General Manager

Be An Essential Part Of Everyday Life

DHL Supply Chain is the world’s leading contract logistics provider that combines value-added and management services with fulfilment and distribution. At DHL Supply Chain we are committed to looking after tomorrow & today with our Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.

So, what's it like to work for DHL Supply Chain? At DHL we’re proud of our international reach as it brings together people with a wide range of skills, experiences, cultures, and viewpoints. We see the diversity of our employees as a genuine strength and we’re proud of our supportive work environment where employees are given the tools and training, they need to learn, grow and succeed.

We are offering an exciting opportunity for the position of General Manager. In this position you will play a crucial role to support our vision of becoming a Great place to work for all.

Role Outline

The primary purpose of the General Manager role is to lead and support site managers within their cluster, with a key focus on ensuring the safety, efficiency, and profitability of the above mentioned sites and our valued customers. This role encompasses the comprehensive management of new business acquisitions, from initial contact through to implementation and internal sign-off by the managing Business Unit. Additionally, the General Manager is responsible for driving company growth and development strategies, overseeing the consumer and retail transport operations, managing third-party logistics, and coordinating cross-docking activities.

Key Accountabilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee the resolution of any legal compliance issues, ensuring compliance processes are developed to avoid in the future
• Communicate all relevant DPDHL policies
• Resolve any escalated issues to legal compliance

Security

• Ensure adequate security measures are in place for all sites
• Ensure an effective deployment of The DSC 6 Steps security framework across all sites
• Ensure an effective response to all security risks and manage all claims where applicable

Process Framework

• Define the sites operational potential based on the business strategy and ensure operations are performing to their potential in a simple and sustainable way
• Define the sites KPIs to be achieved this year and next year, and develop plans to achieve these goals
• Manage supplier relationships and appoint new suppliers within guidelines where applicable
• Ensure adherence to customer and contractual requirements
• Manage customer relationships including key negotiations and major issue resolution
• Review the customers regulatory and internal audit results and action plans and develop existing local process frameworks accordingly to avoid a repetition of any negative audit points

Customer Engagement

• Lead commercial reviews with the customers (growth and renewal) affecting all the sites
• Develop customer relationships year-on-year to ensure customer retention and loyalty
• Manage supplier relationships and appoint new suppliers within procurement guidelines
• Conduct quarterly business reviews with the customers on performance to ensure appropriate level of account profitability
• Work with the customer to identify and propose opportunities to grow the business
• Support Business Development / Account Management on business case preparation and review
• Help identify and introduce new profitable opportunities to Business Development
• Develop customer joint business plans and regularly review execution of the plans, removing internal barriers to its achievement
• Support cross-sell by introducing the existing customer with relevant business needs to other DSC products or to other DPDHL divisions

Resource Planning and Management

• Lead the overall approach to resource planning and management, direct reports are recruited, assessed, trained and resources are planned to meet the forecasted volumes and managed to achieve optimum performance within budget and the organisational structure is lean and efficient
• Manage and integrate the competing requirements of sites to deliver a balanced set of results or services
• Recommend whether DSC should add to, or delete from, its existing products/services and the infrastructure of sites, equipment and IT systems
• Leads regular performance reviews with the management team, with focus on profitability and overall efficiency in line with targets

Performance Management

• Accountable for the overall multi year performance of the site, including achievement of agreed customer KPIs, delivering site budget, financial results and other internal KPIs (e.g. safety, operational, employee related etc)
• Ensure the KPI's (e.g. customer KPI's and DSC H&S KPI's) are maintained to the required level and lead initiatives to continuously improve
• Ensure the sites report data accurately and on time
• Conduct regular performance reviews and coaching with direct reports
• Contribute to the development of the business objectives / strategy and translate this into multi year plans
• Monthly Review Process: Have a standardized structure and routine for Monthly Performance reviews for all the sites in the cluster. This is to review both input & output Operational KPIs, Ops excellence programs progress (using DPMs/OPMs) in a structured and standardized format

Site Development Plan

• Create and own 24 month+ Site Development Plans to drive towards LEAN operations, engaging relevant stakeholders to improve sites overall maturity, performance and productivity
• Participate in the Site Development Plans Management Review Process, with personal accountability for those tasks in the plan with target completion times beyond a year

First Choice Continuous Improvement

• Identify and deliver improvement opportunities using First Choice tools at the sites, focusing on delivering continuous improvement and enhanced productivity to grow the business over the next few years
• Identify and share best practice about ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency of all sites; ensure this is integrated into Site Development Plans and engage peers to share best practice between sectors and products
• Ensure sites analyse the environmental impact of the business activities and engage in continuous improvement action to increase environmental efficiency
• Conduct OMS FC Confirmation to review & endorse the OMS FC culture in the sites in his culture.
• For Open book contracts, ensure gain share is agreed as per the improvement plans for the year by the Site/General manager.
• Lead the effective use of and perform Gemba Walks and Performance Dialogues to identify and implement areas for improvement. Review success of site continuous improvement initiatives driven by Gemba Walks and Performance Dialogs

New Business

• Identification of profitable new target sectors and key clients within the sectors
• Preparation and presentation on DHL Supply Chain credentials to target clients
• Client needs analysis and solution options generation
• Solutions costing and preparation of operations blueprints
• Selling of operational solution and commercial case to Client and relevant Business Units
• Contractual agreements with emphasis on SLA's
• Implementation planning and execution
• Set sales targets and define strategy to achieve these targets and to follow the set strategy punctually
• Support marketing activities, including trade and mailings
• Determine new opportunities by analyzing business needs
• Manage the proposal development process and maintain the time-lines for the proposal teams
• Coordinate with sponsors concerning size, standards, conditions and timing of research
• Develop draft proposals based on team meetings and discussions

People

• Demonstrate an active leadership style
• Lead and participate in Performance Dialogs, Gemba walks and Town Hall meetings
• Lead by example to reinforce behaviours associated with our culture (e.g. Respect & Results, Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement)
• Lead a culture where people give and receive feedback in a constructive and productive manner
• Sponsor CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives and engage employees in participation
• Lead regular customer reviews
• Provide active recognition of improvements
• Ensure participation in EOS opportunities and activities
• Provide leadership for the sites in assessing potential, developing talent and succession planning
• Responsibility for recruiting and developing direct reports and managing performance within local guidelines
• Responsible for partnering with local HR Business Partner regarding any employee/industrial relations matters e.g. unions, works councils etc

Education / Qualifications

• Educated to University Degree level or equivalent professional qualification, Essential
• Professional university degree in Logistics, Advantageous
• Matric, Essential

Experience

• Previous experience in managing large scale logistic Operations
• 10 Years Experience within the Supply Chain Industry
• International experience, is an advantage
• Experience in business development roles, is an advantage

DPDHL Core Competencies & Skills

• Maintains effective relationships with customers
• Develops / Delivers high quality / innovative products, services or solutions
• Focuses on customer needs and gains their commitment
• Gains management / colleague support to meet customer needs
• Ensures strategies / plans are aligned and reflect others’ views
• Develops strategies / plans aligned to broader organizational strategy
• Communicates strategy
• Establishes clear, challenging, and achievable objectives
• Coordinates efforts and aligns resources to achieve objectives
• Regularly reviews and communicates progress against objectives and adjusts as needed
• Champions continuous improvement and innovation
• Provides candid / regular feedback
• Supports the development of others
• Inspires others to develop themselves
• Conveys a clear sense of personal goals and values
• Actively seeks feedback to improve performance
• Develops new skills and modifies behaviours based on feedback
• Takes personal responsibility for career and development

Languages

English – verbal and written