Fleet Operations Manager

Confidential Careers; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers is seeking an experienced Fleet Manager in the UAE to lead our fleet operations for 100+ vehicles and 50+ MHE assets supporting distribution and retail.

You will shape maintenance strategy, asset lifecycle, budgeting, safety, and vendor management, driving cost efficiency and high availability.

This is a leadership role requiring strong analytics, UAE regulatory knowledge, and the ability to build a high‑performing team and reliable fleet.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation Management, or related field.
• 7–10 years fleet management experience in retail, FMCG, logistics, transportation, or distribution.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle maintenance, fleet operations, and asset lifecycle management.
• Experience managing maintenance contracts, vendors, and service providers.
• Knowledge of UAE transport regulations and fleet compliance.
• Proficiency with fleet management systems, telematics platforms, and data analysis tools.
• Strong leadership, financial management, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define, monitor, and report fleet KPIs, driving performance improvements across fleet operations.
• Develop fleet capacity plans aligned with business growth, operational requirements, and future expansion.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives through root-cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Optimize fleet utilization, productivity, and operating costs while maintaining service excellence.
• Own fleet and MHE availability, uptime, and operational readiness.
• Develop and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
• Manage maintenance providers, workshops, and service contracts, ensuring adherence to SLAs.
• Review and validate maintenance requirements, repair quotations, and invoices to ensure cost control.
• Monitor downtime, maintenance costs, and asset performance to improve reliability and efficiency.
• Manage the fleet lifecycle, including acquisition, replacement, refurbishment, and disposal of assets.
• Prepare and manage the annual fleet operating and maintenance budget.
• Control fleet-related costs, including maintenance, fuel, tyres, repairs, and outsourced services.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency without compromising safety or operational performance.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for fleet investments and replacement programs.
• Evaluate and implement fleet management technologies, including telematics, GPS tracking, fuel monitoring, and maintenance management systems.
• Utilize data and analytics to improve fleet visibility, asset utilization, cost management, and operational decision-making.
• Drive innovation initiatives that enhance fleet performance, safety, and sustainability.
• Lead, coach, and develop fleet coordinators, drivers, and support teams.
• Manage recruitment, attendance, performance, training, leave planning, and workforce development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure performance is managed through clear KPIs and measurable outcomes.
• Manage relationships with maintenance contractors, vehicle suppliers, leasing companies, and service providers.
• Negotiate contracts, service agreements, pricing, and performance standards.
• Monitor vendor performance and implement improvement plans where necessary.
• Ensure external partners consistently meet operational, safety, and cost expectations.
• Ensure full compliance with UAE regulations related to vehicle registration, insurance, permits, licensing, inspections, fines, and toll management.
• Maintain accurate fleet records and documentation.
• Lead fleet safety initiatives, incident investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety performance and reduction of preventable incidents.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, HSE standards, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Fleet management

Data analytics

Leadership

Vendor management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation Management, or related field

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and results-driven Fleet Manager to lead our fleet operations and ensure the availability, reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness of our vehicle and Material Handling Equipment (MHE) fleet. The role is responsible for managing more than 100 vehicles and 50+ MHE assets that support our distribution and retail operations across the UAE.

As Fleet Manager, you will be accountable for fleet performance, maintenance strategy, asset lifecycle management, compliance, contractor performance, cost optimization, and team leadership. You will play a critical role in ensuring business continuity by delivering a safe, efficient, and high-performing fleet operation.

Key Responsibilities

Fleet Strategy & Performance

• Define, monitor, and report fleet KPIs, driving performance improvements across fleet operations.
• Develop fleet capacity plans aligned with business growth, operational requirements, and future expansion.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives through root-cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Optimize fleet utilization, productivity, and operating costs while maintaining service excellence.

Fleet Maintenance & Asset Management

• Own fleet and MHE availability, uptime, and operational readiness.
• Develop and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
• Manage maintenance providers, workshops, and service contracts, ensuring adherence to agreed SLAs and performance standards.
• Review and validate maintenance requirements, repair quotations, and invoices to ensure technical accuracy and cost control.
• Monitor downtime, maintenance costs, and asset performance to improve reliability and efficiency.
• Manage the fleet lifecycle, including acquisition, replacement, refurbishment, and disposal of assets.

Cost Management & Budgeting

• Prepare and manage the annual fleet operating and maintenance budget.
• Control fleet-related costs, including maintenance, fuel, tyres, repairs, and outsourced services.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency without compromising safety or operational performance.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for fleet investments and replacement programs.

Technology & Innovation

• Evaluate and implement fleet management technologies, including telematics, GPS tracking, fuel monitoring, and maintenance management systems.
• Utilize data and analytics to improve fleet visibility, asset utilization, cost management, and operational decision-making.
• Drive innovation initiatives that enhance fleet performance, safety, and sustainability.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop fleet coordinators, drivers, and support teams.
• Manage recruitment, attendance, performance, training, leave planning, and workforce development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure performance is managed through clear KPIs and measurable outcomes.

Vendor & Contractor Management

• Manage relationships with maintenance contractors, vehicle suppliers, leasing companies, and service providers.
• Negotiate contracts, service agreements, pricing, and performance standards.
• Monitor vendor performance and implement improvement plans where necessary.
• Ensure external partners consistently meet operational, safety, and cost expectations.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with UAE regulations related to vehicle registration, insurance, permits, licensing, inspections, fines, and toll management.
• Maintain accurate fleet records and documentation.
• Lead fleet safety initiatives, incident investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety performance and reduction of preventable incidents.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, HSE standards, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 7-10 years of fleet management experience within retail, FMCG, logistics, transportation, or distribution environments.
• Strong knowledge of commercial vehicle maintenance, fleet operations, and asset lifecycle management.
• Experience managing maintenance contracts, vendors, and service providers.
• Knowledge of UAE transport regulations and fleet compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in fleet management systems, telematics platforms, and data analysis tools.
• Strong leadership, financial management, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Primary KPIs

• Fleet Availability & Uptime
• MHE Availability
• Maintenance Cost vs. Budget
• Fleet Utilization Rate
• Fleet Operating Cost per KM
• Safety & Preventable Incident Rate
• Compliance Status

Supporting KPIs

• Unplanned Downtime
• Fuel Efficiency & Fuel Cost per KM
• Contractor SLA Performance
• Asset Lifecycle Cost
• Driver Attendance & Productivity
• Vehicle Inspection Compliance
• Vendor Performance Rating

Why Join Us?

We offer the opportunity to lead a critical function within a growing retail and distribution business. As Fleet Manager, you will have a direct impact on operational excellence, cost efficiency, safety performance, and the future development of our fleet capabilities.