Shekede Tapiwa Charles
Contact,United Arab Emirates
Summary
A results-driven procurement & supply chain professional, with over 8years experience in the industry. Served in different roles/capacities over the years & managed to acquire a solid & comprehensive experience towards building resilient & efficient supply chains anchored on addressing the complex nature of the modern-day supply chain environment, towards the advancement of mankind.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work history
Manager- Routing & Business Development
Aura Freight Time Shipping LLC
05.2023 - 12.2025
- Strategic sourcing, procurement and cargo distribution planning, i.e. to the African- SADC Region, namely: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia & Zambia
- Rolling out & implementation of ocean & airfreight product strategies to enhance business development
- Key accounts & customer relationship management, ensuring the company gets to keep an intact customer base while onboarding new ones
- Co-ordination with cross-functional teams such as finance & operations to ensure timely supplier payments as well as effective, efficient & reliable distribution of cargo to the end users
- Contribute to the formulation of the freight forwarding (ocean &air freight) pricing strategies, including peak season methodologies
- Relevant stakeholder engagement to foster strategic win-win relationships. These include Automotive spare parts & ICT consumables suppliers, cargo distribution partners such as airlines through booking agents & directly with shipping lines such as CMA-CGM Group & Unifeeder.
- Carrier management & supply contract negotiation to ensure consistent engagement & strategic alignment between core carriers & Aura Freight's operational model
- Management of the procurement cycle, from sourcing, suppliers' pre-qualification, rate/ price negotiations, payments & in-bound deliveries to the warehouse for out-bound distribution to customers/ end users
- Enforcing negotiated rates & terms of payment with suppliers, strategic partners such as airlines & shipping lines, to achieve cost savings for both our valued customers & the company at-large.
- Conduct market analysis & develop a befitting ocean & airfreight pricing strategy
- Freight forwarding demand forecasting & departmental revenue projections
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Inbound & outbound cargo inventory management & distribution to the respective end-user destinations, applying the FIFO principle.
- Execution of other duties/ responsibilities as may be assigned by company higher management towards achieving the overall operational & strategic set objectives.
Sales & Customer Service Executive
Aura Freight Time Shipping LLC
05.2017 - 04.2023
- Generating freight sales (ocean & airfreight) for Dubai- Zimbabwe freight forwarding route
- Sourcing on behalf of customers mainly automotive spare parts & ICT consumables & ensure their timely distribution/ delivery to the intended customers/end-users
- Ensuring freight payments are effected on time for seamless cargo delivery
- Customers Service/ Sales support
- Undertaking other tasks as maybe assigned by the company management
Customs Clearing Clerk
Kamogkelo Import & Export
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Framing of customs entries
- Vetting of customs documents prior to submission to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)
- Attending to customs queries
- Facilitating quick attainment of customs release forms for clients
- Working with the Asycuda World customs system
Student Intern- Customs clearing clerk (Professional Year)
DHL International (Pvt). Ltd (DGF)
09.2013 - 07.2014
- Framing of customs entries
- Vetting of customs documents prior to submission to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)
- Attending to customs queries
- Facilitating quick attainment of customs release forms for clients
- Preparation of daily performance reports
- Working with the Asycuda World customs system
- Expediting clients' consignments
- Acquitting consignments
- Reflecting DHL's brand values at all times
Education
Certifications - Certified International Supply Chain Manager
Blue Ocean Academy
Dubai, UAECertifications - Certified International Supply Chain Professional
Blue Ocean Academy
Dubai, UAEB.Sc. Honours Degree - International Purchasing, Logistics and Transport
Chinhoyi University of Technology
ZimbabweAdvanced Level - 3 A' Level passes (10 points)
Sanyati Baptist High School
ZimbabweOrdinary Level - 7 O' Level subjects, including Mathematics, Integrated Science and English Language
Nemakonde High School
ZimbabwePostgraduate Diploma Level-4 - Procurement & Supply (Current Studies)
Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSkills
- Software Proficiency
- Data analysis proficiency
- Strong understanding of Ocean & Airfreight Procurement strategies
- Effective cargo distribution planning
Cargo wise One ERP (Logistics Software)
SAP-Supply chain management training (SAPS/4HANA & Ariba)
Microsoft Power BI
- Supplier negotiation
- In-depth understanding customer/stakeholder relationship building & management (CRM)
- Inept high-performance team building capabilities
- effective corporate & commercial communication, including cross-functional coordination
- Good & reliable market analysis
- Carrier contract management & strategic operational alignment
Accomplishments
- Development of efficient & resilient sourcing, freight forwarding/ cargo distribution routes
- Driven the company growth, visibility, & to a commanding market share in the targeted primary logistics/ supply chain market i.e. Dubai- Zimbabwe freight forwarding route
Accomplishments
- Grew the company revenue exponentially (year-on-year) to +1000% since joining, by utilizing efficient procurement & distribution strategies from source to the end-customers
- Enhanced company brand awareness & customer loyalty, making Aura Freight the preferred service provider (sourcing, procurement & distribution-ocean & airfreight)
Personal Information
Physical Address
Apartment No. 404, Tiraz 3 Building, Aljada, Sharjah- United Arab Emirates
References
- Mr. Sundaram Jeyasuresh, Managing Director, Aura Freight Time Shipping LLC, jey@aurauae.com, +971 56 967 609, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Mr. Gibson Karonga, Managing Director, TransDirect Freight (Pvt) Ltd, gibson@transdirectfreight.co.zw, +263 779 958 8234, Harare, Zimbabwe
Timeline
Manager- Routing & Business Development
Aura Freight Time Shipping LLC
05.2023 - 12.2025
Sales & Customer Service Executive
Aura Freight Time Shipping LLC
05.2017 - 04.2023
Customs Clearing Clerk
Kamogkelo Import & Export
01.2016 - 01.2017
Student Intern- Customs clearing clerk (Professional Year)
DHL International (Pvt). Ltd (DGF)
09.2013 - 07.2014
Certifications - Certified International Supply Chain Professional
Blue Ocean Academy
B.Sc. Honours Degree - International Purchasing, Logistics and Transport
Chinhoyi University of Technology
Advanced Level - 3 A' Level passes (10 points)
Sanyati Baptist High School
Ordinary Level - 7 O' Level subjects, including Mathematics, Integrated Science and English Language
Nemakonde High School
Certifications - Certified International Supply Chain Manager
Blue Ocean Academy
Postgraduate Diploma Level-4 - Procurement & Supply (Current Studies)
Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)