Section Manager (Fruit Cold Storage Facility)

SUMMARY:
Location: Port Elizabeth

POSITION INFO:
We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Section Manager to oversee the daily operations of a busy fruit cold storage and dispatch facility. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating staff, managing cold room operations, overseeing the loading and dispatch of fruit consignments, maintaining temperature and quality standards, and ensuring that all orders are handled accurately and efficiently. A minimum of 5 years' experience working in a fruit cold storage facility is essential. Candidates without relevant industry-specific experience will not be considered. Key Responsibilities 1. Cold Storage and Dispatch Operations Oversee daily cold room, intake, storage, and dispatch operations. Ensure customer orders are prepared, scanned, labelled, and loaded accurately and timeously. Allocate specifications to designated loading bays and ensure orders are dispatched at the correct product temperatures. Coordinate the movement of pallets between cold rooms, intake areas, storage facilities, and dispatch bays. Ensure containers are requested, received, and loaded promptly, liaising with transporters regarding delivery schedules. Monitor pallet movements, stock locations, scanning activities, and order accuracy. Conduct daily cold room inspections and ensure all areas are kept clean, organised, and free of debris. Ensure cold rooms operate at the correct temperatures for the products stored. Investigate and report fallen pallets, damaged stock, equipment damage, and infrastructure issues. Arrange pallet repairs and coordinate the reporting and repair of damaged containers where necessary. 2. Staff Supervision and Coordination Supervise and coordinate loaders, forklift drivers, fridge operators, scanners, and dispatch personnel. Allocate daily duties and ensure all employees understand their responsibilities. Monitor staff productivity, performance, attendance, and compliance with operational procedures. Manage staff rotations, lunch schedules, overtime lists, cleaning rosters, and timesheet distribution. Report absenteeism to HR and address disciplinary matters when necessary. Ensure employees comply with company policies, employment contracts, and the code of conduct. Conduct daily operational meetings to communicate priorities and resolve challenges. 3. Quality Control and Documentation Ensure the correct fruit, pallets, labels, stickers, and temperature-monitoring devices are included in each consignment. Verify that pallets are handled carefully to prevent damage during loading and movement. Ensure all consignments are loaded into the correct containers and designated bays. Check that loading documentation, container reports, and related paperwork are accurate and submitted before departure. Ensure required photographs are taken of shipments, damaged containers, and relevant orders. Monitor order specifications and communicate changes or special customer requirements to the relevant teams. Ensure accurate scanning and system updates to reflect the correct locations of pallets and shipments. 4. Temperature Management and Fruit Handling Monitor cold room and fruit temperatures to maintain the required storage conditions. Ensure apples and pears are transferred from sterilisation rooms to designated holding rooms once the required temperature of 0°C to -1°C has been reached. Ensure products are stored, rotated, and moved according to operational and quality requirements. Investigate temperature deviations and ensure corrective action is taken where necessary. 5. PPECB Inspections and Re-Inspections Coordinate preparations for PPECB inspections and re-inspections. Verify that all relevant documentation is complete and accurate before inspections. Ensure pallets and boxes are retrieved, arranged, and presented according to inspection requirements. Ensure sufficient staff are available for scheduled inspections. Confirm that inspected boxes and pallets are returned to their correct locations. Update system records and bay allocations to reflect the correct locations of sterilised shipments. Double-check that all post-inspection procedures have been completed correctly. 6. Administration and Communication Liaise daily with dispatch office personnel regarding order specifications, transporters, stacking times, and inspection requirements. Coordinate with forwarding agents and transporters to ensure efficient container scheduling. Request and review operational reports, including missing pallet reports and cold room stock-location reports. Communicate operational challenges, customer requirements, and specification changes to the relevant stakeholders. Ensure all required administrative and operational records are maintained accurately. Minimum Requirements At least 5 years' experience working in a fruit cold storage facility is essential. Proven experience in cold storage, fruit handling, warehousing, and dispatch operations. Previous experience supervising and coordinating operational teams. Strong understanding of cold room management, temperature control, pallet movements, and container loading procedures. Knowledge of fruit handling requirements and stock rotation. Experience with scanning systems, stock tracking, and dispatch documentation. Familiarity with PPECB inspections and re-inspection procedures will be highly advantageous. Strong administrative, organisational, and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication skills and the ability to manage a busy operational environment. Ability to work under pressure, prioritise tasks, and meet dispatch deadlines. Key Competencies Leadership and staff management Operational planning and coordination Attention to detail and accuracy Quality control and compliance Problem-solving and decision-making Time management and prioritisation Accountability and effective communication If you have the required fruit cold storage experience and the ability to manage a fast-paced dispatch operation, please submit your CV for consideration. Please note: Only candidates with a minimum of five years' relevant experience in a fruit cold storage facility will be considered.