Operational Lead

Maersk; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Maersk seeks an Operational Lead to oversee daily warehouse operations for direct-to-consumer distribution, ensuring accurate inventory, timely order fulfillment, and adherence to safety SOPs. You will manage cold chain processes, use WMS and SAP, and lead a team of staff and contractors to hit KPIs and SLA targets.

The role requires 10+ years in grocery or FMCG warehouse ops, strong vendor management, and leadership skills to optimize speed and accuracy in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 10+ years managing grocery or FMCG warehouse operations, preferably involving fresh produce or cold chain logistics.
• Strong experience in WMS, SAP, and inventory control processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and SLA-driven operations.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee warehouse operations including receiving, storage, order picking, packing, and shipping.
• Implement and optimize processes to meet daily order fulfillment goals.
• Ensure stock availability for all dark stores and maintain cold chain integrity.
• Lead safety, compliance, and KPI reporting for order accuracy and delivery timelines.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

WMS

SAP

Job description

APM Terminals

Job Overview -

The Operational Lead is responsible for overseeing daily operations of a warehouse handling direct-to-consumer distribution. This role ensures seamless order fulfillment, inventory accuracy, and efficient warehouse operations while meeting customer satisfaction goals and adhering to safety and compliance standards. The role also ensures timely sorting, grading, transformation, and distribution of products to dark stores while maintaining quality, cold chain integrity, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities -

Operations Management:

• Oversee all warehouse operations, including receiving, storage, order picking, packing, and shipping.
• Implement and optimize processes to meet daily order fulfillment goals.
• Ensure timely sorting, grading, transformation, and delivery while maintaining stock availability for all dark stores.
• Handle complete day-to-day warehouse operations, including cold chain management, within defined cut-off timelines while ensuring quality and SOP adherence.

Inventory Control:

• Maintain accurate inventory records through regular cycle counts and audits.
• Manage inventory accuracy and share daily stock audit reports.
• Collaborate with procurement and sales teams to forecast and manage stock levels.
• Ensure timely inventory liquidation (damaged and expired) as per SOP and customer SLA.

Team Leadership:

• Supervise, train, and motivate warehouse staff, including pickers, packers, and inventory personnel.
• Manage shift schedules to ensure adequate staffing during peak periods.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure timely availability of resources such as contract associates, security staff, and transportation.

Technology Utilization:

• Leverage warehouse management systems (WMS) to track inventory and orders efficiently.
• Ensure staff are properly trained on WMS and other operational technology tools.
• Ensure timely processing of vendor bills as per PR/PO process in SAP.

Customer Experience & Vendor Management:

• Ensure all orders are fulfilled accurately and delivered on time to maintain high customer satisfaction.
• Address and resolve any order discrepancies or operational issues promptly.
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are consistently met.
• Review vendor invoices thoroughly to ensure accuracy in calculations, rates, and supporting documentation, verifying alignment with contracts, SLAs, or purchase orders.

Safety and Compliance:

• Enforce adherence to safety standards and operational regulations within the warehouse.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, health standards, and cold chain handling requirements.

Reporting and KPIs:

• Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order accuracy, delivery timelines, inventory turnover, and productivity.
• Ensure daily KPIs agreed with the customer are achieved and presented during daily operational reviews.
• Track productivity across warehouse processes and minimize process waste to control variable costs.
• Use operational data and insights to identify improvement opportunities.

Required Experience and Skills-

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field (preferred).
• Proven experience of 10+ years managing grocery or FMCG warehouse operations, preferably involving fresh produce or cold chain logistics.
• Strong experience in warehouse management systems (WMS), SAP, and inventory control processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and SLA-driven operations.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and organizational abilities.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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