Route Controller

At **RCL FOODS** we see and do things differently, we think bigger, work smarter and as a team collectively working towards achieving our ambition, to **Grow What Matters**

**RCL FOODS** is seeking to appoint a **Route Controller **to join our Baking Team. The role will be based in** Tzaneen Bakery **and will report into the** Distribution Manager**. The successful incumbents will be responsible for effectively managing routes and driver/salesman to increase sales within designated routes and responsible for addressing regular operational needs of customers, monitoring and ensuring improved route optimisation and driver efficiency.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:
**Responsible for addressing regular operational needs of customers, monitoring and ensuring improved route optimisation and driver efficiency**:

- To support the Sales Rep in providing adequate route optimisation and rationalisation solutions
- To ensure our customer needs are met within a viable business framework
- To provide a link between despatch and drivers for a seamless transition of products
- To provide key trade intel and address regular customer service requirements

**Ensure efficient and cost effective product distribution**
- Ensure driver teams deliver according to mapped and optimised routes
- Ensuring all new and old customers are plotted on the VeZa or existing optimisation system in line with distribution goals
- Ensure orders are geared towards improving truck utilisation and loaves/km
- Ensure driver teams orders/invoices correspond with bake plan before vehicle leaves DC/bakery

**Ensuring balancing of orders placed, delivered and returned**
- With sales support team ensure customer order patterns are accurate to deliver a precise bake plan
- Daily monitoring and tracking of returns
- Crafting and actioning plans to drastically improve returns

**Managing driver shorts and crate shorts**
- Daily monitoring and tracking of driver crates and shorts as per agreed targets
- Crafting and driving innovative ways to reduce these numbers

**Submitting frequent (daily) sales figures from drivers**
- Ensuring driver teams sales are in line with sales targets
- Sourcing and distribution of key trade intelligence
- Providing actionable plans for improvements and combating competitor activities

**Ensuring the capturing and allocation of all customer details**
- Ensuring all customer details and classifications are loaded correctly on new accounts and are correctly listed on existing accounts

**Ensuring driver competency and delivery time management**
- Support, train, discipline and lead the driver & van assistant teams to deliver sales excellence
- Ensure timeous driver dispatch from the bakery with correct invoicing
- Employ efficient route riding system in order to see all customers within each quarter
- Execute driver team performance scorecard to deliver sales excellence i.e., Customer ratings, delivery times, peer review, sales growth, etc.

**Trade Price monitoring**
- Submission of frequent (at least weekly) price surveys
- Monitoring our RSP’s and executing pricing strategy, policy and mandate

**Minimum Requirements**:

- Matric
- Diploma/Degree in Logistics, Sales or Management
- Valid Driver's License
- SYSPRO experience would be an advantage.
- 3 - 5 years’ experience within the Food Manufacturing environment
- Strong leadership skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Target driven
- Computer literate.
- Organized and systems orientated.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Must be a self-starter and have the ability to use own initiative.
- Must be able to communicate with people on all levels.