The Senior Manager – Supply Chain will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the supply chain function, including procurement, inventory management, logistics and distribution. The incumbent will develop and implement strategies to optimize efficiency, minimize costs and improve performance across the supply chain network.

• Lead, coach and develop the supply chain planning and import team.
• Lead the demand-planning and central-replenishment processes across stores and product categories.
• Ensure appropriate replenishment parameters, safety stocks, order cycles, lead times and minimum order quantities.
• Lead exception management for stockouts, overstocks, abnormal demand and supply constraints.
• Coordinate supply-chain readiness for promotional periods and ensure that promotional forecasts, orders and distribution plans are agreed in advance.

·       Monitor adoption and effective use of replenishment and planning systems.

• Oversees the procurement process, including sourcing, contracting, and negotiation with vendors and suppliers to ensure timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services.
• Establishes strategic partnerships and supplier relationships to leverage economies of scale, secure favourable pricing, and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Own inventory performance against agreed service, stock-cover and working-capital targets.
• Establish inventory policies by category, product profile, lead time and supply risk.
• Monitor stock cover, inventory turnover, excess inventory, slow-moving stock and obsolete stock.
• Ensure that new-product introductions, delistings and range changes are supported by appropriate inventory plans.

·       Provide reliable inventory projections and risk assessments to the Head of Supply Chain and Finance.

• Manage daily logistics and distribution performance to ensure reliable and timely deliveries to stores.
• Monitor the performance of logistics providers, distribution centres, cross-dock activities and transport partners against agreed service-level agreements.
• Review transport capacity, routing, delivery frequency and utilisation to improve service and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure effective coordination of import flows, shipment priorities, documentation, customs requirements and delivery planning.
• Monitor delays, demurrage, detention, claims, damages and exceptional transport costs.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis following service failures and ensure that sustainable corrective actions are implemented.
• Coordinate peak-period logistics planning and contingency arrangements.

·       Maintain appropriate business-continuity plans for critical suppliers, transport routes and logistics operations.

• Own the supply chain KPI framework and ensure accurate, timely and actionable reporting.
• Develop dashboards that provide visibility on service, stock, cost, supplier performance and operational productivity.
• Identify performance gaps and lead structured improvement plans.
• Convert data into clear recommendations for management decision-making.
• Ensure that KPI definitions, data sources and reporting methods are consistent across the business.
• Coordinate the operational supply-chain planning process with Commercial, Operations, Finance, Marketing, IT and other relevant functions.
• Ensure that sales plans, promotions, range changes and operational constraints are translated into realistic supply and inventory plans.
• Highlight capacity, availability, inventory and supplier risks early enough to support business decisions.
• Ensure clear ownership of actions and timely resolution of cross-functional issues.

·       Maintain a forward-looking view of supply-chain risks, constraints and opportunities.

• Act as the business owner for supply-chain planning, replenishment and performance-management systems.
• Lead the operational implementation and adoption of approved supply-chain systems and tools.
• Ensure that users are properly trained and that system parameters and processes are maintained.
• Identify automation and process-improvement opportunities.
• Lead approved projects from business requirements through implementation, change management and benefits realisation.
• Ensure that project benefits are measurable and sustained after implementation.

·       Standardise supply-chain processes and document relevant procedures and controls.

• Ensure that policies, processes and procedures are documented and communicated to everyone concerned and that they are strictly followed by everyone to satisfy external and internal customers’ requirements.
• Head meetings for review of processes and procedures that are inadequate in satisfying customers’ requirements and to improve quality of service.
• Adhere to quality standards, guidelines, and specifications established by the company and customer requirements to ensure product and service excellence.
• Maintain a customer-centric mindset and focus on meeting or exceeding customer expectations by delivering high-quality products, services and experiences that add value and build loyalty.
• Develop and implement safety guidelines in all aspects of the supply chain (e.g. use of trucks, forklifts).

Requirements

§  Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, Engineering, Business Management or a related field.

§  A postgraduate qualification or recognised supply-chain certification would be an advantage.

§  Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis.

§  Experience with ERP, demand-planning, replenishment or inventory-optimisation systems.

§  Experience using business-intelligence and dashboarding tools.

§  Ability to analyse large datasets and translate findings into operational decisions.

§  Experience with Planning Tools, Power BI or comparable tools would be an advantage.

§  Valid driving licence where travel between stores, warehouses and suppliers is required.

Professional Experience

§  Eight to ten years of progressive experience in supply chain, planning, inventory, procurement, logistics or operations.

§  At least three to five years in a people-management position.

§  Strong experience in retail, FMCG, distribution or another high-volume, multi-site environment.

§  Demonstrated experience managing demand planning, replenishment and inventory.

§  Experience managing logistics providers, suppliers or distribution operations.

§  Proven delivery of measurable improvements in availability, inventory, cost or service.

§  Experience leading supply-chain systems implementation or business-process transformation.

Soft Competencies

§  Up-to-date knowledge of trends and best practices in the field of Supply Chain.

§  Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team.

§  Committed to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

§  Effective communication, negotiation, organizational and time management skills.

§  Analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

§  Detail and results-oriented.

§  Be customer service-oriented.

§  Ability to work under pressure.