Head of Operations

Smartmart Recruitment Mumbai; Mumbai, Delhi; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Smartmart Recruitment Mumbai is seeking a seasoned Customs Clearance Lead to oversee end-to-end imports and exports, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence. The role drives customer satisfaction and business objectives across locations.

The candidate must have 15+ years in customs clearance and freight forwarding with at least 8 years in leadership, plus strong governance and cost-control skills to optimize performance.

Qualifications

• Rule 9 qualified with a graduate degree; a postgraduate qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or International Business is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in Customs Clearance and Freight Forwarding, including at least 8 years in a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end import and export customs clearance operations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Customer focus

Education

Graduate degree

Postgraduate qualification (Logistics / SCM / International Business)

Job description

Department: Customs Clearance Role Purpose Lead and oversee the Customs Clearance Operations function, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational excellence, timely cargo clearance, customer satisfaction, and achievement of business objectives across all locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end import and export customs clearance operations.
• Ensure compliance with the Customs Act, CBLR, DGFT, ICEGATE, and other statutory requirements.
• Drive operational efficiency, productivity, and adherence to service level standards.
• Manage relationships with Customs authorities, ports, CFS/ICDs, shipping lines, airlines, and key customers.
• Monitor operational performance, control costs, and minimize detention, demurrage, and penalties.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the operations team while implementing standardized processes and best practices.
• Resolve critical operational issues and support business growth through effective execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Rule 9 qualified with a graduate degree; a postgraduate qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or International Business is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in Customs Clearance and Freight Forwarding, including at least 8 years in a leadership role.

Key Competencies

• Customs & Regulatory Compliance Operational Leadership Stakeholder Management Strategic Planning Team Leadership Customer Focus Decision-Making & Problem-Solving