Africa Manager International Logistics

Africa Agent performance and relationship managementIdentifying and addressing potential risks related to shipping, customs, documentation, or other logistical challenges in the Africa tradelanes, keeping the business up-to-date with African countries' trade regulations, customs laws, and import/export requirements, keeping track of market trends, competitor strategies, and changes in African trade, problem solving, support operations with route optimizationQualifications:MatricTertiary qualification in international supply chain essentialManagement post-graduate qualification will be advantageousAt least 5 years management experience in a similar roleExperience:Proven experience in business processes design and implementationCommercial expertise including: agent managementAfrica Risk management experience will be advantegousAt least 5 years relevant experience in the clearing and forwarding industry, with a focus on African tradeIn-depth knowledge of trade regulations, customs procedures, and logistics in the African regionCompetencies:Strong leadership and managerial qualitiesSupply Chain knowledge will advantageousExcellent communication and negotiation skills to interact with clients and various stakeholdersStrong proven working knowledge of International Forwarding and clearing industry with a focus on African tradeMust be numerateMust be familiar with African customs processesAgent relationship managementWell - developed inter-personal skills coupled with expert written and verbal communicationExcellent negotiation skillsSound Planning and organisational skillsAbility to manage and work under pressureCustomer (internal and external) centricStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisionsMust have a high level of emotional intelligenceKey responsibilities of this role:Africa Agent Network ManagementFacilitate the signing up of additional agents where necessaryCultivate strong relationships with agents by fostering trust and cooperationDefine relevant KPIs to measure the performance African agentsSet up a system to regularly evaluate the performance of African agentsHave regular engagements with African agents to foster continuous improvementFacilitate dispute resolution between agents and the operations teamsMaintain open and regular communication with African agentsRisk Management:Ensure the African agents stay up-to-date with international trade regulations, customs laws, and shipping requirements in their countries and they share those updates with the company in order to avoid potential delays or penaltiesIdentify and address potential risks related to shipping, customs, documentation, or other logistical challengesWhen issues arise, such as delays, damages, or disruptions in the supply chain, find solutions promptly and efficientlyCollaboration 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 demandsConduct regular market research and analysis to monitor competitor pricing, identify emerging trends, and make data-driven pricing decisionsClient Management:Understand client-specific Africa trade needs and sipport Business Development and Operations to provide effective solutions to meet their requirementsManaging information and Reporting:Put in place and maintain processes and procedures to ensure accurate upload of Africa information on internal system e.g. CargowiseUtilise relevant Management Information System (e.g.Monthly Dashboard and KPI's) in decision makingInterpret and use information on system delivery from Service Reports and Customer SurveysInterpret and use information from Balanced Scorecard- analyse, interpret trendsPrepare Africa Tradelane and EXCO reports timeouslyDisseminate information to direct reports and ensure it filters down to teamsEnsure confidential information is treated as such and put measures in place to ensure it is treated appropriatelyConduct market research to identify potential trade opportunities, trade patterns, and emerging trends in the African regionMonitor each African trade lane performance, costs, and revenue to ensure profitability and identify areas for improvementOn agreed intervals, prepare the following reports: KPI reports (for agents and tradelanes), country market and industry reports, profitability reports, risk management report, rates trends reportFinancial Responsibility:Achieve Africa budget and forecastMaximize Profits by rate negotiations with suppliers and improving profits where possibleManage cash flows - invoicing, query resolution and collectionMinimize financial wasteSafeguard assets