The Supply Chain Manager will lead a dynamic team focused on optimizing supply chain operations across 18 brands. It is a Customer facing role with the Customer being the Trading Divisions. This role will be instrumental in driving supply chain efficiencies aligned with brand requirements. This includes collaborating with the shipping team to ensure effective end-to-end shipping management and providing strategic insights to brands on opportunities for optimization. The role will also oversee the application of order management disciplines to enhance shipping operational performance. The role will equally be responsible for last mile delivery execution i.e. Port to DC and DC to Store (export). This position supports the ability to manage a fast-paced, innovative environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and efficiency.

Brand Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with merchants to ensure seamless alignment of the order book with the lead times set by the shipping team. Work closely with brands to gain insight into their strategic sourcing plans, including emerging sourcing territories and the introduction of new product categories. Ensure that the shipping team is equipped to support these developments by establishing necessary logistics frameworks and providing guidance on country-specific import and export regulations, compliance requirements, and customs processes.
Cross-Brand Coordination: Oversee and manage supply chain operations across 18 brands, ensuring that supply chain strategies align with overall business objectives. Standardize best practices across all brands to drive efficiency, improve operational consistency, and enhance collaboration between shipping, logistics, and brand teams.
Process Optimization: Continuously monitor and manage critical path milestones, from supplier production through to cargo handover, to ensure that timelines are met, and potential bottlenecks are mitigated. Identify opportunities for strategic order placement that facilitate Full Container Load (FCL) consolidation, optimizing landed costs.
Supplier Conformance Management: Implement data-driven insights to improve supplier performance, and overall supply chain efficiency.
Inventory Management: Implement robust inventory management strategies to balance stock levels effectively across multiple brands, minimizing risks of overstocking or stock shortages. Work closely with demand planning and merchandising teams to align inventory with sales forecasts, promotional campaigns, and seasonal fluctuations. Utilize data analytics to optimize stock replenishment, enhance turnover rates, and reduce holding costs while ensuring product availability.
Logistics & Distribution: Manage and oversee the end-to-end logistics network, ensuring the efficient and timely movement of products from ports to distribution centers (DCs) and from DCs to retail stores. Collaborate with shipping/transportation providers and warehouse teams to streamline operations, reduce lead times, and improve delivery accuracy. Align distribution plans with brand requirements, optimizing supply chain agility to meet customer demands.
Risk Management: Proactively assess and mitigate potential supply chain risks, including supplier disruptions, geopolitical factors, regulatory changes, and transportation challenges. Develop and implement contingency plans to maintain operational resilience, ensuring continuity in the event of unexpected disruptions. Leverage data-driven risk analysis to anticipate potential issues and establish alternative logistics, and distribution strategies to safeguard business operations.

An Industry related Degree/Diploma

Experience

7-10 years’ relevant experience within the Retail Supply Chain Industry with specific emphasis on International landscapes.
Must have experience in working in the landscape we are required to manage e.g. SADC: China and Bangladesh.
Must have experience in leading Teams and Strategic Management.

Skills

People Management & Performance Development: Proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop teams, including overseeing performance management processes to ensure high levels of engagement and productivity.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong leadership skills to connect various business partners across the organization, fostering alignment on projects, processes, and initiatives. Ability to create a motivated, open, and harmonious work environment that reflects the organization’s leadership philosophy and core values.
Strategic Awareness & Business Acumen: Deep understanding of the organisation’s long-term strategic objectives and the ability to align supply chain initiatives accordingly. Strong knowledge of the global and local sourcing landscape, emerging trends, and market dynamics.
Customer-Centric Approach: Ability to understand and anticipate customer (brand) requirements, ensuring alignment with the Group Shipping Strategy and broader supply chain initiatives to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
Process & Project Management: Expertise in managing end-to-end processes and leading complex projects, ensuring smooth execution and continuous improvement across the supply chain.
Analytical & Critical Thinking: Strong analytical skills to assess data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions that optimize supply chain performance and drive efficiencies.
Change Leadership & Adaptability: Ability to lead through change, navigate complexities, and drive transformation in an evolving retail, organizational, and sourcing landscape. Resilience and agility to respond to shifting business needs and market conditions effectively.

Behavioural Competencies

Being Resilient - To be able to recover and grow through challenges
Builds Effective Teams - To strengthen my ability to build an effective team
Builds Networks - To develop the ability to build strong networks inside and outside of my business, brand or division
Cultivates Innovation - To develop a mindset that challenges convention and is focused on creating new and better ways for the organisation to be successful
Decision Quality - To enhance my ability to make informed, effective and timely decisions
Drives Engagement - To develop my ability to create a climate where people are engaged in helping to achieve the organisations' goals
Ensures Accountability - To develop my ability to hold myself and others accountable to meet shared commitments
Manages Complexity - To strengthen my ability to solve problems while dealing with complex, high-volume and contradictory information
Organisational Savvy - To develop my ability to achieve goals while navigating complex organisational policies, processes and people related dynamics
Situational Adaptability - To effectively adjust their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
Strategic Mindset - To strengthen my ability to see future opportunities and incorporate these insights into strategic goals

Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.