Supply Chain Lead

Pro Talent; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Pro Talent is seeking a Supply Chain Lead to oversee the end-to-end operations of an international trade desk, coordinating customer requirements, sourcing, POs, global freight, customs compliance, and final delivery within a disciplined operating rhythm.

You will manage daily desk operations, establish SOPs, track real-time dashboards, coach the team, and drive continuous improvement across freight, compliance, and cost management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor level degree or diploma in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Trade, Procurement or Business Management.
• 7–8 years of supply chain leadership experience handling international trade, freight forwarding, and sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end supply chain and daily desk operations, establish SOPs and service standards.
• Oversee multi-modal freight, customs clearance, warehousing, and final delivery; mitigate transit risks.
• Source, onboard, and evaluate international suppliers, carriers, and service providers; negotiate terms and SLAs.
• Direct sea, air, and multi-modal routing; ensure compliance with import/export documentation and tariffs.
• Collaborate with sales on tenders and supply chain solutions; support client reviews and new opportunities.
• Track margins, validate logistics invoices, and produce weekly/monthly KPIs and risk reports.
• Champion systems adoption and process improvements to reduce friction and improve visibility.

Skills

Incoterms

Freight forwarding

MS Excel

Microsoft 365

Vendor negotiations

Education

Degree in Supply Chain

Tools

ShipShape

Job description

Supply Chain Lead

Role Overview

Lead the end-to-end supply chain and day-to-day operations for an international trade desk. Coordinate customer requirements, sourcing, purchase orders, global freight, customs compliance, and final delivery under a unified, disciplined operating rhythm.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations Management: Lead daily desk operations, establish SOPs and service standards, maintain real-time tracking dashboards, and coach the operational team.

• End-to-End Execution: Oversee order progress from supplier production through multi-modal freight, customs clearance, warehousing, and final delivery, mitigating transit risks proactively.

• Procurement & Vendor Oversight: Source, onboard, and evaluate international suppliers, carriers, and service providers; negotiate commercial terms, pricing, and SLAs.

• Freight & Trade Compliance: Direct sea, air, and multi-modal routing; ensure adherence to customs regulations, tariff structures, Incoterms, and import/export documentation while minimizing demurrage, detention, and storage costs.

• Commercial & Sales Alignment: Collaborate with sales on tenders, quotations, and supply chain solution designs; participate in client reviews and drive new business opportunities across trade corridors.

• Financial Governance & Reporting: Track operational margins against budgets, validate logistics invoices and cost allocations, and produce weekly/monthly performance, risk, and KPI reports.

• Continuous Improvement: Champion systems adoption, workflow automation, and process enhancements to reduce operational friction and improve visibility.

Requirements

• Relevant degree or diploma in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Trade, Procurement, or Business Management preferred.

• 7--8 years of supply chain leadership experience handling high-volume international trade, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and global sourcing.

• Strong working command of Incoterms, sea/air freight operations, port documentation, and statutory trade compliance.

• Proven ability to manage carrier and supplier negotiations, cost modeling, tender preparation, and margin preservation.

• Advanced MS Excel / Microsoft 365 skills; prior experience with ShipShape software is an advantage.

• Willingness and flexibility to travel as operational needs dictate.