Global Logistics Operations | SCM

1. Role Purpose

Lead a logistics operations team of 8-15 members and ensure safe, compliant, accurate and timely execution of export, import, planning, documentation, order management and customer-service activities. The role is accountable for daily delivery, team capability, stakeholder coordination, KPI performance, issue resolution and continuous improvement across India and assigned global regions.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Team Leadership and People Management

• Plan and allocate work, set daily priorities and balance team capacity to meet operational commitments and service levels.
• Supervise, coach and motivate team members; provide regular feedback and create a collaborative, accountable and healthy work environment.
• Monitor individual and team performance, identify skill gaps and implement training, cross-training, backup and development plans.
• Manage attendance, shift coverage, workload continuity and succession readiness for critical processes.
• Listen to team feedback and resolve operational issues or conflicts promptly; escalate material risks to the Associate Lead / Senior Team Lead.
• Support onboarding, knowledge transfer and process transitions while ensuring adequate documentation and stabilization.

B. Logistics Planning and Execution

• Oversee end-to-end export execution across air, ocean and rail, from cargo readiness and booking through customs clearance, loading, shipment tracking and bill of lading release.
• Ensure shipment planning is aligned with customer orders, Incoterms, inventory availability, plant readiness and dispatch targets.
• Coordinate with plants, planners, dispatch, quality, customer service, sales, finance, warehouses and inventory teams to ensure smooth order fulfilment.
• Liaise with customs brokers, transporters, freight forwarders, shipping lines, CFS, third-party inspection agencies and other service partners.
• Provide advance container and shipment-volume forecasts to logistics service providers and monitor bookings, vessel space, gate-in and loading progress.
• Resolve shipment exceptions involving documentation, customs, carriers, ports, warehouses or allied agencies and minimize customer impact.

C. Documentation, Order Management and SAP Transactions

• Ensure accurate and timely preparation, verification and retention of pre-shipment, post-shipment, commercial and customs documents.
• Oversee customer order and sales order-purchase order activities, sales contracts, returns, open-order tracking and inventory-related coordination where assigned.
• Ensure timely and accurate SAP transactions, including shipment-status updates, STO, goods receipt, BOL creation, PGI/PGR, production or stock postings and related logistics entries.
• Validate shipment and customs information such as product details, tariff classification, duties and commercial invoice data; drive closure of missing or incorrect documents.
• Ensure customers and internal stakeholders receive timely and accurate shipment-status updates.

D. Compliance, Controls and Governance

• Ensure adherence to applicable EXIM policy, customs rules, Incoterms, payment terms, UCP rules, hazardous-cargo requirements and destination-country regulations.
• Maintain process controls, SOP compliance, documentation discipline and audit readiness across assigned activities.
• Monitor international trade and compliance changes relevant to operations and support timely implementation of required controls.
• Manage escalations through structured root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (RCA/CAPA), with clear ownership and closure tracking.
• Lead operational governance reviews with stakeholders and service providers, track actions and communicate risks, decisions and support requirements.

E. Performance, Customer Service and Improvement

• Monitor KPIs and service levels covering dispatch achievement, documentation turnaround, delivery performance, shipment cost, transaction accuracy, backlog and customer satisfaction.
• Prepare accurate MIS, dashboards and management presentations; use data analysis to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardization, automation and process-control initiatives to improve productivity, quality, cost and customer experience.
• Proactively manage operational constraints and develop recovery plans to protect business continuity and monthly targets.
• Support new process transitions and stabilization for India and global regions, including knowledge capture, training and performance tracking.

3. Key Interfaces

• Internal: Associate Lead / Senior Team Lead, Global Operations Lead, plants, planning, dispatch, QC, customer service, sales, commercial, finance, inventory, warehouses, IT and compliance teams.
• External: Customs brokers/CHAs, transporters, freight forwarders, shipping lines, CFS/ports, warehouses, vendors and third-party inspection agencies.

5. Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree with relevant experience; MBA in Supply Chain Management, International Business or Operations is preferred.
• Diploma or certification in EXIM, logistics or supply chain management is desirable.
• Typically 8-12 years of relevant experience in logistics, EXIM, supply chain or global operations, including at least 2-4 years of team-leading or supervisory experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing organization with comparable global logistics activities is preferred.

6. Knowledge and Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of end-to-end export/import processes, international transportation, customs regulations, Incoterms, payment terms and UCP rules.
• Working knowledge of hazardous-cargo handling and shipment requirements.
• Hands-on experience with SAP logistics transactions and shipment/order tracking.
• Advanced working proficiency in Excel; ability to prepare clear MIS, dashboards and management presentations.
• Strong data-analysis, problem-solving, RCA/CAPA and process-improvement capability.
• Fluent written and verbal English, with the ability to communicate effectively across regions and time zones.

7. Leadership and Behavioral Competencies

• People leadership, coaching and performance management
• Stakeholder and customer management
• Ownership, proactive execution and sound decision-making
• Planning, prioritization and time management
• Collaboration, conflict resolution and interpersonal effectiveness
• Ability to remain composed and deliver in a dynamic, high-pressure environment
• Continuous-improvement and transformation mindset
• High standards of ethics, compliance, accuracy and accountability