Wasoko (“people of the market” in Swahili) is transforming communities across Africa by revolutionizing access to essential goods and services. We are East Africa’s biggest digitized retail distribution platform powered by our own in-house logistics network. Tens of thousands of informal retailers across seven countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Zambia) use Wasoko to order everyday essential goods and receive working capital financing.
The informal retailers of Africa today are the primary if not the only channel used by consumers to purchase essential goods worth over $600 billion per year. The fragmented infrastructure across large land mass, distributed but diverse population and rather a smaller basket size spend does not yet lend themselves to big basket retail or mass consumer eCommerce. Instead, the informal retail ecosystem is THE channel for building the plumbing for digital and consumerncommerce across Africa.
This is Wasoko’s opportunity. Wasoko with its brand, scale and logistics network is best positioned to build the technology-leveraged rails to serve the 1+ billion African consumers through informal retailers. We are building a digital-first operating system for informal retailers, initially focusing on B2B distribution but quickly incorporating other tools and services to help communities across Africa get more for less.
Location: Mwanza, Tanzania
Role:
Fulfilment or Transport at Wasoko is a fun, fast-paced, agile and people-focused business. We believe in the motto ‘We win through our people.’
You will support and manage the Logistics team members in a branch, ensuring they have everything they need to achieve and maintain their optimal level of performance. At the same time, you will ensure that operational activities are in line with profit and cost targets, SOP and company policies.
This is a challenging role where you will have the opportunity to grow your career and be part of a strong team.
You must enjoy being part of a dedicated team working together to make a difference in the lives of our customers and employees in relevant and memorable ways.
If you are looking for a change and ready to make a difference … we are looking for you.
Reporting into: Logistics General Manager
If this sounds like a team you would like to join… Keep reading.
Expectation:
- Ability to communicate at all levels
- Ability to manage change processes
- Ability to drive standards within the business
- You are able to work in a challenging environment
- Drive a culture of accountability, results and performance
- Proven ability to design and implement or improve best-in-class inventory flows, e.g., optimized picking paths
- Subject matter expertise in solving complex or process-related inventory management or transport issues
Duties & Responsibilities:
- You are a leader. Your top priority is to make sure all Logistics employees at the branch have what they need to do their tasks 110% of the time
- What tool(s) do they need to function?
- Do they have any blockages? Help them to remove these blockages
- Compliance? Policy, SOPs and work instructions are aligned to the operations
- Self-service data? Empower them to make decisions based on data while they do their jobs
- Simplify the way our employees work – the goal is to get more for less (efficiency, productivity, etc.)
- Ensure operational KPIs are met and exceeded and the business has visibility on the performance of the branch
- Drive teams to achieve consistent delivered in full on time (DIFOT)
- Ensure inventory accuracy and receivables is maintained above 99% of the time
- Live by the principle of ‘The Customer is King’ to ensure world-class customer service
- Optimize last-mile costs per order, invest in continuous improvements to increase warehouse picker efficiency and reduce cost per pick, and forward plan to sweat vehicles as much as possible on every trip
- Build a strong layer of managers / associates to support the ground operations team to ensure all inbound and outbound workflows are properly handled in accordance with Wasoko network guidelines, procedures and delivery SLAs
- Communicate fulfilment centre constraints to key stakeholders to ensure inventory capabilities are fully aligned to reduce overstocks, eliminate out-of-stocks and deadstock
- Monitor and create a feedback loop with 3P vendors, especially Transport to ensure performance is optimal and key business metrics and network standards are being met
- Continuous review and evaluation of the transportation rate card with the goal of ensuring that 3P supplier rates are standardized and equal to or better than market rates
- Coordinate, align and support cross-functional stakeholders in the execution of new business development/projects/process changes
- Invest time in training a new generation of strong people ready to take on new challenges and opportunities while maintaining the same level of excellence in execution
- Create and foster an environment that promotes integrity, accountability and a winning attitude while providing a safety net for our employees to thrive, have fun and grow.
Requirements:
- Ability to lead, coach and train employees
- Exceptional organizational and analytical skills
- Goal-oriented, assertive and a practical problem solver
- Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects
- You have in-depth knowledge of last-mile logistics (inventory management and ERP processes (prior experience working with Manhattan and/or Loginext – highly desirable)) and transport (last-mile fulfilment, 3P vehicle management, etc.)
- Extensive knowledge of the transportation and logistics industry with at least 5 years of experience. Excellent financial acumen with a good understanding of cost efficiencies
- Degree in Transportation and Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Operations, Business
- Administration or equivalent qualifications. Or an advanced degree in the same field with experience in the logistics industry.
