Operations Director – Logistics / Senior Operations Leader Zimbabwe

SUMMARY:
Operations Director – Logistics / Senior Operations Leader
Location: Zimbabwe
Reporting To: COO
Employment Type: Permanent
Salary: Market Related – Senior Management / Executive Package

Position Overview
Our client, an established logistics and transport business operating in Zimbabwe and across regional corridors, is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Operations Director – Logistics / Senior Operations Leader to take responsibility for the performance and continued development of its operations.
This opportunity is open to both established Operations Directors and high-performing senior operational leaders who are ready to progress into an Operations Director role.
Candidates do not necessarily need to have previously held the title of Operations Director. Applications will also be considered from experienced Senior Operations Managers, General Managers, Heads of Operations, Senior Logistics Managers, Transport Managers or Supply Chain leaders who have demonstrated the ability to manage substantial logistics operations and are ready to take the next step into broader executive leadership.
The successful candidate will oversee and optimise operations across transport, fleet management, warehousing, distribution, inventory, cross-border logistics and supply chain activities.
The role requires a practical operational leader who can combine hands-on logistics knowledge with strategic thinking, financial discipline, strong people leadership and a continuous-improvement mindset.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities Operational & Strategic Leadership Lead the day-to-day performance of logistics and transport operations in Zimbabwe and across relevant regional corridors. Develop and implement operational plans aligned with the company's strategic and commercial objectives. Work closely with the COO and senior management in developing longer-term operational strategy. Establish and monitor operational KPIs, service levels, productivity and cost performance. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, profitability and customer service. Support the growth and expansion of the business. Build a culture of accountability, safety, service excellence and continuous improvement. Develop into broader executive responsibility where required. Transport & Fleet Operations Take responsibility for the effective management and optimisation of: National and cross-border transport operations. Fleet utilisation and vehicle productivity. Route planning and optimisation. Vehicle turnaround times and delivery performance. Fuel, maintenance and transport operating costs. Fleet availability and asset performance. Driver and operational performance. Third-party transport providers and subcontractors. Transport legislation and regulatory compliance. Cross-border movements, border processes and regional transport requirements. The successful candidate should be comfortable managing a substantial transport operation and making practical decisions that improve fleet productivity, service delivery and profitability. Warehousing, Distribution & Inventory Oversee and continuously improve: Warehouse operations. Distribution activities. Inventory management and stock accuracy. Receiving, storage, picking and dispatch. Warehouse productivity. Customer delivery performance. Inventory turns and stock control. Operational procedures and controls. Ensure warehouse and distribution operations are safe, efficient and cost-effective. Cross-Border & Regional Logistics The role requires strong exposure to cross-border logistics within Southern Africa . Experience involving Zimbabwe and regional corridors into South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, DRC or other Southern African markets will be highly advantageous. Candidates with experience in road freight, border operations, clearing\/forwarding, ports, import\/export, mining logistics, FMCG distribution, industrial logistics or regional supply chains are encouraged to apply. Direct port experience will be advantageous but will not automatically exclude an otherwise strong senior logistics candidate . Supply Chain & Continuous Improvement Analyse existing supply-chain and logistics performance. Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies and unnecessary costs. Improve transport and warehouse productivity. Improve inventory turns and stock accuracy. Improve customer service levels. Optimise supplier and 3PL performance. Support demand and capacity planning. Identify automation and technology opportunities. Implement practical continuous-improvement initiatives. Financial & Commercial Management The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate strong financial and commercial awareness, including experience with: Operational budgets. Cost control. Forecasting. OPEX management. CAPEX planning or input. Profitability improvement. Resource allocation. Cost-reduction initiatives. Commercial decision-making. Operational financial reporting. Full Director-level P&L responsibility is advantageous but not mandatory if the candidate can demonstrate substantial budget responsibility, cost management and commercial decision-making at senior operational level. Customer & Stakeholder Management Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers. Ensure SLAs and contractual service requirements are achieved. Resolve major operational and customer escalations. Work closely with suppliers, transporters, contractors and other service providers. Engage effectively with border, regulatory and industry stakeholders where required. Support business development and customer retention through operational excellence. People Leadership Lead and develop multidisciplinary operational teams that may include: Operations Managers. Transport Managers. Fleet Managers. Warehouse Managers. Distribution Managers. Supervisors. Drivers and operational employees. Administration and support teams. Responsibilities will include performance management, coaching, succession planning, workforce planning, employee engagement and the development of future leaders. Health, Safety, Compliance & Risk Ensure appropriate compliance with: Zimbabwean and regional transport requirements. Road transport legislation. Occupational Health & Safety requirements. Labour requirements. Environmental standards. Customer compliance requirements. Company policies and procedures. Quality and operational standards. The successful candidate will promote a strong safety culture and proactively identify and manage operational risks. Experience in SHEQ\/HSE, dangerous goods, mining, industrial, fuel, chemical or other regulated transport environments will be advantageous. Minimum Requirements Qualifications A relevant tertiary qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business Management, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline is preferred. An MBA, Master's Degree or postgraduate management qualification will be advantageous. Relevant professional logistics, transport or supply-chain certifications will also be considered favourably. Candidates without a bachelor's degree may still be considered where they have substantial senior-level logistics and transport experience and a strong record of operational achievement. Experience Ideally 10+ years' progressive experience in logistics, transport, warehousing, distribution, supply chain or related operations , with substantial experience at senior management level. Applications are welcomed from: Operations Directors. General Managers - Operations. Heads of Operations. Senior Operations Managers. Senior Logistics Managers. Senior Transport Managers. Senior Supply Chain Managers. Regional Operations Managers. Country Operations Managers. Candidates who have not previously held an Operations Director title will be considered where they can demonstrate the operational scope, leadership maturity and commercial capability required to progress into the position. Strong candidates should ideally demonstrate several of the following: Management of substantial transport\/fleet operations. Warehousing and distribution leadership. Multi-site operational responsibility. Cross-border Southern African logistics. Management of large or multidisciplinary teams. Budget and cost responsibility. Fleet utilisation and transport optimisation. Customer\/SLA management. Operational improvement and measurable cost savings. Exposure to CAPEX\/OPEX. Commercial decision-making. Senior stakeholder management. The overall depth and scale of the candidate's operational experience will be considered, rather than job title alone. Technical Skills Experience with some or all of the following will be advantageous: Fleet Management Systems. Transport Management Systems (TMS). Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics or similar. Vehicle tracking and telematics. Route optimisation. Advanced Excel. Power BI\/business intelligence. KPI and operational dashboards. Supply-chain analytics. Leadership Competencies The successful candidate should demonstrate: Strong operational leadership. Strategic thinking. Commercial awareness. Financial acumen. Sound decision-making. Problem-solving ability. Change management. Stakeholder management. Negotiation skills. Team development. Accountability. Resilience. The ability and ambition to grow into broader executive responsibility. Key Performance Indicators Performance will be measured against areas including: Operational profitability and cost control. Budget adherence. Fleet utilisation and vehicle productivity. On-time delivery. Warehouse productivity. Inventory accuracy. Customer satisfaction and SLA performance. Operational cost reductions. Staff performance and engagement. Health & Safety compliance. Cross-border operational performance. Continuous-improvement initiatives. Support of business growth. The Opportunity This is an excellent opportunity for either an established logistics executive or an accomplished senior operational leader ready for the next step in their career . The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with the COO, take increasing responsibility for the organisation's Zimbabwe operations and play an important role in the company's future growth. If you have built your career in transport, logistics, warehousing, distribution or supply chain , have successfully led substantial operations and believe you are ready to progress into an Operations Director position, we would like to hear from you.