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Recently postedFull timeOperations & Project Management

Deputy General Manager - Economic Zone - Cochin

DP WorldErnakulam🇮🇳India

Quick overview

SeniorityLeader
Employment typeFull Time
Work modeOn Site
LocationErnakulam, India
Account ManagementBudgetingERPComplianceContinuous ImprovementCustomer RetentionForecastingInternal ControlsInventory ControlInventory ManagementKey Account ManagementProcurementReconciliationRegulatory ComplianceRisk ManagementSix SigmaSupply Chain ManagementWMSBusiness Development

Job description

Key Responsibilities

A. Business Strategy & P&L Management

  • Own and deliver the annual business plan, revenue, EBITDA, cash flow, and return-on-capital targets for the FTWZ business.

  • Develop and execute short-, medium-, and long-term business strategies aligned with the organisation's overall logistics and supply chain objectives.

  • Drive sustainable revenue growth through new customer acquisition, expansion of existing accounts, and development of new service offerings in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Improve profitability through pricing optimisation, productivity improvement, cost management, and effective resource allocation.

  • Maximise warehouse occupancy, revenue per square foot, throughput, and asset productivity.

  • Identify opportunities for capacity enhancement, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships.

  • Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, performance reviews, and capital investment proposals.

B. Commercial Growth & Business Development

  • Develop and execute a robust commercial strategy to position the FTWZ as a preferred international trade and distribution hub in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Build a strong sales pipeline targeting multinational corporations, global traders, importers, exporters, manufacturers, and logistics service providers in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Drive customer acquisition across sectors including electronics, automotive, engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and industrial products in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Develop differentiated customer solutions leveraging FTWZ benefits such as customs duty deferment, inventory positioning, re-export facilitation, and permitted value-added services.

  • Strengthen relationships with global freight forwarders, shipping lines, customs brokers, 3PL providers, and trade intermediaries in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Collaborate with internal business verticals to develop integrated multimodal logistics and end-to-end supply chain solutions in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Establish strong commercial governance covering pricing discipline, contract profitability, customer retention, and receivables management.

C. FTWZ Operations & Service Excellence

  • Provide overall leadership for FTWZ warehousing, cargo handling, inventory management, and customer fulfilment operations.

  • Ensure operational excellence across inbound handling, storage, inventory control, outbound dispatch, re-export, and permitted value-added activities.

  • Drive warehouse productivity, space optimisation, equipment utilisation, and cost efficiency.

  • Establish and monitor operational KPIs covering turnaround time, inventory accuracy, throughput, service levels, safety, and customer satisfaction.

  • Champion technology adoption, including WMS, ERP integration, automation, digital customer interfaces, and real-time inventory visibility.

  • Ensure robust operational controls, standard operating procedures, business continuity planning, and risk management.

  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.

  • Maintain high standards of workplace safety, security, environmental management, and infrastructure maintenance.

D. Regulatory Compliance & Trade Facilitation

  • Ensure full compliance with applicable SEZ legislation, FTWZ regulations, customs requirements, and other statutory obligations.

  • Oversee regulatory governance relating to bonded inventory, authorised operations, customs documentation, duty treatment, and movement of goods.

  • Ensure accurate inventory reconciliation, statutory reporting, audit readiness, and maintenance of prescribed records.

  • Maintain effective working relationships with the Development Commissioner, Specified Officer, Customs authorities, and other relevant regulatory bodies.

  • Ensure that FTWZ activities, customer transactions, and value-added services are undertaken within applicable regulatory approvals.

  • Identify regulatory developments and translate them into compliant commercial opportunities and operational improvements.

  • Strengthen internal controls to minimise compliance exposure, financial leakage, and operational risks.

E. Customer Relationship Management

  • Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key customers and strategic accounts along with CCO Logistics.

  • Ensure high customer satisfaction through reliable service delivery, responsiveness, transparency, and proactive issue resolution.

  • Develop customer-specific supply chain solutions that improve inventory efficiency, distribution flexibility, and overall landed-cost competitiveness in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

  • Lead structured key account reviews and customer profitability assessments.

  • Drive contract renewals, customer retention, wallet-share expansion, and long-term strategic relationships in conjunction with CCO Logistics.

F. Infrastructure, Capacity & Asset Management

  • Optimise utilisation of existing FTWZ infrastructure and warehouse capacity.

  • Evaluate investments in warehousing facilities, material-handling equipment, automation, and supporting infrastructure.

  • Lead business cases for expansion projects based on market demand, financial viability, and strategic alignment.

  • Ensure effective facility management, maintenance planning, and infrastructure reliability.

  • Drive disciplined capital expenditure management and asset lifecycle optimisation.

G. Leadership & Organisation Development

  • Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, commercially driven, customer-focused FTWZ organisation.

  • Establish clear accountability across commercial, operations, finance, customer service, and compliance functions.

  • Develop leadership capabilities, succession plans, and critical talent pipelines.

  • Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, innovation, safety, integrity, and continuous improvement.

  • Ensure effective coordination with corporate and shared-service functions, including Finance, HR, Legal, IT, Procurement, and HSE.

5. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Candidate Profile

Educational Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, International Trade, or Business Administration.

  • MBA or postgraduate qualification in Business Management, Supply Chain, or International Business preferred.

Professional Experience

  • 10–15+ years of relevant experience in logistics, supply chain management, contract logistics, international trade, warehousing, or economic zones.

  • Minimum 5–7 years in a senior leadership role with substantial commercial, operational, and financial accountability.

  • Demonstrated experience managing large-scale logistics operations or asset-intensive businesses.

  • Proven track record of driving revenue growth, profitability, customer acquisition, and business transformation.

  • Strong exposure to FTWZ, SEZ, customs-bonded warehousing, international distribution, or EXIM logistics is highly desirable.

  • Experience managing complex stakeholder ecosystems, including multinational customers, regulators, and strategic business partners.

Critical Competencies

Business & Commercial Acumen

  • Strong P&L orientation and financial discipline.

  • Strategic thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset.

  • Commercial understanding and key account management.

  • Market development and solution-based selling.

Operational & Domain Expertise

  • Deep understanding of warehousing and integrated logistics operations.

  • Knowledge of FTWZ/SEZ frameworks, customs processes, and international trade.

  • Asset optimisation and operational excellence.

  • Digital transformation and technology-enabled logistics.

Leadership Capabilities

  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage diverse stakeholders.

  • Strong execution orientation and results accountability.

  • Customer-centric decision-making.

  • Change leadership and organisation-building capability.

  • High standards of governance, ethics, and compliance.