Title:  Supply Development Lead

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Immediate Superior: Hansie Swanepoel 
Job Grade: 25 
Location: Stellenbosch
Function: Supply Chain
Sub Function: Supply Chain - Customer, Logistics and Distribution
Type of Contract: Permanent
Reference Number: 144689 
Closing Date: 28/09/2025

Purpose of the Job: 

• This role is accountable for the full end-to-end production for HBI, from leading & overseeing all production and 3rd party production management & supply chain center of excellence activities to deliver optimal performance in safety, cost, quality, customer service, and sustainability.
• This role develops and executes the HBI supply chain production strategy in alignment with regional and global priorities, ensuring efficient manufacturing of Heineken products outside South Africa.
• The role manages strategic partnerships with service providers, third-party warehouses, and co-packers, while driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. HBI Supply Chain Strategy and Network Design

• Develop and implement the HBI Supply Chain strategy to support HBI’s growth ambitions.
• Ensure alignment with HBSA, regional, and global supply chain strategies.
• Lead the implementation of the strategy and oversee programmes and initiatives that drive successful execution.

2. Supply Chain/Manufacturing Entities (Majority shareholding)

• Ensure efficient, safe, and cost-effective supply at HBI-owned businesses (KWAL and Angola) while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability.
• Provide strategic and operational oversight of supply chain operations, resource allocation, OPEX, CAPEX and performance monitoring.
• Collaborate with HB South Africa Supply Chain, AME Supply Chain, and Global Supply Chain.
• Drive continuous improvement through TPM, embed a culture of safety and operational excellence, and support innovation and transformation initiatives.

3. Co-Packing Management

• Manage third-party production in Europe, contact management and ensuring compliance with Heineken’s policies and specifications.
• Align production plans with sales forecasts and supply strategies to ensure full goods stock levels.
• Ensure raw material availability and track the supply of goods to third-party facilities.
• Oversee product changes and new product development, drive cost savings, and develop business cases for new third-party production opportunities.

4. Minority Share Companies & Heineken Opco’s Production of HB Products

• Maintain all supply chain aspects of shareholder and contractual agreements at minority share companies (Afdis, Grays & Nigeria Breweries).

5. Programme, Innovation, and Transformation Initiatives

• Lead programme management across key HBI supply chain initiatives, focusing on innovation and transformation.
• Coordinate supply chain support for new production projects and transform the HBI supply chain network in line with the broader HBI Network Strategy. (examples: Amarula production in Chile, alternative Amarula production in Europe, and enabling local production in Zambia)
• Support Heineken operating companies with the localization of Heineken Beverages brands and provide technical expertise for beyond-beer categories (example vodka and whiskey production in Algeria)

6. HB South Africa Supply Chain Alignment

• Coordinate all supply-related challenges between HB South Africa and HBI, ensuring alignment and effective issue resolution.
• Manage demand and supply planning misalignments, resolve production delays, address product quality concerns, and minimise write-offs.
• Act as a central point of contact to facilitate collaboration with the HB Supply Chain team and ensure operational disruptions are swiftly mitigated.

7. New Product Development (NPD) and New PI process

• Coordinate and lead HBI new product development and new product initiatives with relevant stakeholders
• Optimise HBI portfolio be by identifying opportunities for consolidation of SKU’s pack formats with planning to reduce SKU’s and handwork activities

8. Quality

Oversee quality within HBI with relevant Quality and production personnel

Ensure all quality incidents are logged, followed up to conclusion and reported on.

9. 3rd Party Warehousing 

• Management of the third-party warehousing in Finland, United Kingdon and the Netherlands.
• This entails sourcing of the warehouses, annual contract negotiations, replenishment, order taking & execution.

10. Excellence in Execution

• The ability to execute all Logistics activities according to plan, monitor variations and react in a timely and effective way.

11. Safety and Sustainable Logistics

• Ensure that a safety and sustainability culture is entrenched across the HBI SC Teams and all incidents, accidents and near misses are reported, investigation and corrective actions implemented and monitored.
• The ability to embed Heineken sustainability agenda within all HBI production processes and decisions.

• The ability to report logistics performance in line with global reporting standards/ and/or local requirements and improvements in a clear and comprehensive way to support decision making.

12. Financial Understanding

• The ability to effectively incorporate the financial impact of strategic, tactical and operational decisions in all logistics areas.
• Costs and managed in line of the Rolling Forecast (ROFO) and deviations investigated and understood.

13.Project Management

• The ability to develop, lead and manage large project plans, track plan and costs, identify and minimise risks and meet the timelines and cost.

14. TPM & Continuous Improvement 

• Ensure the set-up and implementation of the relevant TPM Pillars, its strategy and control systems, and support the function and improvement teams according to TPM methodology.

15. Stakeholder Engagement 

• Develop long-term strategic partnerships withal customers, cross-functional stakeholders, strategic vendors, service providers including contractual and compliance management.

16. Leadership

• To lead and manage change.
• To communicate and document strategies, plans, initiatives and KPI’s clearly and completely.
• To develop a culture of excellence within the function and at suppliers.
• To motivate, support and develop talent to function as high performing teams.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and sound presentation skills.
• Detailed broad understanding of company modus operandi from forecasting process to daily activity.

Education: 

3 years Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related.

Experience:

• At least 8-10 years relevant working experience in FMCG Logistics / Distribution / Sales  Environment within Africa.
• Industry background in FMCG / CPG advantagoeus.
• Previous exposure to the liquor and beverages industry is ideal.
• Detailed broad understanding of company modus operandi from forecasting process to daily activity
• Computer literacy is key – affleunt digital citizen.
• Experience meeting tight deadlines.

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply. Heineken Beverages (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd) is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates and values inclusion and diversity. You must be fully eligible to live and work in South Africa to apply.