Operations Agent – Air Operations – DHL Express
Job Details
- Company: DHL International (Pty) Ltd. Express
- Position: Operations Agent – Air Operations
- Reference: AV-378122
- Location: Kempton Park, Gauteng – JNB Gateway
- Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
- Hours: 45 hours per week
- Travel: No travel required
- Reporting To: Duty Operations Supervisor
- RCS Grade: P
- Salary: Not specified
Job Overview
DHL Express is looking for an Operations Agent – Air Operations to join its team at the JNB Gateway in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The successful candidate will be responsible for efficiently processing, clearing, handling, and routing inbound and outbound WPX shipments and international documents.
This is an operational role within a fast-paced international logistics environment. The Operations Agent will work with shipment inventory, export and import documentation, bonded cargo, airline and road-haulier lodgements, shipment scanning, cargo loading and offloading, and daily inventory reconciliations.
Accuracy and attention to detail are essential, as the role involves verifying shipment information, piece counts, weights, dimensions, destination codes, AWBs, invoices, release documents, and other required paperwork. The successful candidate must also follow DHL’s Global Standard Operating Procedures (GSOP), security protocols, customs requirements, and applicable aviation security standards.
The role also involves coordinating with internal teams, airlines, road hauliers, Security, and destinations to ensure shipments move through the network efficiently and within required timeframes.
Candidates from outside Gauteng may consider this opportunity if they are willing and ready to relocate to Kempton Park.
Key Responsibilities
The Operations Agent will be responsible for:
- Processing and shelving inventory accurately and preparing export documentation.
- Clearing inbound material within required timeframes following aircraft arrival.
- Verifying collected cargo against pre-alerts and sending upliftment details to destinations.
- Labelling and shelving high- and low-value shipments and updating relevant systems.
- Conducting daily store and inventory checks.
- Monitoring bonded shipments and reporting items requiring movement to the state warehouse.
- Processing, scanning, and routing international and WPX shipments using correct destination codes.
- Lodging shipments with airlines or road hauliers and following up on upliftment.
- Attaching accurate release documents and invoices.
- Verifying shipment piece counts and required documentation.
- Completing daily bond reconciliations and resolving inventory discrepancies.
- Re-weighing shipments and capturing manual volumetrics for oversized pieces.
- Preparing accurate AWBs and airline breakdowns, including weights and dimensions.
- Validating missing documentation and processing pre-cleared shipments.
- Coordinating inbound flight offloading and outbound cargo loading.
- Loading cages, bags, ULDs, and PMCs with correct tags and seals.
- Ensuring cargo complies with applicable weight limits and security requirements.
- Screening goods before lodgement and supporting safe vehicle loading and offloading.
- Reporting damaged, open, or torn shipments and ensuring they are handled according to DHL standards.
- Completing departure reporting, timecards, and other required administrative duties.
- Performing additional operational tasks when required to support business needs.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have:
- Matric / Grade 12
- Valid driver’s licence and PDP, with 2 years’ experience
- PC literacy
- Forklift Driver’s Licence, where required
The following will be advantageous:
- Dangerous Goods Regulations Certificate – Category E
- DG Load and CAA Part 108 Security Cargo Awareness
- Previous courier or airfreight experience
- Experience with DHL systems such as ECIS, SHERLOC, OCNT, CSV, HMS, and CALMS
- Knowledge of customs procedures
Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate should have strong attention to detail, accuracy, organisation, and time-management skills. The role requires someone who can work effectively in a busy operational environment while following strict procedures and safety requirements.
Good communication and teamwork skills are important because the position requires coordination with colleagues, airlines, road hauliers, Security, customs-related processes, and other operational teams.
Candidates must also be comfortable handling physical operational duties, including cargo movement, loading, offloading, shelving, scanning, and inventory checks.
Employment Details
This is a permanent, full-time position based at DHL’s JNB Gateway in Kempton Park, Gauteng, with a 45-hour work week. No travel is required for the role.
DHL offers an environment focused on employee development, collaboration, innovation, and career growth within its international express logistics network.
How to Apply
Applicants should ensure they meet the Matric, driver’s licence/PDP, and computer literacy requirements before applying. Previous courier or airfreight experience and relevant dangerous goods, security, customs, and DHL systems knowledge will be advantageous.
Candidates outside Gauteng should be willing and ready to relocate to Kempton Park.
Skhumbuzo Shandu is the founder of Careers With Shandu, a platform dedicated to helping South Africans access job opportunities, learnerships, and career development resources.
He focuses on sharing clear, practical, and up-to-date information to help matriculants, graduates, and job seekers navigate applications and build their careers.
Through his work, he aims to make opportunities easier to understand and accessible to everyone, especially young people entering the workforce.
