Assistant Dispatch Manager

Role Overview

This role is central to ensuring that every truck leaving the distribution centre is loaded correctly, on schedule, and in full compliance with safety and quality standards. The Deputy Lead Dispatch coordinates daily between weighbridge operators, transport schedulers, and warehouse pickers to resolve bottlenecks and keep outbound flow steady. By supervising loading teams and maintaining tight control over FIFO, batch traceability, and damage prevention, this position directly protects the company’s OTIF performance and customer commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the loading process to see that trucks are staged, stowed, and sealed according to load plans, with real-time adjustments for order priority or vehicle delays.
• Work with the weighbridge supervisor to verify every outbound truck’s weight and resolve discrepancies before release.
• Coordinate with the transport lead to align truck arrival windows with loading capacity, minimising idle time and improving fleet turnaround.
• Allocate daily loading schedules and vehicle slots, sequencing orders to meet delivery deadlines and warehouse capacity constraints.
• Enforce safety checks on loading docks and equipment, correcting unsafe practices and preventing cargo shifts or damages.
• Compile daily dispatch reports, loading summaries, and OTIF dashboards for management review and audit readiness.
• Lead shift briefings and performance feedback for weighbridge and loading staff, ensuring SOP adherence and consistent productivity.
• Identify recurring loading or dispatch inefficiencies and propose practical improvements to reduce dwell time and improve space utilisation.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or Operations.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in FMCG warehouse dispatch, including supervision of loading and yard operations.
• Proven ability to plan daily loading sequences and manage multiple transport partners under time pressure.
• Hands-on proficiency with SAP, HighJump, or equivalent WMS, plus strong Excel skills for reporting.
• Solid understanding of FIFO, batch control, and OTIF measurement in a high-volume distribution environment.
• Demonstrated leadership of teams of 10+ staff, with a track record of coaching and performance management.