SUMMARY:
General Manager – Distribution Centre
Location: Meadowview, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Industry: Logistics, Warehousing & Supply Chain
Position: General Manager – Distribution Centre
Job Overview
A leading distribution centre is seeking a highly experienced, strategic, and results-driven General Manager to oversee operations at a high-volume, 22,000m² distribution facility based in Meadowview, Johannesburg.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall management of warehouse, transport, inventory, customer service, risk, facilities, and fleet operations, ensuring operational excellence, financial performance, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.
This position requires a strong leader with extensive experience managing large-scale distribution centres, particularly within the FMCG, food distribution, and temperature-controlled logistics sectors.
POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities 1. Distribution Centre & Operations Management 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. 2. Financial & Budget Management 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. 3. Food Safety, Risk & Compliance 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. 4. People Leadership & Industrial Relations 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. 5. Customer Service & Strategic Management 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 We are looking for a highly experienced, hands-on, and strategically minded General Manager who has successfully managed complex, high-volume distribution centre operations. 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.
