BRANCH MANAGER

1. Role purpose

To manage the day-to-day operations of the Brunei branch: staff and administration, finance and cash control, stock and cold chain, sales and marketing, distributor service, and procurement and logistics. The Branch Manager also makes sure the branch meets Brunei regulatory requirements and reports regularly to management.

2. Administrative duties

People management and HR administration

• Plan manpower needs, write job descriptions, post vacancies at the Job Centre, and interview and assess local applicants.

• Work with the employment agency (Absyar) to interviewcandidates and follow up on applications to hire foreign workers.

• Prepare employment contracts, warning letters andtermination letters.

• Submit the monthly TAP and SCP contributions for localstaff.

• Manage employee performance, discipline, morale,development needs and workplace disputes.

• Submit staff year-end appraisals for management review.

Finance, audit and reporting

• Review and approve all monthly payments, includingsalaries and sales commissions and incentives, and sign the cheques.

• Work with the auditor (Lee Corporatehouse Associates)on accounts and stock audits, and assist during the yearly accounts audit.

• Evaluate and submit management accounts and monthlyreports to management, such as the monthly report, SKU report, price report andcustomer ageing (prepared by the accounts clerk).

Insurance, assets and vehicles

• Maintain updated records of purchased products,invoices, delivery schedules and receipts (carried out by the accounts clerk).

Regulatory, safety and documents

• Register new products online with the Brunei DarussalamFood Authority (BDFA) and the Customs Department (carried out by the accountsclerk).

• Implement workplace safety standards, emergency drills(such as power and water disruption) and security protocols.

Stock control

• Handle and record all goods, damaged goods, marketreturns and write-offs using stock sheets.

• Conduct weekly stock audits, and re-verify with theoffice clerk the goods prepared for disposal (write-offs).

• Conduct the year-end stock audit.

Cash handling and payments

• Deposit cash and cheques daily.

• Approve payments to suppliers, service providers,utility providers and directors, and for staff salaries and sales commissions.

• Prepare and submit the documentation for petty cashdisbursements, and confirm the petty cash balance with the accounts clerk.

• Make the monthly telegraphic transfer (TT) payments toMDI-S and Cotra Enterprises S/B for purchases.

3. Sales operations and marketing

• Evaluate monthly sales and stock data at outlets toimprove distribution and increase revenue (fast-moving outlets) and to reduceoverstock (slow outlets).

• Conduct promotions and sales offers.

• Build strong direct relationships with managers atretail outlets, to extend shelf space for new SKUs and to coordinate in-storepromotions and offers.

• Organise all four sales teams, merchandisers and salespromoters, and manage the salesmen's daily sales routes and schedules.

• Manage the training, development and appraisal of newdrivers and salesmen.

• Conduct market visits to update sales teams anddistributors on shelf displays, stock availability, pricing and competitors,and to collect their feedback and suggestions.

• Plan the procurement, delivery dates and quantities forschool deliveries (school feeding), and oversee the morning deliveries toschools.

4. Service to distributors

• Support and service all Brunei distributors: Swee HongS/B, Maju LSK, Malar Setia and MS Makmur.

• Support distributors in setting up mass floor displays.

• Attend to product, customer and distributor requestsand complaints.

• Submit product complaint reports to management, andprepare and send product samples to MDI-S when required.

• Oversee the daily report of merchandising activities todistributors (pictures and comments in the WhatsApp group chat).

5. Procurement and logistics/ other duties

• Prepare, verify and issue purchase orders forperishables to MDI-S and Cotra Enterprise S/B, based on inventory needs andshipping schedules.

• Prepare, verify and issue purchase orders to suppliersfor refrigeration spare parts for company trucks and the chiller room.

• Monitor in-transit shipments, coordinate with freightforwarders and suppliers, and resolve delivery delays.

• Coordinate with customs agents and BDFA to make sureshipments comply with regulations and sugar duties.

• Track physical stock levels and monitor market stocklevels to prevent stockouts and overstocking.

• Source, enquire, evaluate and compare quotations, andpurchase products and services for the company's day-to-day operations.

6. Other duties

• Check the temperature readings of company trucks, chiller and container every day and night, and manage the salesmen's daily temperature reports.

• Maintain a clean, safe and organized workplace and accommodation for all occupants of the company premises.