Operational Executive (Supply Chain / Importing)

Operational Executive

Reporting Line

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Secondary Relationship: CFO & Group Restructuring Committee
• Direct Reports:
• Supply Chain & Procurement Manager
• Warehouse & Logistics Supervisor
• Parts & After-Sales Coordinator
• Systems & Process Analyst

 

Role Purpose

To lead and manage the day-to-day operational execution of the company’s Southern Africa distribution business.
The Operational Executive ensures that motorcycles, parts and accessories are procured, imported, warehoused, delivered, serviced and supported in line with operational SLAs and working-capital requirements.

The role exists to deliver the operational backbone that enables sales growth, customer satisfaction and financial performance.

 

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Age: 28–38
• Strong background in supply chain, logistics, operations, or distribution
• Financially literate, with the ability to understand how operational decisions affect the P&L, Balance Sheet and Cashflow
• High energy, intelligent, hands-on operator with the ability to design processes and drive execution
• Capable of managing teams and implementing systems, but not required to create high-level business strategy

 

Key Responsibilities

 Operational Execution & Process Leadership

• Manage daily operations across procurement, importation, warehousing, stock control, delivery and after-sales.
• Build and maintain SOPs for every operational workflow.
• Ensure operational readiness ahead of sales and marketing initiatives.

 

Procurement & Ordering

• Execute ordering cycles for motorcycles, parts and accessories.
• Maintain optimal stock levels with clear forecasting models aligned to sales patterns.
• Manage relationships with the holding company from India operational teams to ensure supply chain alignment.

Working Capital & Stock Management

• Monitor and manage stock days, reorder points, lead times and ageing.
• Ensure all operational activities support an efficient working-capital cycle.
• Provide weekly updates to the CEO and CFO on stock levels, parts availability, and operational cash impacts.

Logistics & Warehousing

• Oversee inbound shipments, shipping schedules, customs coordination and local distribution.
• Ensure warehouse operations run efficiently with strong controls, accurate stock counts and minimal shrinkage.
• Maintain service level commitments

After-Sales Support & Parts Availability

• Manage warranty processing, service requests, part fulfilment and customer escalations.
• Build strong dealer support processes to ensure the company achieves a reputation for reliability and responsiveness.

 

Systems, Data & Reporting

• Implement and operationalise ERP, WMS and operational dashboards.
• Generate weekly and monthly operational performance reports.
• Ensure accurate data input across all systems.

 

People & Team Leadership

• Lead and manage operational staff through coaching, performance management and workflow ownership.
• Instil a disciplined, high-performance culture.
• Build operational capability as the business scales.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with import regulations, customs requirements and health & safety standards.
• Maintain operational risk registers and ensure controls are adhered to.

Experience & Competencies Required

 

Technical Skills

• Strong working knowledge of supply chain, logistics, imports or distribution
• Experience with stock-heavy businesses
• Solid understanding of ERP/WMS systems
• Strong analytical and commercial reasoning
• High proficiency in Excel and data interpretation

 

Behavioural Competencies

• Hands-on, execution-driven operator
• Fast learner, intelligent problem solver
• Energetic and self-driven
• High attention to detail
• Thrives in entrepreneurial, dynamic, performance-driven environments
• Strong communication and people management skills
• Comfortable with ambiguity and scale-up environments

 

Key Deliverables (First 12 Months)

1. Fully documented operational processes and SOPs implemented.
2. Reliable stock availability for motorcycles and parts.
3. Working capital cycle monitored daily with improved stock days.
4. Strong forecasting discipline between Sales and Operations.
5. Warehouse efficiency ≥ 98% accuracy on stock counts.
6. After-sales SLAs consistently met.
7. ERP/WMS system operational with accurate data flows.
8. Monthly operational reporting implemented and automated.
9. Operational team structure built and capable.

 

Performance Indicators

Operational KPIs

• Order fulfilment turnaround
• On-time inbound shipments
• Warehouse accuracy & shrinkage
• Parts availability metrics
• Service/warranty turnaround

 

Financial KPIs

• Stock days improvement
• Cash conversion efficiency
• Procurement accuracy vs forecast
• Operational cost control

 

Customer & Dealer KPIs

• Dealer support response time
• After-sales resolution
• Customer satisfaction indicators

Team KPIs

• Productivity
• Attendance & performance compliance
• Staff development

Required Qualifications

• Further study (CIPS, Operations Management Diploma, Project Management, Lean/Six Sigma) advantageous
• Motorcycle or automotive exposure beneficial

Personality & Cultural Fit

The ideal Operational Executive is:

• Energetic, structured, ambitious and operationally sharp
• Hands-on enough to jump into detail
• Smart enough to understand cash flow impacts
• Confident enough to lead a team
• Humble and coachable enough to take direction from the CEO
• Resilient and calm under pressure
• Obsessed with delivering on time, every time