FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER

Control Expenses:
Control cell phone/telephone expenses. Monitor and control fuel, vehicle, training, travel, and stationary expenses, including overtime.

Business Insights and Execution:
Identify and act on new business opportunities. Ensure effective data collection and analysis. Provide insights for improvements and new ways of driving sales. Plan and implement sales operations for clients and customers based on sales data. Monitor and evaluate new innovations, including those of competitors.

Monitor New Innovations:
Inform field force of new innovations. Monitor speed to market and stock in DC. Negotiate new or existing listings in stores with store managers. Distribute trade presenters to Field Force and customers. Provide feedback to clients. Monitor sales of new innovations. Manage staff in-store book communication and feedback.

Manage Promotional Activity:
Facilitate the implementation of promotion grids. Ensure informed about time frames for promotions. Communicate promotional activities to field force. Ensure understanding of objectives of various promotions. Ensure POS material to stores. Ensure sufficient stock has been ordered within required timeframes. Ensure promotional activities have been implemented and maintained. Analyze and manage data integrity (Field communications).

Achievement of POP Objectives:
Manage the implementation of generic Planograms. Ensure store-specific planograms and category flows are implemented and maintained. Provide feedback to Clients regarding forward share changes. Ensure forward share is reflected on shelf as per rate of sale. Ensure market share is reflected in the category. Manage the implementation and maintenance of shelf health.

Achievement of Targets:
Identify in-store cross-merchandising opportunities. Ensure stock pressure is applied and that out-of-stocks are limited. Ensure forward share is a reflection of ROS. Monitor in-store pricing. Minimize credit notes. Drive ad-hoc promotions to increase sales. Ensure timely promotional activities are implemented.

Operational Excellence:
Manage resources and ensure efficient and effective day-to-day operations of store execution, including flexible people and resource allocation. Continuously monitor service delivery. Ensure implementation of systems to promote efficiency. Implement sales initiatives and value-adding store operations. Ensure all company assets are maintained according to company policy. Manage staff in-store book communication and feedback.

Stakeholder Engagement:
Provide continuous feedback as per client requirements. Compile regular reports to relevant stakeholders. Liaise with customers and depots regarding stock pressure, stock holdings, new innovations, deliveries, credit notes, special deliveries, staff, ROS, price, reviews, category flows, planograms. Compile trade visit reports and trade contact reports. Conduct review meetings with clients. Provide feedback via feedback platform (e.g., IVR/Grapevine/Field Comms/Manual tracking).

People Management:
Take full responsibility for performance management of all direct reports, managing their performance in relation to quality standards and agreed benchmarks and objectives, focusing on all aspects of sound people management: Recruitment and selection, Induction and orientation, Training and development, Rewards and remuneration, Succession planning, Performance management. Ensure compliance with regards to leave, adherence to dress code, management of health and safety, and adherence to staff welfare. Ensure accurate in-store administration, provide updated stocking files and support staff with in-store conflict/issues. Manage Employment Equity targets. Ensure appropriate levels of management and accountability. Motivate, delegate and empower appropriately, enabling direct reports to take responsibility and display creativity and initiative.

Minimum Requirements:
4-5 years’ Operations experience in FMCG environment at a managerial/supervisory level.
Relevant Diploma/Degree at NQF level 6 or 7, Code 08 driver’s licence.
Leadership Skills, Problem-solving skills, Computer literacy, Business acumen, Commercial awareness, Negotiation skills, Sales management skills, Decision-making skills, Communication skills (verbal & written).