Operations Manager (Road-Freight Forwarding)

Boardroom Appointments; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Boardroom Appointments is seeking an Operations Manager for Road-Freight Forwarding in Johannesburg. You will lead and develop the operations team, ensure adherence to processes, and monitor performance against set targets.

The role requires extensive road freight forwarding experience, multimodal exposure, and strong leadership to drive profitability and policy compliance across the business unit.

Qualifications

• Matric is the minimum education requirement.
• 5–10 years road freight forwarding experience.
• 3–5 years staff management experience in a freight forwarding environment.
• Multimodal freight forwarding experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the team, ensuring knowledge and skills align with responsibilities.
• Drive the business unit operational performance and adhere to global/local policy.
• Assess operational risks, service quality, profitability, and competitiveness.
• Oversee procurement and supplier negotiations per policy and national level approvals.
• Ensure quality of data in key systems and maintain reporting to management.

Skills

Team management

Performance tracking

Project management

TMS knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Route knowledge

Education

Matric

Tools

TMS

DMP tools

Progress

EDOC

LINK

Job description

Operations Manager (Road-Freight Forwarding)

About the job Operations Manager (Road-Freight Forwarding)

Operations Manager

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Matric
• 5 10 years road freight forwarding experience
• 3-5 years staff management experience in a freight forwarding environment
• Multimodal freight forwarding experience required

Job Function:

Manage and Develop the team:

• Ensure that the appointed people are knowledgeable and skilled in their areas of responsibility
• Ensure that their teams master the necessary tools and processes
• Drive the Business Unit operational performance
• Apply the strategy and business processes in line with global or local policy
• Assess the operational risks, the quality of service, the financial balance, projects profitability, and business-unit competitiveness
• Ensure compliance with regulatory obligations
• Identify competence and appoint key users in the team. Ensure that they have the resources and the time needed to share their knowledge within the team
• Be responsible for the Business Unit reporting system (to Management / HO reporting and Middle Office)
• Report issues and solution proposals to management as required
• Ensure workload is equitably shared among the team

B. Implement The Company's procurement policy and develop solutions:

• Negotiate, define, and share the implementation policy (e.g.: allocations per carrier) in relation to the global policy
• Proactively contribute to local, cluster, and global competitive negotiations
• Rate negotiations with all transporters on a bi-annual basis and circulate within The Company
• Approve suppliers at a national level
• Oversee tender requests to national suppliers, manage contracts with the Back Office
• Be accountable for the quality of the countrys data (e.g.: rate, database)
• Act as main contact for the Countrys partners and maintain good relationships with them
• Monitor supplier service quality and support national road freight teams on disputes and solutions
• Gather and share information on the quality of supplier follow-up with local and HQ management

C. Monitor the quality of operational data:

• Guarantee The Company operations quality and performance policy
• Be responsible for the quality of business data in TMS, EDOC, DMP, LINK, TRANSWISE, PROGRESS (e.g.: files, events, etc.)
• Ensure the existing and new business processes are written, shared, and respected
• Challenge and support the activity and production costs
• Lead communication with supporting business units (accounting, customs, etc.) to raise and solve issues

D. Facilitate the development of business tools:

• Track IT needs within their area of responsibility
• Contribute to the development of the TMS and DMP tools
• Support the development and implementation of the new TMS

E. Participate in Business Unit Development:

• Support Front Office on visits, tenders, solution implementations, and propose KPIs
• Update Front Office or Customer on prices or service evolutions

F. Others:

• Any other delegated tasks deemed reasonable as assigned by the reporting manager

Key Skills:

• Ability to manage, align, monitor, and report on performance at all levels within the business, while identifying and taking appropriate corrective action to ensure the achievement of objectives
• Ability to verbally exchange information and ideas in a clear and concise manner, ensuring understanding and appropriate responses
• Ability to apply commercial-focused project management principles in developing and implementing best practice solutions
• Knowledge of the operations of TMS and The Company internal tools
• Ability to develop and maintain professional and positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders through demonstrating an understanding and responsiveness to their needs, culture, and differences
• Knowledge of overborder and national long-haul routes/processes and rates
• Ability to provide effective administrative support in all areas of activity