Transport Lead / Manager

Zepto; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Zepto in Mumbai is seeking a Transport Manager to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation operations, focusing on operational excellence and vendor management.

You will lead GPS tracking, on-time performance, asset utilisation, and team development while aligning with regulatory standards and customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
• Relevant certifications in Supply Chain or Logistics are preferred.
• 5-8 years of experience in transportation or logistics operations; 2-3 years managing transport operations and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Ensure GPS adoption and tracking compliance of 95% or above across all assigned vehicles.
• Achieve on-time performance (OTR/OTD/OTA) above 90%.
• Drive vendor performance through regular reviews, KPI monitoring, and corrective action plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop the transport operations team to improve productivity and engagement.

Skills

Transportation management

Vendor management

Cost control

KPI analysis

TMS GPS MIS

Team leadership

Decision making

Communication

Safety regulations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Job Purpose

The Transport Manager is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation operations while maintaining high service levels. The role focuses on operational excellence, cost optimization, asset utilization, and effective management of transport partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders to achieve business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Excellence

• Ensure GPS adoption and tracking compliance of 95% or above across all assigned vehicles.
• Achieve OTR (On-Time Reporting), OTD (On-Time Delivery), and OTA (On-Time Arrival) performance above 90%.
• Monitor and ensure refrigerated vehicle temperature adherence as per product and customer requirements.
• Track vehicle movements and proactively resolve operational issues to minimize delays.
• Ensure compliance with transportation SOPs, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance transport efficiency and customer satisfaction.

2. Cost Management

• Ensure 100% compliance between TMS (Transport Management System) and MIS reporting.
• Review and approve vendor bills within defined timelines to ensure timely payments.
• Monitor transport costs and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising service quality.
• Ensure recovery of applicable penalties from transport partners for service failures.Minimize financial losses related to GPS non-compliance, SLA deviations, cargo net shortages, theft, and transit damages.

3. Asset Management

• Maximize utilization of smart locks across eligible shipments to improve cargo security.
• Ensure effective utilization and tracking of cargo bars and cargo nets.
• Monitor asset availability, maintenance, and accountability to reduce losses and improve operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate records of transport assets and ensure compliance with asset management processes.

4. People & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, and transport partners.
• Drive vendor performance through regular reviews, KPI monitoring, and corrective action plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop the transport operations team to improve productivity and engagement.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and training sessions for team members and transport partners.
• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• GPS Adoption: 95%OTR/OTD/OTA: 90%Temperature Compliance: 100% adherence
• TMS vs. MIS Compliance: 100%
• Vendor Bill Approval: Within SLA
• Penalty Recovery: 100% of eligible recoveries
• Cargo Security Losses: Minimal/Zero avoidable losses
• Smart Lock Utilization: As per defined targets
• Cargo Bar/Net Utilization: As per defined targets
• Vendor Performance Score: Meeting agreed SLA
• Team Performance: Achievement of departmental KPIs.

Qualifications

Bachelor''s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications in Supply Chain or Logistics are preferred.

Experience

• 5-8 years of experience in transportation or logistics operations.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience managing transport operations and vendors.
• Experience with Transport Management Systems (TMS), GPS tracking, and fleet operations.

Required Skills

• Transportation and fleet management
• Vendor and stakeholder management
• Cost control and budgeting
• KPI monitoring and data analysis
• Strong knowledge of TMS, GPS, and MIS reporting
• Team leadership and people management
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of transportation regulations and safety standards.