General Manager — Transport

CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY; Mohali; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY in Mohali, India, seeks a General Manager - Transport to lead end-to-end fleet operations, vehicle maintenance, and driver management for ~120 vehicles, including buses, sedans, and utility vehicles. You will plan routes, ensure safety and compliance, and optimize costs.

The role requires strong leadership, data-driven decision making, and the ability to coordinate with HR, vendors and external authorities to maintain service quality and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering, Transport Management, Operations Management, Logistics or related field.
• 12–18 years of relevant experience, with significant responsibility for managing a large institutional or corporate fleet.
• Experience managing 50+ vehicles, including driver management and statutory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the University’s fleet operations, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient transport services.
• Establish and enforce transport safety policies, driver training, and incident response protocols.
• Oversee vehicle maintenance, workshops, and service providers with complete maintenance histories.
• Ensure 100% compliance with registration, permits, insurance, PUC and road tax, with a compliance calendar.
• Lead drivers, supervisors, mechanics and helpers, coordinating HR processes.
• Implement GPS tracking, manage vendor contracts and monitor operating budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Fleet management

Safety leadership

Vendor & stakeholder management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering, Transport Management, Operations Management, Logistics, or related discipline

Tools

GPS fleet tracking

Fleet management software

Digital dashboards

Job description

The General Manager - Transport is responsible for the overall planning, management, safety, reliability, efficiency and cost effectiveness of the University's transport operations.

The incumbent leads the day-to-day operation of the University's fleet of approximately 120 vehicles (85 buses, 25 sedans/SUVs and 15 utility vehicles), ensuring safe and timely transportation of students, faculty, staff, visitors and other authorized users.

The role carries end-to-end responsibility for fleet operations, vehicle maintenance, drivers and transport manpower, route planning, regulatory compliance, fuel management, transport infrastructure, vendor management, emergency response and continuous improvement, aligned with the University's standards of service, discipline and institutional reputation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fleet Operations & Service Delivery: Provide overall leadership for the University's bus and light-vehicle fleet, ensuring safe, reliable, punctual and efficient transportation services through daily, weekly and annual operating plans and optimized routes and schedules.
2. Transport Safety Management: Establish and enforce transport safety policies and SOPs, driver training and monitoring, vehicle roadworthiness checks, and incident/accident response and investigation protocols.
3. Vehicle Maintenance & Workshop Oversight: Ensure preventive and scheduled maintenance of all vehicles, oversee workshops and service providers, and maintain complete vehicle-wise maintenance histories to minimise downtime.
4. Statutory & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance with statutory requirements including registration, permits, fitness certificates, insurance, PUC and road tax, supported by an active compliance calendar.
5. Driver & Manpower Management: Lead and supervise drivers, supervisors, mechanics and helpers, including duty rosters, performance assessment, training and disciplinary matters in coordination with HR.
6. Technology, Vendor & Budget Management: Implement GPS-based fleet tracking and digital dashboards, manage transport vendor contracts and SLAs, and prepare and monitor the departmental operating and capital budget.

The General Manager is expected to demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and people-management capability across a large, multi-skilled transport team
• A safety-conscious, data-driven approach to operational decision-making
• Ability to resolve operational and emergency challenges in a timely and structured manner
• Strong negotiation and vendor/stakeholder management skills
• Integrity, accountability and discipline in fleet and compliance management

Eligibility Criteria

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering, Transport Management, Operations Management, Logistics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12-18 years of relevant experience, with significant responsibility for managing a large institutional, corporate, educational, hospitality, public-sector or commercial fleet.
• Demonstrated experience managing a fleet of 50+ vehicles, preferably buses and passenger vehicles, including driver management and statutory compliance.