Managing Executive: EC Region at Vector Logistics

Overview

• We are a Supply Chain and Sales & Merchandising partner adding value to your business through a fully integrated, temperature-controlled network in Southern Africa.
• But we are also more than that. We are people serving people. While we boast the best in tech and infrastructure, our people are our greatest resource. With our skilled, curious, can-do people at the forefront, our assets become your assets, our service your solutions.
• Vector’s vehicle fleet includes a food industry first in ‘multi-temperature’ vehicles enabling the company to service business across frozen, chilled and ambient temperature zones on a single delivery.

Job Purpose

• We are looking for an ME to manage the Eastern Cape region (Port Elizabeth and East London). Develop, implement and manage operational strategies for the warehousing and distribution operations for a region and ensuring customer service standards are maintained to the highest levels and setting performance and efficiency level objectives for the region.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Execution

• Work in conjunction with the Chief Operating Officer and Operations Director to co-create the regional operations strategy, based on a 1-to-3-year view of requirements.
• Work closely with the rest of the business to ensure the delivery of an integrated supply chain benefit and strategic target achievement.
• Drive the implementation of improvements in operating processes and systems to optimise warehouse and transport efficiencies.
• Determine operational capacity requirements for the region across both the medium and the long term and plan required asset utilisation and capex requirements accordingly.
• Use growth and investment opportunities to ensure warehouse design and flow are optimised.
• Stay abreast of latest international trends by visiting facilities (local and international) and integrating best practice into future solutions.
• As a central point of the supply chain, identify supply chain bottle necks and opportunities and develop solutions through collaboration with all relevant parties in the business.
•  Constantly monitor and drive the achievement of regional strategic and operational targets.
• Ensure the agreed operational targets are achieved through regional team targets and that these targets align cross-functionally within the area of responsibility.
• Conduct weekly / monthly management meetings to address challenges, review performance and plan for future optimum performance.
• Maintain an accurate record of planning forecasts for the week before as well as a five-week future plan to enable accurate decision-making and longer-term planning.

Operations innovation

•  Identify opportunities for the appropriate and cost-effective investment of resources within the regions operations.
• Identify emerging cutting edge logistics practices, systems, equipment, and technologies to be introduced within the region.
• Keep current with trends and issues in the industry, including current industry best practices and industry innovations.

Logistics Management

• Integrate business systems successfully to support operational processes.
• Monitor the quality, quantity, cost and efficiency of the movement and storage of stock.
• Control stock accurately across all regional functions.
• Initiate and manage stock loss reduction programmes.
• Deliver system support to all internal and external customers.
• Manage and utilize the regional base vehicle fleet by optimizing routes and vehicle requirements between depots.
• Ensure continuous improvement in reverse logistics systems and processes by on-the-job observation, benchmarking and analysis.
• Drive the regional team on a daily basis to ensure that it deploys stock through the network to effectively meet customer service levels at minimal cost.
• Drive a culture of commitment to key performance indicator’s (KPI’s) by creating awareness and providing recognition for attainment of KPI’s within the team.
• Utilise regular communication channels and regional team meetings to promote continuous improvement and best practice on a daily basis across the region.
• Work closely with Principals to ensure inbound and outbound alignment.
• Work closely with customers to develop solutions that best fit customer needs as well as suit regional warehouse and transport capabilities at the lowest cost.

Risk Management

• Mitigate risks against people and physical assets.
• Ensure consistent application of the Vector risk management policy across the region.
• Drive the risk committee process and activities by having monthly meetings, analysing findings and ensuring corrective action is undertaken.
• Ensure full legal compliance with all relevant legislation.
• Re-evaluate the risk profile of the region on an annual basis.
• Measure and manage sustainability practices across the region.
• Maintain and implement food safety standards across the region and ensure that enhancements are implemented based on on-goinglearning.
• Ensure that security is maintained and that appropriate investigations take place where incidents occur.

Information and Data Management

• Ensure the regional team accurately and regularly captures operating data onto the information system to enable access to reliable data and reporting for trend analysis and decision making.
• Analyse management information on a daily basis to ensure productivity and regional targets and standards are being met.
• Suggest system changes to ensure the ongoing relevance and accuracy of information.
• Share relevant data with the executive management team to enable reliable business decision making.

Maintenance Management

• Manage the formulation of a maintenance plan that is aligned to the operational plan for the region.
• Drive sustainable maintenance practices throughout the region.
• Ensure that planned maintenance programmes for the region are implemented to enable optimal asset utilisation.
• Ensure that maintenance practices are aligned to business standards.

Financial Management

• Compile the annual distribution budget for the region.
• Manage regional costs to ensure lowest cost storage and distribution and the optimal utilisation of assets.
• Report on a weekly / monthly basis on actual KPI’s versus budget and work with the relevant teams to address areas of non-conformance proactively and promptly.
• Report on and manage all input costs within the region and manage any over or under-spend appropriately to ensure that issues are addressed before significant financial loss occurs.
• Authorise expenses within the level of authority and monitor spending activity within regional teams to ensure compliance with financial and ethical standards.
• Implement and encourage cost cutting initiatives within the region where these do not impact on long term business sustainability.
• Enforce accountability for budget expenditure by the regional management team.
• Mitigate business risks within budgetary constraints through the allocation of spend to areas of high priority.
• Ensure correct operational planning to meet budgeted volumes across a 2-3 year time horizon.
• Review and authorise capex documentation and align the proposals with the long term strategy, taking into account the return on investment and sustainability requirements.
• Manage external supplier relationships and contracts in collaboration with the procurement team to ensure agreed service levels are met.
• Ensure optimal deployment of physical and human resources using best practice standards, productivity measurements and on-the-job observation.

Leadership

• Lead the regional management team towards meeting strategic objectives and targets through regular communication and utilisation of the full organisational talent management tool set.
• Lead a regional team and workforce and maintain a stable IR climate through a constructive relationship with unions.
• Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.
• Drive employment equity within the regional team to ensure that diversity is achieved at all levels and that statutory targets and requirements are met.
• Champion training and development of the regional team through the utilisation of available training opportunities or by contributing to the development of new training solutions in collaboration with regional and national training specialists.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals with subordinates and ensure that the process is cascaded throughout the region.
• Develop and manage high performance multi-disciplinary teams in order to solve problems within the region.
• Encourage skills workshops between multi-disciplinary teams and across the region to realise the transfer of skills.
• Conduct weekly/monthly management meetings and ensure that records are kept and shared across the regional team and that action plans agreed to within team meetings are delivered upon.
• Manage the employee relations climate and ensure corrective action is taken where required in line with relevant legislation and company policy.
• Monitor regional team performance and provide regular feedback.
• Coach and support regional team members where necessary to achieve objectives.

KPI’s

• Regional Operations productivity and efficiency standards.
• Risk, health and safety (including food safety) compliance.
• Compliance with operational standards and Vector strategic objectives.
• Customer order-to-delivery time.
• Supplier delivery dock-to-stock cycle time.
• Customer order pick-to-ship cycle time.
• Order fill rate.
• Total logistics costs as a percentage of sales.
• Distribution volumes.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Sales.
• Finance.
• The broader supply chain management team (especially supply chain and transport planning).

External

• Suppliers and service providers.
• Principals.
• Customers.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a degree or national diploma in logistics management.
• Valid Code EB drivers' licence.
• A minimum of 8-10 years in a warehouse and distribution environment.
• SAP and other ERP systems.
• Warehousing principles and practices.
• Company sales strategy and customer and product priorities.
• Supply chain principles and methodologies.
• Company and Vector economics (supply and demand).
• Applicable legislation for warehouse and transport management (risk, health, safety and environmental).
• Transportation economics.

Skills and Competencies

• Financial management.
• Planning, organisation and coordination.
• Negotiation.
• Relationship building.
• Computer literacy (MS Office).
• Verbal and written communication.
• Interpersonal.
• Logical thinking.
• Innovative and creative thinking.
• Problem solving.
• Critical thinking.
• Decision-making.
• Analytical and evaluative thinking.

Leadership Standards

• Scans the environment for trends and disruptions.
• Uses data and insights to make informed, future-ready decisions.
• Simplifies complexity through systems thinking.
• Balances commercial acumen with sustainable growth.
• Delivers on promises with operational excellence.
• Innovate for efficiency and continuous improvment.
• Places customers at the centre of every process.
• Takes ownership, adapts quickly, and sustains momentum during change.
• Communicates openly and authentically.
• Collaborates to solve problems and share sucess.
• Develops others through coaching, feedback, and exposure.
• Create psychological safety so every voice is heard.
• Shows up with empathy, humility, and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates integrity and consistency, even under pressure.
• Stays resilient and agile in the face of uncertainty.
• Reflects, learns continuously, and models a growth mindset.

Attributes

• Initiative and assertiveness.
• Ability to interface and demonstrate leadership.
• Tolerance of stress and pressure.
• Attention to detail.
• Results driven.
• Able to prioritise.
• Organisational awareness.
• High-energy self-starter as well as collaborative team player.
• Effective cross functional communicator within the Company.
• Adaptability to changing priorities.