Department Head - Transport

SMBT; Nashik District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

SMBT Group of Institutions is seeking an experienced Department Head Transport to oversee the complete transport operations across the institution. The role requires planning, fleet management, route planning, driver oversight, safety compliance and cost control to ensure safe and reliable services for students and staff.

The ideal candidate will have substantial transport or fleet management experience, preferably in large multi-location setups such as educational institutions, hospitals or

Qualifications

• Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university.
• 8-12 years of relevant experience in transport management, fleet operations or logistics administration.
• Experience handling institutional transport operations in education, hospital, corporate or large multi-location setups.
• Experience managing a sizeable fleet of buses and other vehicles.
• Knowledge of vehicle maintenance, route planning, fuel management and statutory transport compliance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the complete day-to-day transport operations of the institution.
• Plan and supervise bus routes, schedules, vehicle deployment and transportation requirements.
• Ensure timely availability of vehicles for students, faculty, staff and institutional activities.
• Monitor vehicle utilisation and optimise fleet deployment.
• Develop contingency plans for additional transport requirements and emergency situations.
• Supervise and manage drivers, conductors, transport supervisors and other staff.
• Ensure compliance with driving licences and transport regulations.
• Maintain accurate transport records and MIS reporting.

Skills

Fleet management

Leadership & people management

Route planning

Budgeting & cost control

Safety compliance

Operational coordination

Education

Graduate degree in any discipline

Job description

SMBT Group of Institutions is looking for an experienced, responsible and result-oriented Department Head Transport to manage and supervise the complete transport operations of the institution.

The candidate will be responsible for planning and managing daily transportation activities, fleet operations, route planning, vehicle maintenance, driver management, safety compliance and cost control.

The role requires strong administrative and operational leadership to ensure safe, reliable, timely and efficient transportation services for students, faculty, staff and other authorised users across the institution.

The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in transport or fleet management, preferably in an educational institution, hospital, corporate organisation or large multi-location setup.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

A. Transport Operations & Fleet Management

• Manage the complete day-to-day transport operations of the institution.
• Plan and supervise bus routes, schedules, vehicle deployment and transportation requirements.
• Ensure timely availability of vehicles for students, faculty, staff and institutional activities.
• Monitor vehicle utilisation and optimise fleet deployment.
• Develop contingency plans for additional transport requirements and emergency situations.
• Ensure smooth coordination of transport services across different institutional departments and campuses.

B. Driver & Transport Staff Management

• Supervise and manage drivers, conductors, transport supervisors and other support staff.
• Ensure proper duty allocation, shift scheduling and attendance monitoring.
• Monitor driver discipline, punctuality, conduct and performance.
• Conduct regular briefings and training on road safety, passenger handling and emergency procedures.
• Ensure compliance with driving licence requirements and applicable transport regulations.
• Maintain accountability and discipline among all transport personnel.

C. Vehicle Maintenance & Statutory Compliance

• Ensure all vehicles are maintained in roadworthy and operational condition.
• Monitor vehicle fitness certificates, permits, insurance, registration and other statutory documents.
• Implement preventive maintenance schedules and periodic vehicle inspections.
• Coordinate vehicle servicing, repairs and breakdown management.
• Maintain vehicle maintenance records and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable RTO, Motor Vehicles Act and transport department regulations.

D. Transport Safety & Risk Management

• Establish and implement transport safety policies and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor adherence to road safety rules and institutional transport guidelines.
• Ensure appropriate safety arrangements for student transportation.
• Handle accidents, breakdowns, emergencies and transport-related incidents.
• Coordinate with security, administration and relevant authorities during emergencies.
• Conduct regular safety audits and inspections.

E. Budgeting, Fuel Management & Cost Optimisation

• Prepare and monitor the annual transport budget.
• Track fuel consumption, vehicle running costs, maintenance expenses and operational expenditure.
• Monitor fuel efficiency and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
• Control unnecessary vehicle usage and optimise route planning.
• Evaluate transport service providers, maintenance vendors and external agencies.
• Ensure cost-effective utilisation of transport resources without compromising safety or service quality.

F. Administration, MIS & Interdepartmental Coordination

• Maintain accurate records of vehicles, drivers, routes, fuel, maintenance and transport expenses.
• Prepare daily, weekly and monthly transport MIS reports.
• Handle transport-related complaints, feedback and service issues.
• Coordinate with institute heads, principals, administration, security and other departments.
• Manage vendor relationships and outsourced transportation services, wherever applicable.
• Submit operational updates, budget reports and improvement plans to management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be evaluated on the following parameters:

1. Operational Efficiency: Timely bus deployment, route adherence and service reliability.
2. Vehicle Availability: Fleet uptime and reduction in vehicle breakdowns.
3. Safety & Compliance: Zero tolerance towards preventable safety violations and statutory non-compliance.
4. Preventive Maintenance: Timely servicing and maintenance of all vehicles.
5. Fuel Management: Monitoring and optimisation of fuel consumption.
6. Cost Control: Effective management of transport budgets and operating expenses.
7. Staff Management: Driver attendance, discipline, productivity and performance.
8. Complaint Resolution: Timely resolution of transport-related grievances.
9. MIS & Documentation: Accurate records and timely management reporting.

Educational Qualification & Experience

• Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university.
• 8-12 years of relevant experience in transport management, fleet operations or logistics administration.
• Prior experience managing institutional transport operations, preferably in educational institutions, hospitals, universities or large corporate organisations.
• Experience handling a sizeable fleet of buses and other vehicles.
• Prior experience managing drivers, conductors, transport supervisors and outsourced transport vendors.
• Knowledge of vehicle maintenance, route planning, fuel management and statutory transport compliance.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong transport and fleet management capabilities.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of RTO procedures, vehicle documentation and statutory compliance.
• Strong route planning and operational coordination skills.
• Budgeting, cost control and fuel management.
• Vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Emergency handling and problem-solving abilities.
• MIS reporting and documentation skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transport operations simultaneously.

Preferred Candidate Profile

Candidates with experience in the following sectors will be preferred:

• Educational institutions, universities and colleges.
• Hospitals and healthcare organisations.
• Large corporate campuses and industrial establishments.
• Logistics and fleet management companies.
• Organisations managing large bus and employee transportation operations.

What We Expect

We are looking for a disciplined, proactive and accountable transport professional who can independently manage the complete transport department.

The candidate should be capable of ensuring operational efficiency, maintaining high safety standards, managing transport personnel, controlling expenses and establishing systematic processes for smooth transportation operations.