Daniël Jacobs
Queensland,Australia
Summary
Results-driven Manager with extensive experience in operational leadership and efficiency improvements. Proven ability to enhance commercial performance and ensure compliance while developing high-performing teams. Expertise in contract negotiation and risk management, delivering sustainable supply solutions aligned with market demands.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Procurement Manager
Koppers Wood Products
Queensland, Australia
07.2024 - Current
- Lead state-wide hardwood and softwood procurement across State forests, private landholders, and corporate estates, balancing sustainable supply with plant capacity, sales demand, and market specifications.
- Hold end-to-end accountability for Chain of Responsibility (CoR), WHS, and legal compliance across harvesting, haulage, and procurement activities.
- Govern a diverse contractor base, setting safety, quality, and performance standards while driving continuous operational improvement across geographically dispersed operations.
- Ensure all incoming timber meets Australian Standards, internal quality requirements, and downstream customer specifications.
- Drive commercial outcomes through pricing governance, volume delivery, contract negotiation, budget control, and short- to medium-term supply forecasting aligned to production plans.
- Lead and develop the Queensland procurement team, providing executive-level reporting and representing the business in industry and regulatory forums.
Transport Manager
Sappi
, South Africa
11.2020 - 06.2024
- Directed province-wide road transport operations delivering ~7,000 tonnes per day to internal mills and external customers across KwaZulu-Natal State.
- Ensured fulfilment of sales orders through disciplined execution of species campaigns, market-specific specifications, and production schedules.
- Optimised fleet utilisation and routing to achieve cost efficiency, service reliability, and consistent supply performance.
- Led health, safety, and compliance performance across all transport operations, embedding a strong safety culture.
- Managed PBS fleets under strict licensing and regulatory frameworks, partnering with national road authorities to stay ahead of legislative change.
- Built and led multidisciplinary teams covering scheduling, real-time fleet control, safety and quality compliance, administration, and business development.
- South Africa
Harvesting & Logistics Manager
York Timbers
, South Africa
10.2016 - 10.2020
- Accountable for harvesting and logistics operations across Mpumalanga State, supplying pulpwood and sawtimber products to multiple markets with distinct quality requirements.
- Managed a range of semi-mechanised and fully mechanised harvesting systems across flat and steep terrain, ensuring safety, productivity, and cost control.
- Led in-house transport fleets to deliver timber ratably, optimising operational and commercial performance.
- Balanced long-term forest sustainability with commercial outcomes through responsible harvesting, re-establishment programs, and supplementary procurement from state and private sources.
- Developed pricing and sourcing strategies to secure external supply where internal capacity was constrained.
- Built high-performing teams through coaching, empowerment, and succession development, enabling operational independence and problem-solving capability.
- South Africa
Business Owner
Alter Vista Landscapes
, South Africa
01.2015 - 09.2016
- Founded and managed a landscaping business, overseeing end-to-end operations from project acquisition to delivery.
- Delivered projects within tight budgetary, quality, and time constraints while maintaining strong client relationships.
- Managed on-site safety, quality standards, and subcontractor performance.
- Led marketing, client engagement, supplier negotiations, and new business development initiatives.
- Gained hands-on commercial experience in cash flow management, pricing, and contract negotiation.
- South Africa
Operations Manager
Demara Plant
, Eswatini
03.2013 - 12.2014
- Managed in-house and contracted harvesting operations across semi-mechanised and fully mechanised systems in varied terrain.
- Led a large, diverse workforce including operators, drivers, mechanics, safety officers, foresters, and administrative staff.
- Supplied pulp, mining, and sawtimber products to internal subsidiaries and cross-border markets in South Africa, meeting strict product specifications.
- Ensured high equipment availability and productivity through effective workshop, engineering, and maintenance systems.
- Built cohesive teams with strong morale, accountability, and performance discipline.
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
Harvesting Manager
Mondi
, South Africa
08.2011 - 02.2013
- Accountable for sustainable, ratable supply of ~1,200 tonnes per day to local and export markets via fully mechanised, stump-to-mill operations.
- Ensured consistent achievement of safety, production, environmental, and cost targets.
- Optimised harvesting and transport efficiencies to meet market-specific quality requirements at lowest delivered cost.
- Enforced full chain-of-custody compliance and adherence to FSC principles.
- Collaborated with sustainability, silviculture, technical, and commercial teams to manage operational and financial impacts.
- South Africa
Logistics Coordinator
Mondi
, South Africa
04.2008 - 07.2011
- Coordinated daily log intakes into the Richards Bay milling complex, including chip export and pulp mills exceeding 7,000 tonnes per day combined.
- Managed inbound logistics via road and rail from multiple provinces, ensuring continuity of supply.
- Monitored and reported terminal performance metrics to minimise delays and improve throughput.
- Managed exchange agreements with third-party suppliers to balance supply and maintain sustainability objectives.
- Controlled stock levels and rotation policies to align production targets with inventory constraints.
- South Africa
Planning Specialist
Mondi
, South Africa
01.2005 - 03.2008
- Developed tactical and long-term harvesting and re-establishment plans to support sustainable forest management.
- Managed the Annual Plan of Operations (APO) to ensure alignment with budgets, policies, and production targets.
- Oversaw forest inventory programs, including enumeration and yield verification.
- Maintained integrity of forestry databases through spatial analysis and field verification.
- South Africa
Education
B.Sc. - Forestry Engineering
University of Stellenbosch
Landscape Designer -
Irene School of Garden Design
Basic Accounting and Business Principles -
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Economics in the South African Environment -
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Normalization of Growing stock in Forestry -
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Skills
- Operational management and leadership
- Forestry management
- Effective communication
- Mentoring and development
- Forest engineering
- Project management
- Collaborative agility
- Transport and logistics
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Engagement driving
- Health and safety
- Creative problem-solving
- Team building
- Chain of custody management
- Risk management and safety
- Commercial acumen
- Quality assurance
- Fleet optimization
- Critical thinking
- Strategic sourcing
- Problem solving
- Contract negotiation
- Pricing governance
- Supply chain management
- Team leadership
- Compliance oversight
- Financial acumen
- Strategic planning
Certification
- Basic Accounting and Business Principles, University of South Africa (UNISA)
- Economics in the South African Environment, University of South Africa (UNISA)
- Supply Chain Optimization, SCOR
- FSC Auditors course, SGS Auditing
- Fire Boss 5: Incident commander, Working on Fire
- SHEQ Root cause Analyses, CMO
- Normalization of Growing stock in Forestry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Diversity in the Workplace, New Africa
- Advanced Tactical Planning principles, Forestry Solutions
Demonstrated Abilities
- Skilled and experienced forestry professional with a solid background in Forestry management
- Strong business acumen with an excellent understanding of effective systems and processes
- Good written and verbal communicator with superior interpersonal, negotiation and liaison skills
- Able to relate to a wide range of people from various cultural, professional and technical sectors
- Solid analytical aptitude with advanced organisational, problem-solving and time-management skills
- Safety conscious with strict adherence to health and safety regulations and guidelines
- Able to work well under pressure and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Displaying a high level of professionalism and confidentiality, with meticulous attention to detail
Awards
- Selected by a Sappi Executive panel to join Sappi LeadX leadership programme
- Best Fire Fighter, 2020, York Timbers
Licences And Qualifications
- B.Sc. Forestry Engineering, University of Stellenbosch
- Landscape Designer, Irene School of Garden Design
- C Class Driving License, DOT South African Government
- B Class Driving License, DOT Queensland Government, Australia
Specialist Skills
- Operational Management
- Leadership
- Forestry Management
- Effective Communication
- Mentoring & Development
- Forest Engineering
- Project Management
- Agility through collaboration
- Transport & Logistics
- Analyses and Interpretation
- Driving Engagement
- Health & Safety
- Creative problem solving
- Building Teams
- Chain of custody
- Risk Management & Safety
- Commercial Acumen
Timeline
Procurement Manager
Koppers Wood Products
07.2024 - Current
Transport Manager
Sappi
11.2020 - 06.2024
Harvesting & Logistics Manager
York Timbers
10.2016 - 10.2020
Business Owner
Alter Vista Landscapes
01.2015 - 09.2016
Operations Manager
Demara Plant
03.2013 - 12.2014
Harvesting Manager
Mondi
08.2011 - 02.2013
Logistics Coordinator
Mondi
04.2008 - 07.2011
Planning Specialist
Mondi
01.2005 - 03.2008
B.Sc. - Forestry Engineering
University of Stellenbosch
Landscape Designer -
Irene School of Garden Design
Basic Accounting and Business Principles -
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Economics in the South African Environment -
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Normalization of Growing stock in Forestry -
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University