Branch Manager, Freight Forwarding- Zimbabwe

Position Title: Branch Manager, Freight Forwarding- Zimbabwe

Reports to: Regional/ Cluster / Country FF Head

Department: Freight Forwarding

COMPANY

Our client is a leading global provider of smart logistics solutions, enabling the flow of trade across key markets. With operations spanning ports, terminals, and supply chain infrastructure, they are committed to innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth across diverse geographies. Our client’s dynamic environment offers significant opportunities for impact and development within a purpose-driven organization at the forefront of global trade.

THE ROLE

The Branch Manager for a Freight Forwarding branch office is responsible for managing all operational and administrative aspects of the branch. The branch manager will be responsible for supporting the commercial team in-country and managing the branch’s finances. This position requires a candidate with strong leadership skills and excellent knowledge of freight forwarding operations. The Branch Manager plays a critical role in driving business growth, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining efficient operations through driving continuous improvement within the branch. The branch manager must drive a collaborative environment and must exhibit the ability to effectively manage a team through coaching and mentoring.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Team Management:

Provide strong leadership and guidance to a team of approximately six staff members, including recruitment, training, coaching, mentoring and performance management.

Foster a positive and collaborative work environment, promoting teamwork, accountability, and professional development.

Delegate responsibilities effectively, ensuring efficient resource allocation and workload distribution.

Operations Management:

Support in setting up the branch resources, systems and processes.

Oversee and coordinate all operational activities within the branch, including import/export processes, customs clearance, documentation, logistics, and transportation.

Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, industry standards, and company policies and procedures.

Monitor and analyse operational performance metrics, implementing improvements to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Sales:

Develop and implement strategies to achieve branch-specific sales targets and contribute to the overall growth of the organization.

Identify new business opportunities, build relationships with clients and partners, and expand the customer base.

Collaborate with the sales team to develop effective marketing and promotional initiatives to increase market share and revenue.

Customer Service:

Maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction, ensuring that services are delivered promptly, accurately, and according to customer requirements.

Address customer inquiries, concerns, and complaints in a time and professional manner, resolving issues to maintain positive client relationships.

Conduct regular customer meetings to understand their evolving needs and provide appropriate solutions.

Financial Management:

Must have a good financial acumen.

Develop and manage the branch’s annual budget, closely monitoring expenses and revenue to ensure financial targets are met.

Review and analyze financial reports, identifying areas for improvement and implementing cost saving measures where possible.

Collaborate with the finance department to ensure accurate and timely billing, invoicing, and financial reconciliation.

OTHER

Always act as an ambassador for our client when working; promoting and demonstrating positive behaviours in harmony with Principles, values and culture ensuring the highest level of safety is applied in all activities; understanding and following Code of Conduct and Ethics policies.

Responsible for building a strong winning culture, leading with change and building capability in the organization and managing relationships with key stakeholders.

The Branch Manager will support the Country Manager in implementing strategies on the floor.

To create a culture of high performing teams, grounded in the core values of the organization to ensure high employee engagement.

-Achieve and exceed financial targets.

-Accurate and up to date reporting to Country Manager.

-Proactively manage internal and external risk to the company and Group.

-Promote and uphold brand and values.

-Perform other related duties as assigned.

Would be required to travel nationally and internationally to visit business partners and clients.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related

field. Relevant professional certifications are a plus.

EXPERIENCE

Proven track record and recent experience (4 -6 years) in freight forwarding leadership position,

logistics, or a similar industry, with a solid understanding of import/export procedures, customs

regulations, and transportation logistics is a must.

Must have a comprehensive understanding of incoterms to provide guidance to both business and

client.

SKILLS

Leadership skills – Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team in a dynamic work environment.

Freight Forwarding – Solid and demonstrated working knowledge of the Freight Forwarding Industry.

Organization C Problem-Solving skills – Results-driven mindset with a focus on achieving targets and driving business growth.

Exceptional organizational and problem- solving abilities, with the capacity to prioritize tasks and handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.

Execution Sales Skills – Ability to research, identify, tackle, grow and close business opportunities ensuring the needed support from product and operations.

Agile Skills – Ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet various deadlines and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Computer Skills – Intermediate computer skills with a proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CRM and Freight Forwarding system.

Communication – Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate with clients, carriers, other forwarders, vendors. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and negotiate effectively with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.

Languages – You speak and write fluent English – additional languages are a bonus, but not a must.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

You will be a solid point of contact on which your Branch’s Operations Team and Network will be relying to liaise and filter with Book of Business Clients.

External:

You will be a trusted and competent partner towards customers, suppliers, and the business.