General Manager Meadowview Edenvale

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all warehouse, transport, inventory, fleet, facilities, and customer service operations.
• Manage high-volume distribution operations across frozen, chilled, ambient, and short-shelf-life product categories.
• Drive operational efficiency, productivity, service delivery, and continuous improvement.
• Establish, monitor, and improve operational KPIs.
• Ensure effective resource planning and utilisation.

• Take full accountability for the distribution centre's operational budget.
• Prepare, analyse, and confidently present detailed monthly financial and operational reports.
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising operational performance.
• Monitor expenditure, productivity, and profitability against approved budgets.
• Develop strategic plans to improve financial and operational efficiency.

• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, ISO standards, and FSSC requirements.
• Maintain strict operational standards for frozen, chilled, ambient, and short-shelf-life products.
• Oversee occupational health and safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Implement effective contingency planning and business continuity strategies.
• Ensure the facility maintains high standards of safety, hygiene, and operational compliance.

• Lead, develop, and manage large operational teams within a unionised environment.
• Drive a high-performance culture through effective leadership, accountability, and employee development.
• Manage industrial relations matters, union engagements, and workforce challenges.
• Chair disciplinary hearings and manage employee relations processes.
• Apply sound knowledge of labour legislation and CCMA procedures.
• Implement succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

• Build and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Lead customer performance reviews and ensure service-level agreements are consistently achieved.
• Translate business strategies into measurable operational objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Present operational results, financial performance, and improvement strategies to senior management.

Minimum Requirements

• Honours Degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• MBA will be highly advantageous.
• Minimum 5-8 years' experience as a General Manager within a large, high-volume distribution centre or similar environment.
• Proven experience managing large-scale distribution facilities, ideally comparable to a 22,000m² operation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of warehouse, transport, inventory, fleet, facilities, risk, and customer service management.
• Strong experience in FMCG, food distribution, and temperature-controlled supply chains.
• In-depth understanding of frozen, chilled, ambient, and short-shelf-life products.
• Sound knowledge of ISO and FSSC food safety standards.
• Demonstrated ability to manage substantial operational budgets and implement cost-saving strategies.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are essential, including financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting.
• Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), routing software, and operational reporting tools.
• Proven leadership experience in a unionised working environment.
• Strong industrial relations knowledge, including experience chairing disciplinary hearings.
• CCMA experience will be advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Strong strategic and operational leadership.
• Excellent financial and commercial acumen.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Excel, budgeting, and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead large, diverse teams in a demanding operational environment.
• Strong decision-making abilities and accountability.
• Customer-focused approach with a commitment to operational excellence.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced, high-volume distribution environment.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate must demonstrate a proven track record in financial management, operational optimisation, food safety compliance, industrial relations, and people leadership.

Only candidates with relevant senior-level distribution centre management experience and the required qualifications will be considered.