Centurion: Internal Sales and Production Manager posted by Ad Talent Africa

Who Are We:

We are a creative branding and promotional solutions partner, specialising in custom merchandise, corporate gifts, branded apparel and displays.

Who Are We Looking For:

An Internal Sales and Production Manager to:

• Oversee procurement and external production for assigned portfolio

• Manage quoting, sourcing, quality control, and final product delivery

• Act as operational hub for all project activity

• Liaise daily with clients, suppliers and logistics teams

• Ensure timely, high-quality and specification-compliant deliverables

• Focus on outsourced production and branding services

• Requires strong organisation, attention to detail and multitasking skills

What Will You Do:

Supplier and Procurement Management

• Source and manage a diverse portfolio of external suppliers to ensure cost-effective, timely delivery and high-quality production/branding of client products
• Negotiate contracts and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers. * Manage supplier margin negotiation to ensure competitive rates

Project Planning and Coordination

• Manage the end-to-end project workflow, coordinating external production across multiple suppliers and brands
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, prioritising tasks and managing workloads to meet client deadlines
• Oversee the full production process from client intake, through external manufacturing/branding, to final delivery
• Assign, monitor and review tasks for balanced workloads and accountability within project teams

Quality Control and Assurance (Supplier Output)

• Implement and maintain quality control standards for all outsourced production elements
• Conduct regular quality checks on products received from suppliers to ensure they meet client specifications and companys high standards
• Identify and promptly resolve any quality issues or defects with suppliers

Financial Management (Project Basis)

• Responsible for budgeting, cost control and reporting on a project basis
• Monitor production costs from suppliers and identify opportunities for cost reduction
• Monitor spend versus cost estimates and report on variances

Client and Interdepartmental Communication

• Communicate effectively with client service leads/project managers to provide updates and address concerns
• Manage client/ Account Managers expectations and ensure satisfaction
• Liaise directly with clients and suppliers for updates, expectations and approvals
• Ensure timely communication with the client service team

What Will You Need:

Experience:

• Advertising/ media experience highly advantageous
• Proven experience in a production project management role with a strong emphasis on client/ supplier management and procurement: 7+ years
• Industry experience in design, external production, print, corporate gifting, packaging, eventing, brand activations and BTL Advertising environments: 10 years
• Track record of Supply Chain or Project Management experience
• Experience in working with senior clients and suppliers
• Ability to lead/mentor team members

The role requires strong organisational, time management and communication skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools. You should be adaptable, detail-oriented, client-focused and effective problem-solvers with high emotional intelligence, teamwork ability and the capacity to perform under pressure.