COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

SUMMARY:
Nelspruit Area – Mpumalanga: Our client is looking for a Commercial Operations Manager to join the team.

Only candidates with the relevant experience will be considered.

POSITION INFO:
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture (Horticulture, Agronomy, Soil Science), or Supply Chain Management.
• Five years’ experience at a management level with well-developed leadership skills in fresh produce post-harvest management or supply chain management.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate a team.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in using computer software and systems for data management and analysis.
• Knowledge of international trade terms and international multimodal transportations.
• The role may require working extended hours during peak seasons and occasional travel to packhouses or suppliers.
• Experience in exporting sub-tropical fruit / fresh produce is required.

• Ensure adherence to international trade regulations, customs laws, and export control requirements.
• Prepare and manage export documentation, including invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and certificates of origin.
• Coordinate the shipment of goods to international destinations, including working with freight forwarders.
• Monitor shipments to ensure timely delivery and resolve any logistical issues.
• Set and monitor packing and fruit grading standards at packhouses in line with customer requirements.
• Develop and implement operational plans to optimize efficiency and minimize product loss.
• Implement and monitor temperature protocols throughout the logistics chain from packhouse fridges, value-add facilities, inland transport, cold stores and main carriage (sea and air freight).
• Manage the Laboratory team undertaking MRL, maturity and ripening testing and utilise the information to guide the harvesting, packing and supply chain processes.
• Develop forecasting models based on historical data for harvesting and procurement decisions.
• Assess various Accreditation and Regulatory Standards and implement processes to ensure packhouses and growers meet food safety standards and comply with social and environmental standards demanded by the market.
• Analyse QC’s and customer claims and disseminate information to affected growers.
• Manage the marine insurance claims process.
• Assess weekly export returns and claims and confirm pricing for account sales.
• Act as Key Account Manager to allocated growers, regarding market reports, regular communication, physical visits and technical guidance.
• Understanding global market trends (pricing, supply, demand, exchange rate) to give economic steer to team and growers.
• Play a key role in the Sales and Operations planning meetings to improve Supply Chain optimisation.
• Monitor the supply chain: supplier performance, downstream processing and logistics and provide insight to correct quality deviations.
• Supervise inspections where breach of supply chain protocol is evident.