Transportation Program Manager, Operations

Amazon; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multinational company in Cape Town is seeking a Transportation Manager to enhance its operations by developing effective transportation strategies. The role involves managing long-term relationships with transportation service providers and collaborating with cross-functional teams for optimal delivery and cost effectiveness. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills, with at least 10 years of experience in supply chain management and a relevant bachelor’s degree.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain management.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Experience in program management and cross-functional teamwork in a matrix organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage relationships with 3PL carriers for operational issues and negotiations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with various teams for cost and delivery optimization.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to manage operational and financial performance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in logistics, management, engineering, or related field

Advanced degree such as MBA

Tools

Excel (advanced)

SQL

Job description

Overview

The Amazon South Africa Operations team is hiring a Transportation Manager to improve the experience for our African customers. Africa represents a growing consumer market with potential driven by a young population, rapid technology adoption, and evolving consumer behavior. This role involves working with internal and external teams to evaluate customer landscapes and develop innovative solutions to ambiguous problems. This is an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and collaborative role.

This leadership position shapes Amazon’s operation by developing the transportation strategy and managing the long-term relationship between Amazon and our 3PL transportation service providers. The leader will work with carriers and internal stakeholders, and with cross-functional leaders globally to drive initiatives and programs. The role requires deep analysis of the distribution network and the invention and implementation of solutions that influence short- and long-term operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the business relationships with 3PL carriers, spanning optimization and resolution of operational issues to supporting commercial and contractual negotiations.
• Develop domestic and international line haul connections to achieve high cost effectiveness and reliability.
• Partner with cross-functional teams such as Finance and Analytics to develop reports and mechanisms to manage operational and financial performance daily. Responsible for the ultimate business result from delivery experience and cost perspective.
• Work with Delivery Experience (DEX), Supply Chain, and Fulfillment teams to determine future demand for transportation resources and translate this into capacity and operations plans.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with carriers, fulfillment centers, and customer service teams to provide best-in-class delivery experience, speed, and cost structure.
• Represent the local country and partner with internal resources to improve delivery experience and cost structure through system and process enhancements.
• Ensure alignment with cross-functional stakeholders and leverage global resources to optimize transportation operations.
• Manage multiple projects and initiatives with a focus on delivering measurable improvements in service and cost.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in logistics, management, engineering, or related field from an accredited university.
• 10+ years of professional experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain management.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven decision making.
• Experience in program management and cross-functional teamwork in a matrix organization.
• Solid verbal and written communication, positive influencing skills, and sound business judgment.
• Highly adaptable to a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment and ability to operate in ambiguity.

Preferred qualifications

• Advanced degree such as MBA or Master’s in supply chain, engineering, or related field.
• Experience in fast-paced multinational companies with state-of-the-art supply chain and logistics practices.
• Ability to manage, motivate, and influence employees and partners.
• Experience driving complex, milestone-driven projects and changes across multi-country entities.

Key job responsibilities

• Develop and manage the business relationships with 3PL carriers, spanning optimization and resolution of operational issues to supporting commercial and contractual negotiations.
• Develop domestic and international line haul connections to the highest degree of cost effectiveness and reliability.
• Partner with cross-functional teams such as Finance and Analytics to develop reports and mechanisms to manage operational and financial performance daily. Responsible for the ultimate business result from delivery experience and cost perspective.
• Work with Delivery Experience (DEX), Supply Chain, and Fulfillment teams to determine future demand for transportation resources and translate this into capacity and operations plans.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with carriers, fulfillment centers, and customer service teams to provide best-in-class delivery experience, speed, and cost structure.
• Represent local country and partner with internal resources to improve delivery experience and cost structure through system and process enhancements.
• 5+ years of program or project management experience.
• 5+ years of working cross-functionally with tech and non-tech teams.
• 5+ years of defining and implementing process improvement initiatives using data and metrics.
• Knowledge of Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs) at an advanced level and SQL.
• Experience defining program requirements and using data and metrics to determine improvements.
• 5+ years of delivering end-to-end delivery results and communicating them to senior leadership.
• Experience in stakeholder management with multiple stakeholders at varied levels.
• Experience building processes, project management, and schedules.

Equal opportunity and inclusion

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is committed to diversity and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are designated groups contributing to Employment Equity. We will consider relevant Employment Equity laws and principles when appointing candidates. We may require documentation to verify work eligibility in South Africa. Applicants may need to submit identity or passport information and any applicable work permit along with a current CV.

Accommodation and contact

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you are applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.