Station Manager

DHL Global Forwarding; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Global company exposure

Career development

Job summary

DHL Global Forwarding is inviting applications for a Station Manager in Durban, South Africa. Lead operational and commercial functions, drive profitability, and ensure top-tier customer experience in a matrix-driven environment.

You will be responsible for staffing, budgeting, stakeholder management, and ensuring compliance with customs and DHL standards. Bachelor’s degree required; 6–8 years in freight forwarding preferred.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years in freight forwarding / contract logistics.
• Strong leadership and team development experience.
• Proven experience in commercial or customer-facing roles.
• Strong understanding of freight procurement and pricing mechanisms.
• Knowledge of customs, trade compliance, and logistics systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational and commercial functions to grow the station's business and ensure service excellence.
• Hire, lead, develop station staff across all functions and products.
• Manage station operations, including infrastructure and safety standards.
• Drive profitability through pricing, cost controls, and vendor negotiations.
• Develop strong local market understanding and collaborate with sales teams.

Skills

People Management

P&L Management

Operations Management

Stakeholder Management

Cost Controlling

Pricing & Margin

Market Intelligence

Matrix Organization

Team Leadership

Reporting & Governance

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

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:

To lead the operational and commercial functions to grow the business of the station and ensures service excellence, superior customer experience, team development, and financial performance. Act as an ‘entrepreneur in the network’ with a ‘will-to win’ attitude - and with clear ownership within the DGFF product portfolio. To operate fully within the standardized portfolio, processes, and systems while steering local execution to meet market needs.

DHL Global Forwarding has an opening Station Manager in Durban, South Africa. Join us in connecting people and improving lives!

In this Station Manager position

People Management

• Hire, lead, develop station staff across all functions and products in line with DGFF values and DHL leadership dimensions, including ownership for EOS
• Foster a culture of performance, accountability, engagement and First Choice/continuous improvement
• Manage Employee Relations and create a positive environment with Workers Councils and Unions

Operational Leadership

• Manage operations of the station incl. responsibility for infrastructure
• Execute Product strategies aligned with country, region and global directives
• Maintain high standards in cargo handling, responsible for safety & security
• Maintain accurate billing and documentation practices
• Ensure high quality in accordance with station metrics

Customer & Commercial Focus

• Grow the business with a money-making mindset
• Customer ownership, including customer retention and satisfaction as well as local commercial execution as part of the Station’s P&L responsibility
• Ensure close collaboration with the country sales organization
• Develop strong local market understanding and steer commercial actions accordingly
• Ensure pricing discipline, margin management, and customer profitability transparency

Financial & Strategic Planning

• Full ownership of the station P&L, incl. station budget and cost controls (understand cost leadership as competitive advantage)
• Drive profitability through process optimization and vendor negotiations
• Manage third party contracts
• Negotiate local charges
• Manage customer profitability & revenue leakage

Process & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to regulations, e.g. customs, trade laws, and DHL policies
• Drive digitalization, foster IT and GSC utilization
• Ensure compliant practices
• Apply GoGreen standards

Stakeholders

Act as “entrepreneur in the network” and develop strong, trusting relationships with

• Sales and Key Account Management teams
• Product organizations (incl. embedded Customer Service)
• Countries, Regions, and Global Functions
• Carriers, handling agents & local partners
• Employee Representatives
• Where applicable, represent DHL in local Freight associations
• Manage relationships with local businesses

Now, here is what we need from you!

• People Management & Leadership
• P&L Management
• Operations Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Operational Cost Controlling
• Commercial acumen incl. pricing logic and margin steering
• Market intelligence and competitive insight
• Ability to understand, acknowledge and function within a Matrix organization
• Manage a station that includes multiple teams led by Managers and/or Team Leaders
• Solid reporting line responsibility for all products and sales* within the station, operating within DGFF matrix governance and joint accountability principles.
• 6–8 years in freight forwarding / contract logistics
• Strong leadership and team development experience
• Proven experience in commercial or customer-facing roles
• Strong understanding of freight procurement and pricing mechanisms
• Knowledge of customs, trade compliance, and logistics systems
• Education: Bachelor's Degree

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
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.