Distribution Contracts Manager

Job Description Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) presents an exciting opportunity for a Distribution Contracts Manager, to join the Midrand team at CCBA. The role will report to the Country Lead Distribution. CCBA is the 8th largest Coca-Cola authorised bottler in the world by revenue, and the largest on the continent. It accounts for over 40% of all Coca-Cola ready-to-drink beverages sold in Africa by volume. With over 14 000 employees in Africa, CCBA group services more than 800 000 customers with a host of international and local brands. CCBA group operates in 14 countries: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi and the islands of Comoros and Mayotte. Key Purpose To lead the strategic management of distribution contracts and external logistics partners, driving service excellence, compliance, cost optimisation, and operational performance. Key Duties & Responsibilities Key Outcome Contract Development and Management Develop, negotiate, and manage contracts with owner drivers and primary distribution providers, ensuring alignment with CCBSA objectives and legal requirements. Prepare and review contract documentation, including service level agreements (SLAs), pricing schedules, and performance metrics. Ensure all contracts comply with relevant legislation, industry standards, and company policies. Monitor contract performance and identify areas for improvement. Manage contract renewals, amendments, and terminations. Owner Driver Fleet Management Develop and implement strategies to attract, retain, and manage owner driver fleets. Establish and maintain strong relationships with owner drivers, acting as the primary point of contact for contract-related matters. Ensure owner drivers comply with company safety standards, vehicle maintenance requirements, and delivery schedules. Primary Distribution Management Oversee the management of contracts with primary distribution providers for the transportation of finished goods from manufacturing facilities to distribution centers and warehouses. Ensure primary distribution providers adhere to agreed-upon service levels, delivery schedules, and transportation standards. Monitor primary distribution performance and identify opportunities for optimization. Manage primary distribution costs and negotiate favorable rates with providers. Distributor Onboarding & Governance Leading the onboarding process for new 3rd party distributors (e.g. due diligence, compliance checks). Establishing clear operational protocols, pricing structures, and reporting standards. Managing distributor performance reviews and audits. Ensuring adherence to brand guidelines, marketing practices, and ethical standards. Compliance Monitoring Ensure compliance to local, national, and international regulations governing all transportation activities (i.e., Road Transport Management system), including provision of inputs to customers regarding customs regulatory compliance. Monitor carrier performance to ensure adherence to service level agreements and quality standards by providing prompt feedback to customers to achieve performance improvement. Develop and maintain a quality management system for distribution transportation operations to ensure that products are handled, stored and transported according to industry standards. Ensure that Owner Drivers, distribution transportation processes and carrier compliance audits are expedited annually and that finding are addressed and closed out by the relevant operational areas (Regions). This includes providing an evaluation criteria for the audits. Ensure that safety and risk processes are fully complied with by all external contractors and report on deviations to the relevant Owner Drivers. Skills, Experience & Education Education Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in contract management, preferably in the transportation or logistics industry. Strong understanding of transportation regulations, labor laws, and contract law. Experience managing owner driver fleets and primary distribution operations. Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills. Skills The ability to effectively negotiate contract terms, manage contract lifecycles, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Expertise to understand and apply relevant transportation laws, labor regulations, and industry standards to mitigate risks and ensure operational compliance. Ability to accurately interpret logistics data, generate insightful reports, and create compelling presentations for senior management. Capacity to analyze complex problems, develop effective solutions, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced logistics environment. Ability to track key performance indicators, analyze trends, and identify areas for improvement in owner driver and primary distribution operations. General The advert has minimum requirements listed. Management reserves the right to use additional or relevant information as criteria for short-listing. Only applications submitted through the e-recruitment portal will be accepted.