KEY OUTPUTS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Marine Logistics and Route Management

• Maintain strong working knowledge of vessel routes across all markets.

• Participate in the negotiation of new shipping routes.

• Manage the shipping contract.

• Manage forecasting to all major shipping lines.

Shipping Line and Service Provider Management

• This role requires providing high attention to detail in-house and the oversight of the shipping agent's management to safeguard commercial interests.

• Build and maintain relationships and commercial standing required to manage shipping lines directly, to be able to escalate issues and ensure cargo is prioritised.

• Manage all shipping queries across all commodities.

• Work closely with service providers, including shipping agent, cold storage providers and shipping service providers.

Cargo and Vessel Monitoring

• Monitor agri-product cargo once loaded on vessel, including tracking for delays, missed trans-shipment connections or vessel clearance issues.

• Communicate proactively and promptly with the Commercial and Logistics teams on any delays, trans-shipment or clearance risks.

• Escalate significant issues to the Directors, who step in on major matters requiring executive intervention.

Transport and Trucking Coordination

• Arrange trucking to alternative ports where shipping delays occur.

• Manage transporters for grape exports.

• Manage the coordination of transport internally.

Shipment and Export Management

• Manage the entire shipment process across all commodities.

• Support the commercial management of Kiwi export

• Ensure strong follow-through from initiation to completion on all shipments, with a hands-on, proactive approach

KEY COMPETENCIES

Technical Competencies and Behavioural Competencies

• Marine logistics and vessel routing knowledge across all markets

• Shipping line contract management

• Trans-shipment and vessel scheduling knowledge

• Forecasting to major shipping lines

• Multi-commodity export shipment coordination

• Cold chain and reefer logistics understanding

• Trucking and inland transport coordination

• Excellent crisis management skills

• High sense of urgency and ability to leverage volume to escalate and prioritise

• Strong follow-through and finishing ability

• Excellent attention to detail

• Ability to carry commercial weight in managing shipping lines

• Strong cross-functional communicator (Commercial, Logistics, Directors)

• Resilience under pressure

• Strong internal and external communicator, influencer, and negotiator.

• Ability to set and prioritise short, mid and long term objectives.

DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY

Acts Independently and Escalates to Senior Commercial Manager / Directors

• Day-to-day coordination and oversight of shipping agent and shipping lines

• Routine shipping queries across all commodities

• Day-to-day cargo and vessel monitoring and communication

• Arranging trucking to alternative ports in response to delays

• Management of transporters and internal transport coordination

• Major vessel delays, missed trans-shipments or clearance issues with significant commercial impact

• Negotiation of new shipping routes

• Material decisions relating to the shipping contract or other major shipping line agreements

• Significant issues requiring Director intervention

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Matric Certificate

• Relevant tertiary qualification in logistics, supply chain, shipping or a related commercial field (preferable)

Experience

• 4+ years proven experience in marine or shipping logistics, ideally within the fresh produce or agricultural export sector.

• Demonstrated experience managing shipping line relationships, contracts and negotiations.

• Experience coordinating multi-commodity export shipments, including citrus, grapes and kiwi fruit.

• Experience working with shipping agents, freight forwarders and cold storage service providers.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of vessel routes and shipping market patterns.

• Understanding of trans-shipment, vessel scheduling and port clearance processes.

• Knowledge of cold chain and reefer logistics as applicable to agri exports.

• Understanding of forecasting processes with major shipping lines.

Other Requirements

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; Afrikaans proficiency is advantageous.

• Excellent crisis management skills and the ability to remain composed and effective under pressure.

• Strong follow-through, with a demonstrated ability to get in, get things done and finish well.

• Valid, unendorsed driver's license.

Please consider your application unsuccessful if you do not receive a response within two weeks of applying.