Field Inspection Team Lead

About the role

SAB is hiring a Field Inspection Team Lead, based in Bryanston. The key purpose of this role is to lead a field inspection team that independently verifies in-trade execution, customer discounting and commercial investment compliance. The role converts risk priorities into disciplined field activity, assures the quality and consistency of inspection evidence, escalates material exceptions and ensures actions are followed through.

Responsibilities

• Team Planning and Deployment
• Translate the approved inspection plan and analytical risk leads into team schedules and field assignments.
• Allocate inspectors according to risk, geography, channel and workload.
• Monitor progress, productivity, coverage and completion against the team plan.
• Field Inspection
• Lead and participate in outlet, wholesaler, distributor and key account inspections.
• Ensure consistent validation of execution standards, discounts, promotions, pricing, customer agreements and commercial assets.
• Provide on-site guidance for complex, sensitive or high-risk inspections.
• Evidence and Report Quality
• Review inspection evidence, calculations and draft findings before submission.
• Ensure that findings are factual, complete, defensible and linked to financial or control exposure.
• Calibrate inspection practices across team members and address quality gaps promptly.
• Escalation and Corrective Action
• Escalate material control breaches, suspected misconduct and significant leakage promptly.
• Engage business owners to clarify facts without compromising inspection independence.
• Support recovery, remediation and consequence management with reliable evidence.
• People and Capability Leadership
• Set clear expectations, coach inspectors and provide practical field training.
• Promote integrity, safety, discipline and constructive stakeholder engagement.
• Identify recurring capability gaps and recommend training or process improvements.

Requirements

• Key Competencies and Attributes
• FMCG field operations, route-to-market and trade execution.
• Inspection planning, sampling, evidence review and issue validation.
• Pricing, discounting, promotional and customer investment controls.
• Excel-based analysis, report writing and action tracking.
• Coaching, workload management and field problem solving.
• High integrity and independence.
• Hands-on leadership and an owner’s mindset.
• Courage to challenge non-compliance constructively.
• Resilience, sound judgement and disciplined follow-through.
• Strong communication with frontline and senior stakeholders.
• Commitment to confidentiality, objective evidence and consistent application of company standards.
• Ability to work across functions and maintain appropriate independence from audited activities.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently across assigned territories.
• Valid driver’s license where required for field travel.
• Ability to manage a mobile team and work outside standard office environments.
• Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Finance, Auditing, Business, Sales, Commercial Management or a related discipline.
• Five or more years of experience in FMCG sales, field inspection, commercial finance, audit, compliance or route-to-market operations.
• Prior team leadership or supervisory experience is required.
• Practical experience with trade execution, customer discounting or commercial investment controls.