ENVIRONMENT:

A leading retail and wholesale company specializing in office and school supplies in South Africa is seeking an experienced Dispatch Manager to oversee and implement distribution strategies across six branches in the Inland Region: Pencil Park, Office Furniture, Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Nelspruit, and Polokwane. A bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field is preferred.

DUTIES:

Strategic Distribution Planning and Execution

• Develop and implement distribution strategies across the Inland Region’s six branches: Pencil Park, Office Furniture, Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Nelspruit, and Polokwane.
• Coordinate distribution activities across all branches, focusing on optimizing fleet and courier operations to support sales objectives of providing excellent customer service.

Fleet Management

• Oversee the Inland Region’s fleet of 54 vehicles, ensuring high utilization, safety, and cost effective operation.
• Coordinate scheduling, routing, and maintenance to support reliable deliveries and minimize breakdowns.
• Track fleet performance metrics, including fuel efficiency and vehicle state, to control costs and maximize availability.
• Collaborate with business to ensure there is a sustainable vehicle replacement plan.

Courier Partner Management

• Manage relationships with courier partners, ensuring competitive rates and consistent service quality across the region.
• Negotiate and monitor service agreements to meet customer demands, working closely with couriers to resolve service issues promptly.
• Evaluate courier performance, implementing improvements to enhance delivery speed, cost-efficiency, and service quality.

Collaboration with Sales for Customer Satisfaction

• Partner with the sales team to align distribution capabilities with customer requirements and sales targets, enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
• Communicate with sales on delivery schedules, special customer requests, and service commitments to ensure seamless order fulfilment.
• Communicate delivery and service failures immediately to the sales.
• Address any service issues in collaboration with sales, maintaining strong customer relationships and responsiveness.

Financial and Cost Management

• Monitor and control distribution costs, working within budget parameters while maintaining quality and service standards.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives and efficiency measures across fleet and courier operations to optimize financial performance.
• Prepare regular financial forecasts and reports on distribution costs, fleet utilization, and courier expenditures.

Customer Service and Delivery Quality

• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction by managing timely, accurate deliveries, aligned with sales and customer service objectives.
• Resolve service issues quickly to maintain customer confidence, collaborating with internal teams and the sales department.
• Continuously assess and adjust delivery methods and schedules to meet seasonal demands and special customer requirements.

Compliance and Health & Safety

• Ensure fleet operations comply with safety and environmental regulations across all branches.
• Promote a strong culture of health and safety within the distribution team, especially in fleet and courier interactions.
• Implement risk management practices to minimize disruptions and protect company assets and reputation.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement in fleet and courier operations, adopting new technologies and processes where beneficial.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the distribution team, applying technology and best practices to enhance efficiency.
• Stay updated on industry developments, recommending solutions to keep distribution competitive and effective.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years in fleet or distribution management, ideally within last mile environment.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership with experience managing a multi-branch team and driving high performance and customer satisfaction.
• Operational and Financial Acumen: Excellent skills in operational oversight, cost control, and budget management.
• Other Requirements:  Regular travel within the Inland Region’s six branches as needed.
• Ability to work flexibly in a dynamic, customer-centric environment with shifting priorities.
• Proficiency in logistics and fleet management software (e.g., WMS, TMS) and Microsoft Dynamics.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Strategic and Customer-focused Thinking: Ability to work collaboratively with sales to support customer satisfaction and operational goals.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Strong communicator with experience building relationships across sales, distribution, and courier teams.
• Problem-solving & Decision-making: Skilled in data analysis and decision-making, with a proactive approach to logistical challenges.
• Adaptability and Innovation: A proactive, customer-focused approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.

While we would really like to respond to every application, should you not be contacted for this position within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.

COMMENTS:

When applying for jobs, ensure that you have the minimum job requirements. Only SA Citizens will be considered for this role. If you are not in the mentioned location of any of the jobs, please note your relocation plans in all applications for jobs and correspondence. Apply here https://www.datafin.com/job/dispatch-manager-pps/

OR e-mail a Word copy of your CV to nix@datafin.com and mention the reference number of the job.