Regional Manager - Sea & Air

Innovazi Consulting (Pty) Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovazi Consulting (Pty) Ltd in Cape Town seeks a commercially driven regional leader to drive growth, profitability, and client satisfaction across freight forwarding, logistics, and contract logistics functions.

You will steer strategy, lead multi‑discipline teams, manage budgets, and negotiate value with clients and suppliers, while upholding high service standards and compliance across the business.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 Certificate.
• FIATA diploma or equivalent 3‑year qualification in Freight Forwarding, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Sales & Marketing (NQF level 7).
• Minimum 10 years in freight forwarding/logistics, with at least 5 years in senior or regional management.

Responsibilities

• Lead Regional Strategy & Business Planning—set objectives and allocate resources.
• Provide Leadership & Resource Management—standardise procedures and manage staff performance.
• Oversee Financial & Budget Control—plan/forecast budgets and monitor P&L.
• Drive Business Development & Sales—achieve regional targets and identify new revenue streams.
• Manage Client Relationships—develop servicing strategies and ensure loyalty.
• Oversee Contract Logistics & Warehousing—ensure cost‑effective, compliant operations.
• Prepare Reporting & Compliance—monthly/quarterly productivity and risk reports.
• Execute Ad Hoc Duties as required by senior leadership.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Financial management

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Planning

Change management

Freight forwarding knowledge

Client service

Education

FIATA diploma / Freight forwarding qualification (NQF7)

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Regional Strategy & Business Planning

• Analyse internal and external business environments to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Set regional objectives across all divisions and allocate resources accordingly.
• Drive innovation and customer‑centric processes.
• Implement divisional strategies at regional level.

Leadership & Resource Management

• Establish procedures and standards across all branches.
• Monitor adherence to policy and KPIs.
• Recruit, develop, and retain staff while managing performance and engagement.
• Authorise procurement of resources and oversee staff deployment.
• Conduct annual appraisals and maintain training plans.

Financial & Budget Control

• Plan and forecast regional budgets.
• Monitor monthly P&L and communicate performance against targets.
• Drive profitability, yield per client, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate contracts to maximise efficiency and ensure compliance.

Business Development & Sales

• Achieve regional sales targets and monitor sales team performance.
• Source leads through industry networks and identify new revenue streams.
• Evaluate profitability of new business and approve proposals.
• Support sales representatives in client visits and negotiations.

Client Relationship Management

• Develop and implement client servicing and retention strategies.
• Build strong client relationships to support growth and loyalty.
• Manage rate increases and improve yield from low‑margin accounts.
• Resolve client issues and ensure consistent service standards.

Contract Logistics & Warehousing Oversight

• Manage warehouse and contract logistics operations to ensure compliance and KPI achievement.
• Oversee subcontractor performance and ensure cost‑effective solutions.
• Support sales and servicing teams in logistics operations.

Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports on productivity, sales, and servicing.
• Analyse gross profit per client and report on business risks.
• Ensure adherence to policies, procedures, and ISO standards.
• Implement corrective actions and monitor quality improvements.

Ad Hoc Duties

• Undertake additional responsibilities as delegated by senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 Certificate.
• FIATA diploma or equivalent 3‑year qualification in Freight Forwarding, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Sales & Marketing (NQF level 7).

Experience

• Minimum 10 years in freight forwarding/logistics/supply chain.
• At least 5 years in senior or regional management.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making ability.
• Financial management and budget analysis skills.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management.
• Advanced communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Planning, organising, and change management capability.
• Knowledge of freight forwarding, airfreight, seafreight, and contract logistics practices.
• Client‑focused mindset with commitment to service excellence.

Ideal Candidate

A commercially driven leader with a proven track record in regional management, capable of driving growth, profitability, and client satisfaction across diverse logistics functions.