Head of Network

Key purpose:

This position plays a key role in determining overall financial performance of the Retail Business -Accountable for the development of company retail direct and development of BM network. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Direct and provide cost effective but accurate costings for projects in planning stage, to limit cost variations at execution phase
• Ensure processes are implemented, understood and complied with to effectively review, select and approve high return capital projects
• Measure and demonstrate continuous improvement in unit costs for maintenance of Retail C&I sites
• Manage Capex and Opex for Retail & C&I businesses to deliver projects within time, cost, quality/standard and budget, relating to infrastructure investment and maintenance.
• Responsible for the 5 year forecast and delivery for New Business and Tenure Renewal teams
• Collaborate with the Assets Management team and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that cost estimates and business cases are accurate and incorporate robust assumptions
• Develops growth targets for New Business Acquisition team and actively manages all underlying activities to ensure new sites are brought online within agreed timeline and budget
• Manages operational expenses in line with approved budgets
• Manage customer relations and expectations and keep them informed of project/maintenance progress
• Measure Retailer satisfaction of site maintenance service levels via fit for purpose survey and implement continuous improvement measures
• Continuous interaction with business partners to support ongoing business, foster business relationships and develop new opportunities
• Manages, retains and builds healthy relationships with existing and new partners/stakeholders
• Works in partnership with all stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure effective and successful management of the business as a whole.
• Manage and ensure all maintenance and projects/construction activities are delivered effectively, on time and on budget
• Track and report capex projects individually on a monthly basis through appropriate forums and when requested
• Lead effective project management execution and procurement associated with site development and network improvement projects to ensure cost, quality, scope, time, ensuring corporate and local compliance objectives are met.
• Manage the decommissioning and de-branding of lost sites and commissioning of conversions
• Measure and demonstrate continuous improvement in unit costs for maintenance of retail and commercial sites.
• Effectively manage and report on Retails on-site systems relating to card payment, as well as any Method of Payment initiatives either under project or in execution, including ensuring SLAs are met by contractors and that costs are competitive.
• Fully leverage use of COPS processes and Value Office subject matter experts (SME).
• Own and manage site design standards for Retail and C&I, and effectively manage the process for any standards or design changes working with all relevant stakeholders. Ensure these are extended to the Branded Marketer and Branded Investor areas.
• Ensures rollout of LPS process to contractors and their sub-contractors, training and ongoing stewardship and monitoring to ensure effective use of LPS and adherence to company processes such as CHESM, Underground Storage Tank Replacements, Permit to Work, Site Maintenance.
• Responsible for primary relationship with any outsource providers related to area of responsibility. Ensures that outsourced activities are delivered on time, to specifications, and meet all expectations of service level agreements
• Responsible for ensuring High-Risk sites are identified and remediation/replacement plan put in place for all USTS across the entire network, including Branded Marketers and Branded Investors. This must be an ongoing multi-year program.
• USTS accelerates the tank replacement programme to ensure company has the license to operate and reduce environment exposure to de-risk the business.
• Contribute in the development of the new Retail Automation Strategy
• Development and maintain a Strategic Network Plan (SNP) which includes a Retail Masterplan that influences Retail investment planning by location and by site
• Coordinates area deployment and stewards the execution of DIT and Branded Marketer Programs to ensure each program is executed according to its designed intent, role and strategy/tactic, and in line with the Business Plan
• Responsible for providing regular and ad-hoc performance reports and tracking action plans to ensure targets are achieved
• Deploys long and short-term strategies to maintain and grow the retail network and market share
• Ensure that all policies and procedures for governance are adhered to and that appropriate internal controls are in place to ensure plan delivery as well as management and reporting
• Develop and implement systems and processes that drive productivity and efficiencies within the team
• Work with functional unit leaders to ensure effective interfacing and continuity in processes with support functions to ensure effective delivery of projects
• Provides leadership to direct and indirect reports to ensure clear expectations are set, appropriate feedback mechanisms are working and all understand and fulfill their roles and responsibilities. Monitoring of performance against plan Actions with regard to performance improvement. Determines where competency and capacity gaps exist and addresses recruitment and training to build a high performing team.
• Serve as Process Advisor for Facilities, Construction and Design & update process to make fit for purpose for company
• Demonstrate visible Business Excellence Leadership and Operational Discipline to shape the behaviors of the workforce & contractors.
• Leads Retail Tenure Renewal team and New Business Acquisition Specialists to ensure the development of a proactive Retail renewal strategy to sustain maximum value delivery from the existing Retail network
• Responsible for the structure, appointment and development of a professional New Business Development and Retail Tenure Renewal team
• Develop and implement systems and processes that drives productivity and efficiencies within the team
• Builds a high-performance team culture through effective performance management, individual development, and reward and recognition mechanisms resulting in growth and job satisfaction
• Part of a leadership team and foster a high-performance team/culture
• Important to bring culture of delivery/accountable/execution

Qualifications and experience:

• Engineering qualification, Post Graduate Business/Commercial degree/qualification (Honours/Masters preferable)
• Minimum of 10-15 year of managing networks and engineering within the Fuel industry
• Minimum 10-15 years business/real estate/network development related experience, 3 of which must have been in senior management
• Construction Regulations and Standards, Familiar with OSHACT
• Petroleum sector Construction and Maintenance / Infrastructure Management.
• Leadership of a team.
• Proven track record the Fuel Industry, operational excellent delivery and in business growth (preferable in the Petrochemical/Fuel retail sector)
• Extensive knowledge and experience of retail network, the regulatory framework plus leading and motivating teams to achieve exceptional business results
• Requires a highly driven deal maker/commercial negotiator with strong business and commercial acumen to drive new business growth and ensure sustained earnings performance from AEs existing Retail network.
• The position required strong leadership skills to build relationships with both internal BU leaders and external business partners and investors.
• Incumbent must have a thorough understanding of the Retail business commercial drivers and ability to manage both internal financial objectives, balanced against external investor expectations, to maximize AEs Retail business value.

Knowledge and skills:

• Maintenance of retail service stations,
• Contract Management/Mastery in negotiations
• Investment considerations,
• Understanding of Retail Fuel systems
• Familiar with Regulatory and Environmental requirements as it relates to Petroleum industry
• Knowledge of Safe Work Practices as it pertains to the fuel industry
• Hands-on experience with flowcharts, technical documentation and schedules
• Able to write clearly and concisely in a variety of communication settings and styles and with both internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings
• Management Reporting/Numerical and analytical thinking skills
• Building a Network Master Plan and P network planning
• Building a 5 year Network Plan
• Building a contemporary network, that comprises contemporary fuel offer , high convenient retail proposition, QSR and transforming our network to a destination NORO point that rese the customer experience.
• Safety culture