Logistics Manager (Fleet and Port Operations)
Job Description
Location: Field-based across our clients operating territories, with frequent travel to farms, aggregation points, fulfilment centers, carrier yards, border posts, ports, airports and other trade-execution locations.
The Logistics Manager (Fleet and Port Operations) provides end-to-end managerial control over the transport, fleet, freight and port activities required to execute Company’s grower, trade and buyer commitments. The role translates the approved S&OP plan, crop pickup schedule, fulfilment plan, buyer delivery terms and export cut-offs into a reliable movement plan from farm gates, aggregation points and fulfilment centers through ports, airports, border crossings or the buyer’s nominated delivery point.
The role is accountable for ensuring that fit-for-purpose transport capacity is available, dispatched and monitored; vehicles, drivers and third-party carriers meet legal, safety, maintenance and cargo requirements; export documentation and port processes are completed accurately and on time; and every shipment reaches the contractual handover point in full, on time, intact, traceable and within approved cost. It must create real-time visibility across dispersed operations and intervene before vehicle failure, route disruption, missed cut-offs, customs holds, cargo deterioration, demurrage, detention or weak documentation becomes a buyer failure.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in agricultural supply-chain operations, export logistics, fleet management, port operations or agricultural value-chain execution; five to seven years of directly relevant experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated hands-on accountability for fleet or transport execution and port/export operations, not only general warehouse, procurement or administrative logistics experience.
• Proven experience moving agricultural, food, FMCG or other quality-sensitive products across multiple locations from pickup and dispatch through port, border, airport or buyer handover.
• Practical experience with export bookings, freight forwarders, clearing agents, customs documentation, terminal processes, shipping lines or airlines, bills of lading/air waybills and shipment file control.
• Evidence of improving measurable OTIF, fleet availability, port dwell, transport cost, cargo loss, documentation accuracy, safety or partner performance across dispersed operations.
• Experience managing owned and third-party capacity, including carrier qualification, rate and SLA negotiation, maintenance/roadworthiness controls, dispatch, tracking, claims and invoice verification.
• Experience leading and building the capability of fleet, transport, port or field logistics teams in different locations and during seasonal peak windows.
• Demonstrated integrity in environments exposed to fuel diversion, cargo theft, collusion, rate manipulation, customs irregularity, document falsification, unofficial payments and pressure to bypass safety or quality controls.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, work from field, fulfilment-center and port locations, and support time-critical trade windows outside standard office hours when required by the approved operating plan.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Operations Management, Maritime Studies, International Trade, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• A recognized logistics or supply-chain qualification such as CILT, ASCM/CSCP, CLTD, FIATA or an equivalent professional certification is strongly preferred; relevant customs, port, maritime, safety or fleet-management training is advantageous.
• Working knowledge of agricultural export requirements, Incoterms, customs and port processes, chain of custody, cold-chain or condition-controlled transport, food-safety interfaces, cargo insurance and occupational/road safety.
• Strong written and spoken English. French and relevant Ghanaian or regional language capability are advantageous for cross-border and multi-country execution.
• A valid driver’s licence and ability to travel safely to remote operating, border and port locations are strongly preferred, subject to local policy and reasonable accommodation.