CFS Manager

Job Purpose

Lead, manage and accountable for all Container Freight Station (CFS) activities – including container handling, cargo reception, stuffing / de-stuffing, storage, yard management, equipment deployment, documentation oversight and customer service – in a safe, productive, profitable and regulatory-compliant manner.

Key Responsibilities

•Plan, organise and control the end-to-end CFS operation covering gate-in / gate-out, container stacking, cargo receipt, stuffing, de-stuffing, warehousing, delivery, dispatch and empty container handling.

•Lead and develop the CFS leadership team – Operations Supervisor, Documentation Officer, Shift Supervisors and Warehouse teams – and ensure clear KPIs and accountability.

•Own the daily operational plan based on vessel schedules, shipping-line instructions, customer bookings and yard capacity.

•Ensure optimal utilisation of the yard, warehouses, reefer plugs, reach stackers, forklifts and other handling equipment to meet productivity and turnaround targets.

•Coordinate with shipping lines, shipping agents, clearing & forwarding companies, transporters, customers, TPA, customs and port authority for smooth cargo flow.

•Drive continuous improvement in container turnaround time, truck turnaround time, cargo damage control, dwell time and on-time dispatch.

•Ensure strict compliance with customs, TPA, OSHE, statutory and customs-bonded warehouse regulations at all times.

•Control operational costs – overtime, equipment usage, fuel, casual labour, damage and demurrage – within approved budgets.

•Handle customer escalations, build relationships with key accounts (shipping lines, large forwarders) and grow CFS volumes.

•Review daily reports – productivity, damages, dwell time, equipment utilisation, billing inputs – and report performance to the Chief Operations Manager.

•Investigate cargo / container damage, shortages, operational incidents and insurance claims in coordination with the Security and Health & Safety Managers.

•Lead QHSE, 5S and housekeeping standards across the CFS yard and warehouses.

•Work with Finance on accurate billing, storage charges, handling charges and recovery from customers.

Qualification & Skills

•Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Port Management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field. A master’s degree will be an added advantage.

•Minimum 5 years of experience working in an established Container Freight Station in Dar es Salaam, held in a senior / supervisory capacity (Operations Manager, Shift In-Charge, CFS Supervisor or equivalent).

•Strong, hands-on knowledge of CFS yard operations, container handling equipment, stuffing and de-stuffing workflows, customs-bonded warehouse procedures and local regulatory requirements (TPA, TRA, OSHE).

•Proven leadership and people-management skills – able to lead a multi-shift team of 50+ staff including supervisors, operators, tally clerks and casual labour.

•Strong commercial and customer-relationship skills with shipping lines and clearing & forwarding companies.

•Working knowledge of operational reporting systems and advanced Excel.

•Excellent communication in English and Swahili.