Operations Manager: Logistics & Warehousing
We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Operations Manager to lead and strengthen our logistics and warehouse operations.
This is a key operational leadership role responsible for driving consistency, discipline and performance across our warehouse, inventory, transport, supplier, HSE and reporting environments. The successful candidate will play a central role in improving service delivery, strengthening operational controls, reducing cost and ensuring that our national logistics and warehousing function operates safely, efficiently and with clear accountability.
This role will suit someone who enjoys working close to the detail, leading operational teams, solving practical problems and creating structure in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of warehouse management, logistics execution, supplier management and operational leadership experience.
You should be comfortable working close to the detail while also being able to step back, identify patterns and drive meaningful improvements across process, people, systems and cost.
Key responsibilities
Logistics and transport management
- Manage the performance of national transport, courier and freight partners against agreed service levels.
- Oversee inbound and outbound logistics to ensure goods are dispatched, received and delivered accurately and on time.
- Monitor transport costs across service providers and identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
- Resolve logistics-related escalations, courier discrepancies and delivery issues in partnership with carrier account managers.
- Track proof of delivery compliance and ensure outstanding PODs are followed up and resolved timeously.
- Review transporter agreements, pricing structures and SLA documentation.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with logistics, courier and freight partners.
- Support the improvement and integration of carrier systems with internal operational platforms.
Warehousing and inventory control
- Provide operational oversight across warehouse facilities, with focus being on Cape Town, ensuring consistent standards, processes and controls.
- Drive inventory accuracy through cycle counts, stock variance management, bin-location discipline and root-cause investigations.
- Monitor and manage stock adjustments, stock discrepancies, damaged stock and obsolete stock processes.
- Ensure inter-branch and inter-company stock transfers are receipted and resolved within agreed timelines.
- Maintain safe, compliant and efficient storage practices across all facilities.
- Drive warehouse housekeeping, layout optimisation and storage improvement initiatives.
- Review and maintain warehouse SOPs to ensure processes remain practical, current and consistently implemented.
- Implement and maintain warehouse KPI dashboards that provide useful visibility of operational performance.
People leadership
- Manage, coach and develop warehouse and logistics team members.
- Set clear expectations and drive a culture of accountability, discipline and service delivery.
- Conduct performance reviews and address poor performance in line with company processes.
- Identify skills gaps within the team and implement practical development plans.
- Support the resolution of internal customer complaints and service failures through proper root-cause analysis and corrective action.
Health, safety and compliance
- Oversee health, safety and environmental compliance across warehouse and logistics sites.
- Ensure HSE files, incident reports, corrective actions, toolbox talks and training records are maintained.
- Coordinate emergency preparedness, safety awareness and site compliance activities.
- Work with relevant service providers, landlords and internal stakeholders to ensure safety equipment and compliance requirements are maintained.
- Track and close out audit findings, insurance requirements and risk-related actions.
Supplier and service provider management
- Lead supplier negotiations and support cost-saving initiatives across logistics and freight services.
- Manage supplier onboarding, contract requirements, NDA processes and procurement governance requirements.
- Review supplier performance against agreed SLAs and KPIs.
- Conduct regular pricing reviews and challenge cost escalations where required.
- Support tender processes for logistics, freight and supplier contracts.
- Coordinate import freight and international logistics where required.
Reporting and operational performance
- Prepare and maintain logistics and warehouse reports on daily, weekly and monthly cycles.
- Track key operational metrics including transport SLA performance, outbound SLA compliance, stock variances, inventory adjustments, transfer ageing and POD compliance.
- Analyse trends, identify operational risks and present recommendations to senior management.
- Work with internal teams to improve data accuracy, reporting consistency and operational visibility.
- Support reporting automation and improved system usage, particularly within ERP and logistics platforms.
Minimum requirements
- Relevant qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations Management or a related field.
- 5 to 7 years, proven experience in logistics and warehouse management, preferably across multiple sites.
- Strong understanding of inventory control, stock governance and warehouse operating procedures.
- Experience managing transport providers, courier partners, freight forwarders and supplier SLAs.
- Strong people management experience in a high-volume operational environment.
- Good commercial acumen with the ability to review costs, negotiate with suppliers and identify savings.
- Strong analytical ability with experience preparing and interpreting operational KPI reports.
- Experience working with ERP systems; NetSuite experience will be advantageous.
- Working knowledge of health and safety compliance requirements within a warehouse or logistics environment.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
- High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Key competencies
- Operational discipline and accountability.
- Strong planning and organisational ability.
- Commercial and cost-management mindset.
- Problem-solving and root-cause analysis.
- Team leadership and performance management.
- Process improvement and continuous improvement orientation.
- Strong stakeholder and supplier management.
- Data-driven decision-making.
- High urgency and follow-through.
