Commercial Marine Manager

KEY OUTPUTS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Marine Logistics and Route Management

• Maintain strong working knowledge of vessel routes across all markets.
• Participate in the negotiation of new shipping routes.
• Manage the shipping contract.
• Manage forecasting to all major shipping lines.

Shipping Line and Service Provider Management

• This role requires providing high attention to detail in-house and the oversight of the shipping agent's management to safeguard commercial interests.
• Build and maintain relationships and commercial standing required to manage shipping lines directly, to be able to elevate issues and ensure cargo is prioritised.
• Manage all shipping queries across all commodities.
• Work closely with service providers, including shipping agent, cold storage providers and shipping service providers.

Cargo and Vessel Monitoring

• Monitor agri-product cargo once loaded on vessel, including tracking for delays, missed trans-shipment connections or vessel clearance issues.
• Communicate proactively and promptly with the Commercial and Logistics teams on any delays, trans-shipment or clearance risks.
• Escalate significant issues to the Directors, who step in on major matters requiring executive intervention.

Transport and Trucking Coordination

• Arrange trucking to alternative ports where shipping delays occur.
• Manage transporters for grape exports.
• Manage the coordination of transport internally.

Shipment and Export Management

• Manage the entire shipment process across all commodities.
• Support the commercial management of Kiwi export
• Ensure strong follow-through from initiation to completion on all shipments, with a hands-on, proactive approach

KEY COMPETENCIES

Technical Competencies and Behavioural Competencies

• Marine logistics and vessel routing knowledge across all markets
• Shipping line contract management
• Trans-shipment and vessel scheduling knowledge
• Forecasting to major shipping lines
• Multi-commodity export shipment coordination
• Cold chain and reefer logistics understanding
• Trucking and inland transport coordination
• Excellent crisis management skills
• High sense of urgency and ability to leverage volume to elevate and prioritise
• Strong follow-through and finishing ability
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to carry commercial weight in managing shipping lines
• Strong cross-functional communicator (Commercial, Logistics, Directors)
• Resilience under pressure
• Strong internal and external communicator, influencer, and negotiator.
• Ability to set and prioritise short, mid and long term objectives.

DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY

Acts Independently and Escalates to Senior Commercial Manager / Directors

• Day-to-day coordination and oversight of shipping agent and shipping lines
• Routine shipping queries across all commodities
• Day-to-day cargo and vessel monitoring and communication
• Arranging trucking to alternative ports in response to delays
• Management of transporters and internal transport coordination
• Major vessel delays, missed trans-shipments or clearance issues with significant commercial impact
• Negotiation of new shipping routes
• Material decisions relating to the shipping contract or other major shipping line agreements
• Significant issues requiring Director intervention

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Matric Certificate
• Relevant tertiary qualification in logistics, supply chain, shipping or a related commercial field (preferable)

Experience

• 4+ years proven experience in marine or shipping logistics, ideally within the fresh produce or agricultural export sector.
• Demonstrated experience managing shipping line relationships, contracts and negotiations.
• Experience coordinating multi-commodity export shipments, including citrus, grapes and kiwi fruit.
• Experience working with shipping agents, freight forwarders and cold storage service providers.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of vessel routes and shipping market patterns.
• Understanding of trans-shipment, vessel scheduling and port clearance processes.
• Knowledge of cold chain and reefer logistics as applicable to agri exports.
• Understanding of forecasting processes with major shipping lines.

Other Requirements

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; Afrikaans proficiency is advantageous.
• Excellent crisis management skills and the