Logistics Manager at Highlands Mineral Water Company

Job Purpose:

• Facilitate and manage activities and personnel engaged in physical distribution of product: shipping, receiving, finished goods, and warehouse.

• Develop and implement processes and initiatives to support manufacturing, Suppliers, Customers, and ensure HMW compliancy to government rules and regulations.

• Introduce processes to reduce logistics costs while improving cycle time to meet Operation directives.

• Direct, manage and coordinate logistics, warehouse, 3rd party transportation and customer service activities.
• Lead and direct strategic planning for logistics and customer services.

Responsibilities (Functions and Duties)

1. Strategically plan and manage logistics, warehouse, transportation and customer service in the inventory team.

2. Plan, manage and evaluate logistics operations liaising with internal stakeholders, suppliers, logistics providers, transportation companies and customers

3. Create and implement best practice logistics principles, policies and processes across the organisation to improve operational and financial performance

4. Responsible for overseeing the inventory management process, defining departmental strategies for appropriate inventory levels, eliminating obsolete and off-spec material, and reduce aging material.

5. Ensure the integrity of inventory accuracy and manage stock movements with the help of direct reports, Identify and resolve any inventory discrepancies and ensure inventory and system records are in agreement

6. Develop methods and procedures for scheduling of raw/ packaging materials from suppliers to support manufacturing in achieving customer demand and minimizing cost impacts.

7. Develop and maintain transportation system to regional customers that ensures business needs are met.

8. Manage customer service activities including order entry, customer satisfaction, interface with sales, production, labs, regulatory, and quality ensuring that HMW’s customer service creates competitive advantage in marketplace including resolving critical customer complaints.

9. Create, manage and achieve the overall logistics and customer service department budgets.

10. Ensure Company is in compliance with laws and regulations regarding transportation, including hazardous materials.

11. Resolve any legal issues pertaining to transportation/distribution

12. Maintain receiving, warehousing and distribution operations by initiating, coordinating and enforcing program operational and personnel policies and procedures.

13. Safeguard warehouse operations and contents by establishing and monitoring security procedures, controls and protocols.

14. Motivate, organize and encourage teamwork within the workforce to ensure set productivity targets are met.

15. Participate in personnel development at all levels through talent acquisition, performance management, coaching, providing opportunity for high performers, education, communication, expectation setting, and self-actualization.

16. Direct, optimize and coordinate full order cycle Keep track of quality, quantity, stock levels, delivery times, transport costs and efficiency

17. Arrange and plan out warehouse, catalog goods, plan routes and process shipments

18. Meet cost, productivity, accuracy and timeliness targets while maintaining the metrics and analyzing data to assess performance and implement improvements.

19. To ensure that Inventory Control Practices are adhered to at all times, safeguarding any losses and or unaccounted losses at any given time.

20. Manage the efficient dispatch of Sales Orders in line with the Customer promise of ‘On Time-In full’ in support of the commercial objectives of the Highlands.

21. Deliver an efficient/ optimization of Highland’s owned/ leased trucks in order to reduce the cost of 3rd party hired transportation.

22. Maintains a constant and critical appraisal of all Logistics activities and costs within the function by directing the team to manage all achievable resources so that company products are stored, handled and distributed to the agreed standards at optimum cost.

23. Builds a culture of operational excellence within the team by providing leadership, motivation, coaching and mentoring.

24. Effectively manage and improve the Logistics related working capital within the agreed limits i.e. Inventory.

25. Champions the implementation and embedment of EOSH and ISO requirements in the immediate area of operation.

26. Provide a source for data related to quality of products, customer feedback and give an analysis that guides decision making.

27. Determine and liaise with Human Resource & Chief Operating Officer on Staff training and development.

28. Effectively deal with any depot related staff issues as required.

29. Perform Annual staff appraisals and review.

30. Perform or cause to perform Daily reconciliations for both stocks and deposits

31. Approve annual leave for all staff and ensure replacement staff are organized.

32. Prepare draft annual operating/ capex plan.

33. Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictate.

34. Deliver on the implementation of HMW-World Class Operations in the Logistics function.

Performance Measures and Targets:

1. Improvement in overall accuracy of Inventory – Inventory Accuracy score based on Cycle Counts.

2. Customer Service performance – On Time In Full.

3. Vehicle Turn-around Time.

4. Stock Losses (Shrinkage) from Monthly Stock Take – at less than 1% of Sales and reducing.

5. Improve on Stock Availability through coordinating Timely of Timely production

6. Monitor – Fuel Usage per Kilometer – on a Weekly / Monthly basis.

7. Ensure Vehicles comply to the Service Schedule.

8. Drive for increased Trips per Vehicle – Weekly/ Monthly.

9. Working with the OVM provider – improved MTTR & MTBF

10. Expenses maintained below the Budget.

11. Ensure no breach to Highlands Processes, standards and practices – both operational & financial.

12. Ensure Adherence to HMW-Quality Management System

13. Compliance to regulatory and statutory requirements; KEBS, NEMA & EOSH Act

14. Implementation progress of HM-World Class Operations

Role Reports

1. Present Logistics during Daily Operations Review meetings

2. Present Monthly Logistics summary report during Monthly Operations Review and Sales & Operations Planning meetings.

3. Regular reports on Performance – Warehouse, Dispatch and Operations.

Experience:

1. Minimum 5 years in a warehousing, logistics, supply chain or similar environment.

2. Substantial previous experience in a complex environment, working with multiple stakeholders.

3. Excellent analytical, problem solving and organizational skills

4. Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects

5. Having strong communication skills to manage the internal and external stakeholder expectations

6. Strong leadership talent, interpersonal and organizational skills

7. Ability to make Decisions under pressure

8. Good commercial and business understanding

9. Analytical approach and problem diagnostic skills.

10. Computer literate – preferably SAP Business 1 (ERP) and application packages.

Qualifications:

Academic:

· Degree in Business, Transportation/Logistics Management or Supply Chain.

· Minimum 5 years in a warehousing, logistics, supply chain or similar environment.

Professional:

· Trained in Six Sigma; yellow or green belt.

Specialist knowledge required:

· Thorough knowledge of Operations procedures, supply and logistics.

· Attention to detail and clear levels of ownership.

· Proven leadership skills with an eye for continuous improvement of teams and methods of working.

Behavioral Competencies:

· Proven ability to maximize output from teams.

· Strong ability to think through and analyze complex problems

· Strong commercial mentality and creativity.

· Responsiveness – addresses issues effectively, with a strong focus on action.

· Accountability – drive accountability and takes responsibility accordingly.

· Confident, enthusiastic and passionate person

· Ability to manage and deliver on complex projects.