Physical Distribution Manager Job at L’Oréal in Nairobi

Keeping products moving efficiently requires much more than arranging transport from one location to another. Behind a successful distribution operation is a network of warehouses, transportation providers, customs partners, internal teams, suppliers and systems that must work together with very little room for disruption.

That is the environment surrounding the Physical Distribution Manager opportunity at L’Oréal in Nairobi.

The role is designed for an experienced supply chain and logistics professional who can take responsibility for the physical movement of products into and out of the business while managing relationships with third-party logistics providers. It combines operational leadership with cost management, supplier performance, data analysis, compliance and continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Operations Director, the successful candidate will have an important role in ensuring that logistics activities operate efficiently while maintaining the service and quality levels expected by the business.

For an experienced professional who understands warehousing, transportation, customs and distribution, this is a role that goes well beyond simply managing daily deliveries.

The logistics network needs someone who can see the whole picture

Physical distribution brings together several activities that are closely connected. Goods need to move through the distribution centre, transportation needs to be coordinated, customs processes need to be managed, and external logistics providers need to deliver against agreed standards.

The Physical Distribution Manager will oversee these physical flows, covering both inbound and outbound activities.

A major part of the responsibility will involve managing relationships with third-party logistics providers. These partners include distribution centre, transportation and customs providers, meaning the manager needs to understand how different parts of the logistics chain interact.

The role also requires the manager to ensure that these providers operate according to agreed service-level agreements and operational standards.

This makes supplier relationship management an important part of the position. The successful candidate should be comfortable not only maintaining professional relationships with logistics partners but also holding them accountable when performance does not meet expectations.

Performance has to be measured before it can be improved

A major part of the role involves tracking and analysing physical distribution performance.

The manager will monitor performance across areas such as the distribution centre, transportation and customs. The purpose is not simply to collect figures but to identify where operations can be improved and take corrective action where necessary.

This requires a strong analytical approach. When a logistics process is underperforming, the manager needs to be able to examine the available information, understand what is happening and determine what action should follow.

Performance monitoring is therefore closely connected to continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will be expected to identify opportunities to make warehousing, transportation and distribution more efficient and effective. This could involve examining processes, addressing operational gaps or working with logistics partners to improve performance.

The ability to combine operational knowledge with data is consequently one of the key features of the position.

Cost control cannot come at the expense of service

Logistics efficiency is not only about moving products quickly. Cost also matters.

The Physical Distribution Manager will be responsible for driving cost optimisation across logistics activities while maintaining high service levels and quality standards.

This creates an important balance. Reducing costs cannot simply mean choosing the cheapest option if doing so compromises service or quality. The manager needs to understand how operational decisions affect both financial performance and the wider supply chain.

The position therefore requires experience managing and controlling logistics budgets.

Candidates should be capable of working with operational budgets and identifying opportunities to improve cost efficiency without undermining the standards expected from the distribution operation.

Financial awareness is consequently an important part of the profile alongside traditional logistics expertise.

Third-party providers need strong management

Because several physical distribution activities involve external partners, supplier management is central to the position.

The successful candidate should have experience negotiating with 3PL providers and customs partners and ensuring that those partners remain accountable to agreed performance measures.

This requires confidence and consistency. A logistics manager needs to be able to establish expectations, monitor performance and address problems when suppliers fall short.

At the same time, effective supplier management is not simply about finding fault. The role requires collaboration with business partners and internal stakeholders to solve challenges and maintain supply continuity.

The strongest candidate will therefore combine operational discipline with a collaborative leadership approach.

Logistics problems need practical decisions

Supply chain operations rarely operate without challenges. Transportation issues, warehouse problems, customs matters and other disruptions can affect the movement of products.

The Physical Distribution Manager will be expected to address logistics challenges and minimise disruption to operations.

This calls for strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm when dealing with complex supply bottlenecks.

The role also involves working with supply chain, customer service, operations and commercial teams. These relationships are important because logistics decisions can affect other parts of the business.

Rather than operating as a separate department, physical distribution needs to remain aligned with wider business objectives.

The successful manager will therefore need to communicate effectively with different teams, understand their requirements and help develop logistics approaches that support the organisation as a whole.

Customs and compliance are part of the responsibility

The position extends beyond warehouses and transportation. Customs operations and regulatory compliance are also part of the physical distribution environment.

The successful candidate will oversee relationships involving customs agents and ensure that logistics activities comply with applicable local regulations and safety standards.

This requires someone who understands that operational efficiency must be achieved within the appropriate regulatory and safety framework.

The role also connects compliance with quality management and broader operational standards. A strong logistics operation needs to maintain control while continuing to meet service expectations.

Candidates with experience across transportation, customs, quality and safety management will therefore be particularly aligned with the requirements of the position.

Technology is becoming part of modern distribution

The role also has a significant digital component.

Candidates are expected to have practical experience working with ERP platforms, specifically SAP, as well as advanced data analysis skills.

This reflects the increasing importance of systems and data in logistics management. Physical distribution involves large amounts of operational information, and managers need to be able to work with that information when evaluating performance and making decisions.

SAP experience is therefore not simply an additional technical skill on the requirements list. It forms part of the broader expectation that the successful candidate should be comfortable operating in a technology-supported supply chain environment.

The position also calls for an understanding of Industry 4.0 standards as part of continuous improvement across the physical distribution footprint.

Sustainability is connected to the way logistics is managed

The role includes responsibility for ensuring that logistics activities align with L’Oréal's sustainability goals.

The manager will lead continuous improvement across the physical distribution network while incorporating sustainable logistics practices aligned with L'Oréal for the Future commitments.

This means sustainability is considered alongside operational performance rather than treated as a completely separate concern.

For the candidate, this requires an ability to think about how distribution operations can continue to improve while supporting the organisation's wider sustainability objectives.

The role therefore combines several priorities: service, cost, quality, compliance, technology and sustainability.

The experience expected is substantial

This is not an entry-level logistics position.

The successful candidate should have an extensive track record in physical distribution, warehousing, inventory flows, transportation operations, customs and quality and safety management. The vacancy indicates that applicants should have at least five years of relevant experience, preferably within FMCG or a related industry.

That level of experience is important because the role involves responsibility across several interconnected areas of the supply chain.

A candidate should be able to demonstrate experience managing logistics operations rather than simply having academic knowledge of supply chain principles.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration or a related field.

However, the academic qualification is only one part of the profile. The employer is looking for someone with practical experience, supplier management capability, financial understanding, digital fluency and strong cross-functional leadership.

A leadership position built around operational ownership

The ideal candidate is described as a proactive leader who combines logistics expertise with operational discipline.

That leadership is expected to be collaborative. The manager will need to work with supply chain colleagues, customer service, operations, commercial teams and external logistics partners while still taking ownership of distribution performance.

The ability to bring people together around operational objectives is therefore important.

So is the willingness to identify problems rather than waiting for them to escalate. Whether the issue concerns a logistics provider, a distribution process, a cost challenge or a supply bottleneck, the successful candidate needs to be prepared to investigate the situation and drive an appropriate response.

An opportunity to take responsibility for a critical operation

The Physical Distribution Manager role offers an opportunity for an experienced supply chain professional to take responsibility for a broad logistics operation in Nairobi.

It combines the practical realities of warehousing, transportation and customs with the more strategic demands of supplier management, cost optimisation, data analysis and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will need to understand the details of physical distribution while also seeing how those details connect to broader business goals.

For professionals with more than five years of relevant experience, a strong background in logistics and distribution, SAP capability and experience managing 3PL relationships, the role presents an opportunity to take on significant operational responsibility.

L’Oréal also highlights growth, responsibility from the beginning, an inclusive working environment and the opportunity to contribute to wider societal and environmental goals as part of what it offers employees.

Candidates considering the opportunity should ensure their applications clearly demonstrate their supply chain background, logistics leadership experience, 3PL management capabilities, analytical skills and familiarity with SAP. The strongest applications will show not only that the candidate understands logistics, but that they have already managed the operational and commercial challenges that come with keeping a complex distribution network performing effectively.

Application

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