WHAT IS ON OFFER
Alfred H Knight has an exciting opportunity for a Branch Manager to join the team in Gqeberha. This individual will be responsible to the Operations Manager for the management of the day to day operational services/sites within the Gqeberha region to ensure that an efficient and high quality commodity surveying service is provided in order to meet the reporting deadlines and priorities agreed with AHK Head Office and clients.
ABOUT US
Alfred H Knight is a totally independent, family owned business spanning five generations. A global network of strategically placed offices and laboratories enable global trade by providing independent inspection, analysis and consultancy services to the metals and minerals, solid fuels and agriculture industries.
We have honed and carefully crafted our reputation. Delivering knowledge and professionalism in all aspects of weighing, sampling and analysis. We thrive by continuing to re-invest in our facilities, technology and people. Click here to find out more about AHK.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
To be successful at Alfred H Knight you will need to display the following:
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Required Competencies
- Ability to demonstrate literacy and be numerate.
- Excellent ability to delegate responsibilities while maintaining organizational control of branch operations and customer service.
- Trained in conflict management and effective interpersonal skills.
- Highly proficient in English (verbal and written).
- Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present clear, well-structured reports and briefs,
- Demonstrate the ability to lead.
- Can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal.
- Critical thinking: Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Adaptable and flexible.
Required Qualifications
- Tertiary qualification in Operations Management, Business Management, Mettallurgy or Chemical Engineering would be preferred.
Required work experience
- 5-10 years experience in the Chemical field.
- 5-10 years experience in a Management position, including managing/leading a group of multi-cultural people.
- 3 years minimum experience in the commodity surveying, specific to metals and minerals.
Responsibilities
Administrative
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Maintaining constant communication with management (in SA & UK), staff and vendors to ensure effective operations of the business.
- Lead, motivate and support the team with the time-sensitive and demanding environment, including setup and implementation of career development plans for all direct reports and problem resolution. It is the post holder's responsibility to inform the Operations Manager of continual resourcing difficulties and/or operational problems.
- The planning, organising, leading and control of daily operations to meet the agreed work schedules and targets. Enforcing adherence of the business methods, policies and procedures.
- Leading the Junior Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors to effectively manage their teams, such as sampling work is processed at the warehouses and/or any other location as efficiently as possible to meet the turnaround schedule agreed with clients.
- Liaising with the administration and laboratory departments to prioritize work specific to customer's expectations, In charge of the day-to-day operations of the Gqeberha site.
- Maintaining the most cost-effective utilization of resources within Gqeberha operations to ensure reporting schedules are maintained by managing timely data collection to update operations metrics to achieve productivity targets, reduce cost per unit, eliminate errors, and deliver excellent customer service.
- Communicating customer issues with the operations team and devise ways of improving the customer experience, including resolving problems and complaints.
- Liaise with the Operations Manager to ensure that the following contingencies are met: - Staff shortages as a consequence of leavers, illness, holidays, equipment malfunction/breakdown, peaking or growth of work volume within the operations, re-prioritizing of significant amounts of sampling work.
- Ensuring at all times that a high degree of accuracy and precision is applied to sampling/surveying through incorporating and promoting good sampling practice principles.
- Ensuring that work throughput is followed in accordance to documented methods and procedures. It is the post holder's responsibility to inform the Operations Manager of any failure in compliance to documented methods.
- Providing technical advice and support to the site staff as required, on technical or operational problems acting in a 'trouble shooting capacity to subordinates.
- Alerting the Operations Manager of repetitive technical problems relating to day to day sampling procedures.
- Maintaining record keeping, such that work is clearly and easily auditable and traceable within the guidelines of AHK.
- Supporting the Operations Manager in organizing and participating in client visits and general client related technical discussions.
- Participating in disciplinary and grievance meetings in line with the Company procedure and in consultation with the HR Department.
- Monitoring staff attendance and punctuality in consultation with the HR Department.
- Conduct regular meetings with the Operations Manager and daily meetings with subordinates to discuss job expectations, planning, monitoring, appraising and reviewing job contributions.
- Liaise with the Operations Manager to ensure that equipment is maintained in a working and calibrated state organizing maintenance where necessary.
- Oversee material and inventory management.
- Ensuring site work areas and office areas are kept clean and tidy with unwanted material and debris removed.
Health and Safety
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Ensuring the company’s Health and Safety policy is applied effectively in areas the Post Holder’s may visit.
- Any deviations to be brought to the attention of the SHEQ Manager, Operations Manager and General Manager.
Human Resource Management
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Reporting IR/HR matters identified during site visits to the HR Manager or General Manager.
Teamwork
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Work interdependently but also towards team goals, understanding priorities and pressures.
- Support collaborative working with teams and stakeholders.
- Attend regular progress meetings with agreed and relevant parties.
Ad/hoc projects and other
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All other tasks requested by AHK senior management.
BENEFITS
We are offering an excellent opportunity with a salary and benefits package to match
