SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
Job Title: Ship Chandler – Operations Management
Department: Shipping Operations / Procurement
Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Paarden Eiland, Cape Town (with daily travel to Port of Cape Town)
Job Purpose
To lead and manage both procurement (including fresh food produce) and operational delivery of ship chandling services for vessels calling at the Port of Cape Town. This role ensures end?to?end control over sourcing, purchasing, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and on?board delivery, while meeting cost, quality, compliance, and vessel turnaround targets.
Key Duties
1. Managing Procurement (including Fresh Food Produce)
Fresh Food Produce Sourcing
- Source high?quality fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, and seafood from Cape Town’s fresh produce markets (e.g., Epping Market), local farms, and certified suppliers.
- Ensure produce meets vessel nationality, crew dietary requirements, and international standards (e.g., HACCP, GlobalG.A.P., phytosanitary regulations).
- Manage cold chain integrity from supplier to vessel – monitor refrigerated transport, storage temperatures, and shelf life to prevent spoilage.
- Negotiate seasonal pricing, volume contracts, and just?in?time delivery to minimise waste while ensuring sufficient stock for multiple vessel calls.
- Conduct daily quality inspections – reject substandard or expired produce before dispatch.
Other Procurement Duties
- Source and negotiate for bonded stores, deck/engine spares, paints, chemicals, ropes, safety equipment, and general provisions.
- Manage supplier relationships – conduct quarterly reviews on price, quality, lead time, and contingency planning.· Forecast demand based on vessel schedules; maintain optimal stock levels at Paarden Eiland warehouse.
- Control costs – bulk discounts, credit terms, budget tracking, and cost?saving alternatives.
- Ensure compliance – MSDS for hazardous materials, flag state requirements, and customs clearance (SARS) for restricted items.
- Issue, track, and reconcile purchase orders; resolve invoice discrepancies.
2. Managing Operations
- End?to?end delivery operations – plan daily deliveries from Paarden Eiland warehouse to vessels at Cape Town Harbour terminals (Container Terminal, Multipurpose Terminal, Fishing Harbour).
- Fresh produce handling – prioritize temperature?controlled transport; coordinate delivery schedules to minimise time between cold storage and vessel’s chillers.
- Team supervision – lead warehouse assistants, delivery drivers, and casual labour; schedule 24/7 on?call rosters.
- Logistics & transport – manage vehicle maintenance, fuel, routing; arrange lifting gear for heavy spares.· Quality & safety – inspect all goods before dispatch; enforce PPE and TNPA access rules.
- Process improvement – maintain SOPs for receiving, packing, dispatch, vessel handover; monitor KPIs (on?time delivery, order accuracy, spoilage rate for fresh produce).
- Port coordination – liaise with port agents, terminal operators, and vessel officers to synchronize deliveries with berthing; handle emergencies.
3. Integrated Responsibilities (Procurement + Operations)
- Inventory management – set reorder points, cycle counts, prevent stockouts or expiry (especially perishables).
- Cost & performance reporting – weekly dashboards for Operations Manager.
- Customs & compliance – SARS clearance for bonded items; IMDG compliance for dangerous goods.
- Emergency response – resolve urgent requests (e.g., fresh produce shortage) within 2–4 hours.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- 3+ years in ship chandling, marine procurement, or port logistics, with proven experience managing both procurement and operations, including sourcing of fresh food produce for commercial or vessel catering.
- Knowledge of Cape Town fresh produce supply chain (Epping Market, local growers, cold storage providers).
- Valid Code 8 or Code 10 driver’s license.
- Ability to work irregular hours (nights, weekends, public holidays).
Desirable
- Diploma/Degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations Management, Maritime Studies, or Food Safety/HACCP.
- Forklift licence.
- Familiarity with ERP/chandling software (ShipServ, MarineCFO).
Skills & Attributes
- Strong negotiation and supplier management – especially for fresh produce.
- Operational problem?solving under time pressure (e.g., spoilage, last?minute orders, berth delays).
- Attention to detail – checking produce quality, expiry dates, and cold chain logs.
- Leadership and clear communication in English (Afrikaans or isiXhosa an advantage).
Working Conditions
- Base: Paardeneiland warehouse (office + cold storage monitoring).
- Active port environment – wharves, vessel gangways; exposure to weather, noise.
- Shift work including nights, weekends, public holidays.
- PPE provided (helmet, hi?vis vest, steel?toe boots).
