Jason’s background in spare parts interpreting has served him well in his role in our warehouse and logistics team here at SuperCool.
Since joining SuperCool around five years ago, Jason and the internal sales team have helped grow and streamline the order management and operations processes in our Ormeau facility.
How long have you worked at SuperCool, and what attracted you to a career in this industry?
I’ve been at SuperCool for nearly five years and my background is in logistics within the defence industry at BAE Systems. Prior to starting here, I worked in spare parts interpreting in the mining and agriculture industry for almost 11 years, and after over a decade, it was just time for a fresh start.
I’d been looking for a role in warehousing and spare parts and this role fit perfectly – it was a great opportunity with a diverse product range, close to home, and the team is really down to earth.
What does a typical day look like in your Internal Sales & Operations role?
I’m here by 7 am to go through the priorities for the day, which typically involves addressing sales enquiries and emails, getting orders ready for our customers, loading and unloading containers and all kinds of other fulfilment and logistical tasks. There’s always something new going on which keeps things interesting.
What's the most rewarding part of being the Operations Manager at SuperCool?
I’d say customer satisfaction – we’re a team of four here and we’re always getting great feedback from the sales and management team when they’re out in the field.
It’s great to hear that customers notice and appreciate our commitment to those simple but important things that make our service really stand out, like chasing up damaged freight or quickly responding to product enquiries.
Why do you think SuperCool stands out in the industry?
We’ve got such an interesting and diverse mix of products and services here, and we’re agile enough to respond to the changing needs of the market.
We source really great quality products, as well as manufacture our own, and because of that diversity, we don’t have a lot of risk in our business. Income streams are spread across a wide range of lines which means we can ride out challenges more easily than many businesses.
What's something that is frequently misunderstood in the industry?
The refrigeration industry is so complex, with so many specialisations and niches that as one of the only ones on the team here who doesn’t have a formal HVAC education I find there’s always something new to learn.
There’s always room for improvement in technical education across the board, and that’s one of the reasons the team here has invested in training through the SuperSchool arm of the business. Technology is always changing and as an industry, we need to keep ahead of the curve.
What do you get up to when you're not at work?
For the past 15 years, I’ve managed 4 different farmer’s markets across Brisbane, and am currently looking after a very early opening and set up for the Sunday food market at Brisbane Showgrounds.
Despite the 2 am start time, I just love the variety, and getting out and about and mixing with hundreds of different people. And of course, the food is amazing!
Jason Donaldson is based at SuperCool’s head office in Ormeau, Queensland, and can be reached via email or at +61 7 5549 4000.