Planning Manager

Buffalo Sa; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

BUFFALO International in Kempton Park is seeking a Planning Manager to lead the development and continuous optimization of operational plans across the courier network to meet transit times and SLAs.

The role focuses on volume forecasting, capacity planning, shift scheduling and route optimization, coordinating with Network Management, Transport, Hub Operations and other teams to drive performance and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in logistics, courier operations, transport management or parcel distribution.
• At least 3 years of practical experience in operational planning, transport planning, network planning or capacity optimization.
• At least 2 years of supervisory, team leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience in route planning, transit-time management, shift scheduling and transport capacity planning.
• Proven ability to analyze operational data, monitor KPIs and implement measurable process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and develop the Planning team to ensure effective delivery of departmental objectives.
• Develop daily, weekly and monthly parcel volume forecasts and translate them into capacity requirements.
• Plan and optimize transfer shifts, line-haul routes and feeder routes for efficiency.
• Monitor transit-time performance and coordinate corrective actions with operations.
• Establish standardized planning procedures and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Network Management, Transport, Hub Operations and other departments.

Skills

Forecasting

Capacity planning

Transit-time management

Route planning

Team leadership

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's in Logistics / Supply Chain / Transport Management

Job description

Job category: Others: Transport and Logistics

Location: Kempton Park

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

Introduction

The Planning Manager is responsible for leading, developing, implementing and continuously optimizing operational plans across the courier network to ensure transit-time compliance, network efficiency, optimal resource utilization and cost-effective operations.The role focuses on volume forecasting, operational capacity planning, shift scheduling, transfer and line-haul route planning, feeder route optimization and network performance monitoring across pickup, sorting, transfer and delivery operations.The Planning Manager will work closely with Network Management, Transport, Hub Operations and other relevant departments to ensure operational plans are practical, data-driven and aligned with business requirements and service-level agreements (SLAs).The position is also responsible for managing the Planning team, establishing standardized planning procedures, identifying operational inefficiencies and driving continuous improvements in service performance, network productivity and operational costs.

2.1 Volume Forecasting and Capacity Planning

Develop daily, weekly and monthly parcel volume forecasts based on historical operational data, customer demand, seasonal trends and business growth projections.

Translate volume forecasts into operational capacity requirements, including transport resources, sorting capacity, transfer schedules and staffing requirements.

Align planned capacity with forecasted parcel volumes to maintain service levels while minimizing unnecessary operational costs.

Identify potential capacity constraints, operational bottlenecks and resource shortages in advance.

Coordinate with relevant departments to develop contingency plans for peak seasons, promotional campaigns and unexpected volume fluctuations.

Regularly review forecast accuracy and improve forecasting methodologies based on actual operational performance.

2.2 Transit-Time Planning and Compliance

Develop, implement and optimize operational plans to achieve planned transit-time compliance across pickup, sorting, transfer and delivery operations.

Establish and continuously improve planned transit times based on network structure, route configurations, operational capacity and service-level requirements.

Align shift schedules, transfer arrangements and transport capacity with operational volumes and planned transit-time targets.

Plan new or revised transfer shifts, line-haul routes and feeder routes to improve network connectivity and operational efficiency.

Monitor actual transit-time performance against approved operational plans and identify deviations.

Investigate recurring transit-time deviations and coordinate corrective actions with responsible operational departments.

Benchmark transit-time performance against market and competitor standards and recommend improvements to maintain service competitiveness.

Support continuous improvement initiatives to reduce unnecessary transit delays and improve end-to-end delivery turnaround times.

2.3 Network and Route Planning

Review existing transport routes, operating schedules, transfer arrangements and network connectivity to identify optimization opportunities.

Develop and recommend route adjustments based on parcel volumes, operational requirements, transit-time performance and cost efficiency.

Optimize line-haul and feeder route planning to improve vehicle utilization, network connectivity and transport productivity.

Conduct routine and advance planning for daily operations, peak periods, seasonal demand and network expansion.

Evaluate the operational feasibility and capacity implications of proposed route changes and new transfer arrangements.

Coordinate with Network Management and relevant operational departments to support the implementation of approved planning changes.

Monitor secondary-sorting activation performance and provide accurate planning data to support operational readiness and network efficiency.

Develop and optimize bagging and consolidation plans to improve transfer efficiency, reduce unnecessary handling and maximize transport capacity utilization.

2.4 Shift Scheduling and Operational Coordination

Develop and optimize operational shift plans based on forecasted volumes, workload distribution, transport schedules and processing capacity.

Coordinate with Hub Operations, Sorting, Transport and other relevant teams to align operational schedules with approved network plans.

Monitor actual operational execution against planned schedules and identify potential service-level risks.

Facilitate regular planning reviews to assess operational performance, resource requirements and necessary adjustments.

Coordinate corrective actions when operational deviations affect network connectivity, processing capacity or transit-time compliance.

Ensure planning changes are communicated clearly and implemented in coordination with the responsible operational departments.

2.5 Cost and Transport Capacity Optimization

Monitor supplemental vehicle runs and analyze the operational reasons for additional transport requirements.

Analyze vehicle load factors, route utilization and transport capacity allocation to identify opportunities for improvement.

Develop planning initiatives to consolidate parcel volumes, reduce underutilized vehicle movements and minimize avoidable transport costs.

Balance transport capacity against forecasted parcel volumes while maintaining required service levels.

Evaluate the cost implications of route changes, shift adjustments and additional transport capacity.

Recommend cost-effective route configurations and operational schedules without compromising transit-time performance.

Track planning-related cost performance and coordinate with relevant departments to implement agreed cost-optimization measures.

2.6 Planning Policies, Procedures and Standardization

Develop, implement and maintain standardized planning policies, procedures and operating guidelines covering:

Transit-time planning and management.

Route planning and optimization.

Shift scheduling and capacity planning.

Bagging and consolidation planning.

Volume forecasting and resource allocation.

Planning performance monitoring and reporting.

Ensure planning procedures are aligned with business requirements, operational capabilities and service-level agreements.

Regularly review existing planning processes to identify gaps, inefficiencies and opportunities for standardization.

Establish clear planning approval, communication and escalation procedures.

Coordinate with relevant departments to support consistent implementation of approved operational plans.

2.7 Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Establish and monitor key planning performance indicators relating to forecast accuracy, transit-time compliance, route efficiency, capacity utilization and planning effectiveness.

Develop regular planning performance reports and dashboards to support operational decision-making.

Analyze operational data to identify trends, recurring inefficiencies, service-delivery risks and improvement opportunities.

Monitor deviations between planned and actual operational performance and investigate underlying causes.

Develop practical, data-driven improvement proposals with measurable operational and financial benefits.

Track the implementation progress and effectiveness of approved planning initiatives.

Collaborate with Operations, Transport, Sorting, Hub Management and Network Management teams to improve end-to-end network performance.

2.8 Team Leadership and Management

Lead, supervise and develop the Planning team to ensure effective delivery of departmental objectives.

Assign responsibilities, establish performance expectations and monitor individual and team performance.

Provide technical guidance, coaching and training to improve planning, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Establish effective internal reporting, communication and escalation mechanisms.

Ensure planning activities are completed accurately, consistently and within required timelines.

Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence and continuous improvement.

3.1 Educational Qualifications

Diploma or bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline.

Equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.

Additional qualifications in data analytics, operations research or supply chain optimization would be advantageous.

3.2 Professional Experience

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in logistics, courier operations, transport management or parcel distribution.

At least 3 years of practical experience in operational planning, transport planning, network planning or capacity optimization.

At least 2 years of supervisory, team leadership or management experience.

Demonstrated experience in route planning, transit-time management, shift scheduling and transport capacity planning.

Proven ability to analyze operational data, monitor KPIs and implement measurable process improvements.

Practical experience in transport cost optimization and resource utilization.

3.3 Preferred Industry Experience

Previous experience in the South African courier, express delivery or parcel distribution industry is strongly preferred.

Experience working with multi-hub distribution networks, line-haul transport operations and last-mile delivery networks.

Familiarity with the operational challenges of South African courier networks, including geographic coverage, regional transit times, transport capacity constraints and peak-volume management.

Experience supporting network expansion, route restructuring or operational improvement projects would be advantageous.

In line with our Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups. Persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.