manage third-party transport providers where applicable.

Fleet Management

Responsible for the overall performance of the fleet including:

• Fleet utilisation
• Vehicle maintenance
• Fuel management
• Driver performance
• Accident management
• Fleet replacement planning
• Vehicle tracking systems
• Preventative maintenance programmes
• Cost optimisation

Warehouse Operations

Provide strategic oversight of warehouse operations including:

• Inventory accuracy
• Warehouse productivity
• Stock control
• Goods receiving
• Dispatch operations
• Picking and packing
• Warehouse layout optimisation
• Labour productivity
• Equipment utilisation

Ensure warehouses operate safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Supply Chain Optimisation

• Analyse current supply chain performance.
• Identify process improvements.
• Reduce operational waste.
• Improve inventory turns.
• Improve customer service levels.
• Enhance supplier performance.
• Improve demand planning.
• Optimise procurement support processes.

Financial Management

Responsible for the operational financial performance including:

• Budget preparation
• Operational forecasting
• Cost management
• Profitability improvement
• CAPEX planning
• OPEX management
• Financial reporting
• Cost reduction initiatives
• Resource allocation

Monitor operational budgets and ensure financial targets are achieved.

Customer Relationship Management

• Maintain strong relationships with key customers.
• Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are achieved.
• Resolve major customer escalations.
• Drive customer satisfaction initiatives.
• Improve service delivery performance.
• Support business development through operational excellence.

People Leadership

Lead and manage large operational teams including:

• Regional Managers
• Operations Managers
• Transport Managers
• Warehouse Managers
• Fleet Managers
• Distribution Managers
• Supervisors
• Administration Teams

Responsibilities include:

• Performance management
• Leadership development
• Succession planning
• Recruitment
• Coaching and mentoring
• Employee engagement
• Workforce planning

Health, Safety & Compliance

Ensure full compliance with:

• Zimbabwe Labour Laws
• Road Transport Regulations
• Occupational Health & Safety legislation
• Environmental standards
• Company policies
• Customer compliance requirements
• Quality management systems

Promote a strong safety culture across the organisation.

Risk Management

• Identify operational risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies.
• Implement business continuity plans.
• Reduce operational disruptions.
• Manage insurance-related operational risks.
• Ensure disaster recovery readiness.

Operational Performance

• On-time delivery performance
• Fleet utilisation
• Warehouse productivity
• Cost per kilometre
• Cost per delivery
• Fuel consumption
• Customer satisfaction
• Inventory accuracy
• Delivery turnaround times
• Vehicle downtime
• Labour productivity
• Operational profitability

Continuous Improvement

Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives include:

• Process optimisation
• Automation opportunities
• Technology implementation
• KPI reporting
• Business intelligence
• Operational innovation

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification (MBA or Master's Degree) will be highly advantageous.
• Professional logistics or supply chain certifications are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years' senior logistics management experience.
• At least 5 years in an executive leadership role.
• Extensive experience managing large transport operations.
• Strong warehousing and distribution management experience.
• Experience managing multi‑site operations.
• Cross-border logistics experience within Southern Africa.
• Proven leadership of large operational teams.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational improvements and profitability.

Technical Skills

Strong knowledge of:

• Fleet Management Systems
• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Transport Management Systems (TMS)
• ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics or similar)
• Route optimisation software
• Supply Chain Analytics
• Microsoft Office (Advanced Excel, Power BI advantageous)
• KPI reporting and dashboard management

Leadership Competencies

• Executive leadership
• Strategic thinking
• Commercial acumen
• Business development awareness
• Financial management
• Decision making
• Change management
• Stakeholder management
• Negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution
• Team development
• High emotional intelligence

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and results‑oriented.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Resilient and able to perform under pressure.
• Customer‑focused with a commitment to service excellence.
• Ethical, professional, and accountable.
• Innovative mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The successful candidate will be measured against:

• Operational profitability
• Budget adherence
• Fleet utilisation
• Warehouse productivity
• Customer satisfaction
• On-time delivery performance
• Inventory accuracy
• Cost reduction initiatives
• Staff retention and engagement
• Health & Safety compliance
• SLA performance
• Operational efficiency improvements
• Business growth support
• Cross-border operational performance