Supply chain manager jobs 2026 | S&OP demand planning jobs South Africa | Premier FMCG confectionery vacancies | Senior logistics management jobs Gauteng

Premier FMCG, a leading name in South Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods industry with trusted brands across Bakery, Milling, Confectionery, Home & Personal Care and Culinary divisions, is recruiting a Manager: Supply Chain for its Confectionery business at Premier Candy in Germiston, Gauteng (reference PF356). This full-time senior role owns demand planning, Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), production and inventory planning, procurement, warehousing and distribution for the Confectionery business. It is a specialist, high-accountability position for a seasoned supply chain leader with 7 to 10 years of senior-level experience. Applications close 13 November 2026, which is only two days away. Apply immediately.

⚠️ 1 Senior Position | Full-Time | Premier Candy Germiston | Ref PF356 | Closes 13 November 2026 — Apply Today

Job Overview

Job Title	Manager: Supply Chain
Company	Premier FMCG
Division	Confectionery – Premier Candy
Reference Number	PF356
Industry	FMCG | Confectionery Manufacturing | Supply Chain & Logistics
Job Type	Full-Time
Positions Available	1
Location	Germiston, Gauteng
Minimum Qualification	B Engineering (essential) OR B Com (Logistics / Supply Chain), plus a postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain Management
Experience Required	7–10 years Supply Chain / Logistics Management at senior management level; 3–5 years managing a supply chain, planning, procurement or logistics team
Experience Level	Senior Management
Salary	Market Related (Not Disclosed)
EE / Diversity	Equal opportunity employer; applications from all qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities, are encouraged
Closing Date	13 November 2026
Application Status	✅ Open — Apply Now

Note on requirements: The employer’s advertisement lists the qualifications as “B Engineering essential OR B Com (Logistics / Supply Chain)” and then separately lists a postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain Management. It does not say whether the postgraduate qualification is compulsory or advantageous. Candidates who hold the degree and substantial senior experience but not the postgraduate qualification should still address this directly in their cover letter. The advertisement also does not state a feedback timeframe, so if you are not contacted after the closing date, assume your application was unsuccessful.

About Premier FMCG

Premier FMCG is one of South Africa’s best-known fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers, delivering household brands across Bakery, Milling, Confectionery, Home & Personal Care and Culinary categories to retailers and consumers nationwide. The group describes itself as driven by innovation, collaboration and a high-performance growth culture. The Confectionery business operates from Premier Candy in Germiston, one of Gauteng’s established industrial manufacturing hubs, where production planning, raw material availability and on-time delivery to major retail customers directly determine commercial performance.

Purpose of the Role

The Manager: Supply Chain is accountable for the end-to-end supply chain of the Confectionery business, from demand forecasting and S&OP through production and inventory planning, sourcing and supplier management, to warehousing and On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery to customers. The role formulates and executes the supply chain strategy, manages the supply chain budget, mitigates risks such as raw material shortages and foreign exchange exposure, and leads and develops the planning, procurement and warehouse leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Planning & Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)

• Lead the demand planning and S&OP process for the Confectionery business, aligning Sales, Marketing, Technical and Finance around a single agreed plan
• Develop and maintain robust demand forecasting principles, frameworks and processes in collaboration with stakeholders
• Support production planning, scheduling and control through accurate forecasting and inventory optimisation to achieve targeted customer service levels
• Formulate, communicate and execute the supply chain strategy, goals, plans and performance measures in support of overall business objectives

Production, Inventory & Material Planning

• Ensure accurate production planning for internally manufactured products, balancing manufacturing resource utilisation with operational capability and customer demand
• Ensure accurate inventory planning for finished goods, raw materials and packaging materials, managing stock in line with agreed stockholding targets
• Monitor inventory performance and implement actions to reduce slow-moving, obsolete and excess stock
• Develop and implement material control activities that support supply plans

Sourcing, Procurement & Supplier Management

• Negotiate, implement and manage supply agreements, service level agreements and commercial contracts for finished goods, raw materials and packaging materials
• Drive sourcing strategies that ensure security of supply, supplier diversification, cost competitiveness and long-term sustainability
• Manage supplier performance through regular service reviews, continuous improvement initiatives and contractual compliance management
• Select and implement fit-for-purpose supply chain management systems that integrate effectively with the organisation’s ERP platform

Warehousing, Distribution & Customer Service

• Optimise warehouse facilities, equipment and distribution resources to achieve best-practice operational standards
• Ensure On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery of products to customers according to their service requirements
• Develop, implement and monitor standard operating procedures that deliver optimal service, quality and cost performance
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, housekeeping and regulatory requirements

Financial Management & Risk

• Manage and control the supply chain budget and ensure adherence to approved cost targets
• Apply a sound understanding of product costing, working capital, inventory carrying costs, supplier cost drivers and foreign exchange impacts
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including supplier dependency, raw material shortages, foreign exchange exposure, regulatory changes and logistics disruptions
• Drive continuous cost-saving and efficiency improvement initiatives across the supply chain

Leadership & Team Development

• Guide, advise and mentor warehouse leadership and teams on supply chain and warehouse best practice
• Set performance expectations, measure results, coach for improvement and hold employees accountable in line with company policies
• Attract, retain and develop critical supply chain capabilities, and provide access to ongoing learning and development
• Create an engaging team culture and act as a custodian of Premier’s values, leadership principles, standards and procedures

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Matric or equivalent; a B Engineering degree (essential) OR a B Com degree in Logistics / Supply Chain; a postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain Management (see the note above on whether this is compulsory)
• Senior experience: 7 to 10 years in Supply Chain / Logistics Management at senior management level
• Team leadership: 3 to 5 years managing a supply chain, planning, procurement or logistics team
• Technical skills: Analytical skills, demand planning, buffer management and working capital optimisation
• Business skills: Cost and budget control and project management skills
• Systems: Experience selecting, implementing and working with supply chain systems integrated with an ERP platform (SAP experience is common in South African FMCG, though the advertisement does not name a specific system)
• EE / Diversity: Premier FMCG is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities
• POPIA: By applying, you consent to the processing of your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013, for recruitment purposes

Why Join Premier FMCG – Confectionery

• Full end-to-end ownership: This role spans demand planning, S&OP, procurement, warehousing and distribution for a whole category, which is rare. Many supply chain managers own only one of these functions, so this role builds the breadth that general management and director-level appointments require
• Strategic influence over systems: You will select and implement supply chain systems that integrate with the ERP platform, which gives you direct impact on how the business plans and executes for years to come
• Everyday-brand FMCG demand: Confectionery, bakery and home care products sell through every major South African retailer, so volume demand is steadier than in discretionary categories, and planning performance translates directly into measurable results such as OTIF and working capital
• Commercial exposure: The role works closely with Sales, Marketing, Technical and Finance and evaluates commercial opportunities that balance service, profitability and risk, which is valuable preparation for executive roles
• Stated commitment to development: The advertisement highlights ongoing learning and development opportunities and a team culture built on performance and accountability
• Germiston industrial base: Premier Candy is located in the East Rand’s manufacturing and logistics corridor, with good road access to the N3, N12 and R21 for distribution

Career Growth Path

1. Manager: Supply Chain – Confectionery — Deliver OTIF, inventory and cost targets, embed the S&OP process and build a capable planning and warehouse leadership team (Years 1–3)
2. Senior Manager / Head of Supply Chain — Take responsibility for supply chain across multiple categories or sites, with greater ownership of strategy and the supply chain budget (Years 3–5)
3. Supply Chain Director / Operations Director — Lead integrated supply chain, procurement and logistics for a division, with executive-level participation in business planning (Years 5–8)
4. Chief Operating Officer / Executive Supply Chain Leadership — Accountable for end-to-end operational performance across the group, with a seat in executive decision-making (Years 8+)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is S&OP and how does the monthly cycle work in an FMCG confectionery business?

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is the monthly management process that aligns demand, supply, inventory and finance into one agreed plan. In a typical FMCG cycle, the demand review validates the statistical forecast against sales intelligence, promotions and new product launches; the supply review tests whether production capacity, raw materials, packaging and warehousing can meet that demand; a pre-S&OP meeting resolves gaps and trade-offs; and the executive S&OP meeting makes final decisions and signs off the plan. Confectionery adds specific complications: strong seasonality (Easter, Halloween, Christmas), heavy promotional activity at retailers, and production lines that are often constrained by changeovers between flavours and pack sizes. A good S&OP process works across a rolling horizon of many months, so capacity and raw material decisions are made before shortages occur. Candidates should be ready to describe how they have run an S&OP cycle, which forecast accuracy measures they used (such as MAPE or forecast bias), and how they resolved conflicts between Sales volume ambitions and production reality.

2. What is OTIF and why do South African retailers penalise suppliers who miss it?

OTIF (On-Time In-Full) measures the percentage of customer orders delivered both within the agreed delivery window and in the full quantity ordered. An order that arrives on time but short, or complete but late, counts as a failure. Major South African grocery and retail chains set OTIF targets in their supplier agreements and apply penalties or fines for non-compliance, because a missed delivery leaves empty shelf space and lost sales. The exact targets, delivery window rules and penalty terms differ between retailers, so a supply chain manager must know each key customer’s requirements. OTIF depends on every link in the chain: accurate forecasts, realistic production schedules, enough finished goods stock, efficient picking and loading, and reliable transport. In practice, a supply chain manager improves OTIF by analysing failure causes (late production, stock-outs, picking errors or transport delays) and tackling the biggest causes first, rather than simply adding safety stock, which raises working capital cost.

3. Why does the advertisement accept either a B Engineering or a B Com degree, and which professional bodies matter?

Supply chain leadership in manufacturing attracts both engineers and commerce graduates. Industrial engineering and related engineering degrees build strength in capacity modelling, process optimisation and manufacturing systems, while B Com degrees in Logistics or Supply Chain Management build strength in procurement, inventory theory, transport and commercial contracting. Employers in manufacturing often accept either route, provided the candidate has deep, proven senior experience. Two professional bodies are widely recognised in South Africa for this work: SAPICS (the Southern African Production and Inventory Control Society), which offers local education and events and is linked to the global ASCM (formerly APICS) certifications such as CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) and CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional); and, for engineering graduates, ECSA (the Engineering Council of South Africa), which governs professional registration. The advertisement does not require these memberships or registrations, but listing them on your CV can strengthen your application alongside the degree and postgraduate qualification.

4. How do foreign exchange movements and working capital affect a confectionery supply chain?

Confectionery depends on commodity-linked and imported inputs such as sugar, cocoa, glucose, dairy ingredients and packaging films, many of which are priced directly or indirectly in US dollars. When the rand weakens, input costs rise, and the supply chain manager must understand how this flows into product cost. Companies typically manage this through supplier contracts, forward cover arranged with their treasury function, and sourcing alternatives, so that the supply chain team and Finance share responsibility for the risk. Inventory also ties up cash. As a simple example, if a business holds R100 million in inventory and its annual carrying cost (capital cost, storage, handling, insurance and obsolescence) is 25%, then holding that stock costs about R25 million a year. Carrying cost percentages vary by business, so treat 25% as an illustration, not a benchmark. This is why the advertisement stresses working capital optimisation and buffer management: the aim is to hold enough stock to protect service levels without tying up unnecessary cash.

5. What is FEFO and how do shelf life and food regulations shape warehouse management for confectionery?

FEFO (First Expired, First Out) means stock is picked according to its expiry or best-before date rather than the order in which it arrived, which is different from FIFO (First In, First Out). For food products with limited shelf life, FEFO reduces the risk of stock expiring in the warehouse. Retail customers commonly require a minimum remaining shelf life on delivery and may reject stock that is too close to its date, so poor stock rotation can turn directly into rejected deliveries, write-offs and OTIF failures. This links to the advertisement’s requirement to reduce slow-moving, obsolete and excess stock. Food manufacturers and warehouses in South Africa also operate under food legislation, including the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972, its labelling regulations (R146 of 2010), and the general hygiene requirements for food premises (R638 of 2018), alongside the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993. Many food manufacturers also work to food safety certification schemes such as FSSC 22000 or BRCGS, though the advertisement does not state which scheme applies to this site.

⚠️ How to Apply

Documents Required:

• Updated CV (maximum 5 pages) detailing senior supply chain roles, team sizes managed, categories or industries, and measurable results (OTIF, inventory reduction, cost savings)
• Certified copies of your degree (B Engineering or B Com Logistics / Supply Chain) and your postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain Management
• Copy of South African ID document
• Cover letter quoting reference PF356 and addressing your S&OP, procurement and warehouse leadership experience

⚠️ Closing Date: 13 November 2026. The advertisement states no closing time, so submit your application as early as possible.

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