Airfreight Commercial and Procurement Manager at Helderberg Personnel

Job Purpose:

The role entails sourcing and marketing airfreight products to both current and prospective clients.

Furthermore, this position encompasses a strategic, analytical, and planning dimension, in which the individual provides guidance to the executive team regarding emerging trends, market developments, and potential opportunities within the global fruit industry.

Skills / Qualifications / Experience:

• Proven track record of experience and a client base in the airfreight export industry
• Ability to grow revenue through increased market access and quality of trading relationships
• Design, implement, and manage airfreight sales strategies and plans.
• Ability to procure airfreight fruit based on the strength of market relationships
• Advanced relationship management skills across the supply chain
• Tertiary qualification relevant to the position (marketing, agriculture, business management)
• 3-5 years experience in fruit marketing to foreign/local clients in traditional and growth fruit markets
• Extensive market network including market and retail buyers
• Knowledge and experience in managing retail programs.
• Fruit supply chain knowledge, from production to end-consumer.
• Define optimum airfreight procurement target:
• Discuss with markets/clients their product needs
• Deciding and matching of demands with available product
• Discuss packing requirements and specs with clients
• Advising Area manager on product required for sourcing (budget)
• Understanding the clients and their markets

Program management:

• Management of stock levels of overseas clients
• Price feedback/indications
• Mates checking/sign off
• Relationship management:
• Service - Satisfied business partners
• Regular visits

Communication:

• Market report –weekly
• Frequent interaction with business partners.

Grower payments:

• Follow up accounts sales and payments from clients
• Arrange invoicing with finance
• Payments to producers
• Manage enhancements according to the situation.
• Fix price/ MG price management with clients & producers

Costing:

• Setting up/Maintaining cost model
• Various costing, price setting, discussions
• Preseason planning: 
• Pre-season packing programs
• Demands and allocations

Key Performance Areas:

• Achieving sales and business development through building, maintaining, and strengthening of customer relationships and excellent customer service. 
• Ensure thorough knowledge of competitor environment and monitor the market for development opportunities. 
• Continuous business development and identifying potential opportunities within existing customers to broaden product range. 
• Develop and conduct presentations of solutions and services to potential clients. 
• Planning and preparation of sales strategies and direct marketing activities. 
• Sales administration and reporting. 
• Maintain and enhance client relations
• Ensuring a desirable client pool (wholesale, agent, retail)
• Account management (volumes, price, trading limits, claims, etc.)
• Market planning and feedback (strategic, pre-, post-season)
• General administration associated with the position