Experience required for this role: Proven experience in business processes design and implementation Commercial expertise including: Agent management Africa Risk management experience will be advantageous At least 5 years relevant experience in the clearing and forwarding industry, with a focus on African trade In-depth knowledge of trade regulations, customs procedures, and logistics in the African region Qualifications: Matric Tertiary qualification in international supply chain essential At least 5 years management experience Management post-graduate qualification will be advantageous Competencies: Knowledge- Strong leadership and managerial qualities Supply Chain knowledge will advantageous Excellent communication and negotiation skills to interact with clients and various stakeholders Strong proven working knowledge of International Forwarding and clearing industry with a focus on African trade Must be numerate Must be familiar with African customs processes Skills- Agent relationship management Well - developed inter-personal skills coupled with expert written and verbal communication Excellent negotiation skills Sound Planning and organisational skills Ability to manage and work under pressure Customer (internal and external) centric Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions Must have a high level of emotional intelligence Key responsibilities of this role: Africa Agent Network Management- Facilitate the signing up of additional agents where necessary Cultivate strong relationships with agents by fostering trust and cooperation Define relevant KPIs to measure the performance African agents Set up a system to regularly evaluate the performance of African agents Have regular engagements with African agents to foster continuous improvement Facilitate dispute resolution between agents and the operations teams Maintain open and regular communication with African agents. Client Management- Understand client-specific Africa trade needs, and support Business Development and Operations to provide effective solutions to meet their requirements Managing information and Reporting- Identify and address potential risks related to shipping, customs, documentation, or other logistical challenges When issues arise, such as delays, damages, or disruptions in the supply chain, find solutions promptly and efficiently Collaboration on pricing strategy Collaborate with sales, operations, and Trade Lane to ensure that Africa pricing strategies align with business objectives and profitability targets. Collaborate on pricing strategy development considering market dynamics, competitive landscape, and customer demands Provide inputs for the Balanced Scorecard (if required) Ensure confidential information is treated as such and put measures in place to ensure it is treated appropriately Conduct market research to identify potential trade opportunities, trade patterns, and emerging trends in the African region Monitor each African trade lane performance, costs, and revenue to ensure profitability and identify areas for improvement On agreed intervals, prepare the following reports: KPI reports (for agents and trade lanes), country market and industry reports, profitability reports, risk management report, rates trends report Put in place and maintain processes and procedures to ensure accurate upload of Africa information on internal system e.g. Cargowise Utilise relevant Management Information System (e.g. Monthly Dashboard and KPI's) in decision making Interpret and use information on system delivery from Service Reports and Customer Surveys Interpret and use information from Balanced Scorecard- analyse, interpret trends Prepare Africa Tradelane and EXCO reports timeously Disseminate information to direct reports and ensure it filters down to teams Financial Responsibility (if applicable)- Achieve Africa budget and forecast Maximize Profits by rate negotiations with suppliers and improving profits where possible Manage cash flows - invoicing, query resolution and collection Minimize financial waste Safeguard assets Performance Indicators: Client retention and growth Timely and accurate reporting Meet internal and external client KPIs Efficient resource planning and usage Meet ESG targets Meeting SHERQ objectives Adherence to business processes Achieve Africa budget and forecast Minimize financial waste Stakeholder engagement and management Compliance Agent Query Resolution
