Import and Export Operations Manager Jobs in Chennai Port and Shipping Company
⚡ Hiring Now🏫 Chennai Port and Shipping Company Employment Zones
Chennai's private port and shipping sector operates cargo handling, container logistics, and maritime services from terminals near Guindy and Ambattur MIDC, employing Tamil-speaking port operations executives, stevedores, and shipping coordinators.
Port and Shipping Company employment zones in Chennai include Guindy, Ambattur MIDC, Sholinganallur, Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam, T. Nagar, Adyar, Velachery, Taramani, and Perungudi.
📋 Job Description
Jobzi is sourcing qualified candidates for Import and Export Operations Manager positions in Chennai's private Port and Shipping Company sector. This is a full-time opportunity with a reputed Port Services and Shipping employer in Chennai offering competitive salary, structured growth, and a professional work environment. Tamil communication skills are preferred alongside English for professional and business interaction in Chennai.
📌 Key Responsibilities
- Lead the import and export operations function of the shipping line or port services company, overseeing all documentation, customs coordination, and customer service activities
- Manage a team of documentation executives, customs coordinators, customer service staff, and vessel planning executives to ensure timely and accurate shipment processing
- Own key customer account relationships for major shipper and consignee clients and resolve operational escalations that cannot be handled at the executive level
- Monitor demurrage and detention exposure across the import container portfolio and implement processes to minimize free time overruns and avoidable charges
- Set and track operations KPIs including B/L issuance turnaround, customs clearance time, delivery order release speed, and customer query resolution rates
- Coordinate with the vessel planning team, stevedoring company, and terminal operator to resolve operational issues affecting vessel schedule or cargo movement
- Drive process improvement initiatives to reduce documentation errors, speed up customs clearance, and enhance customer satisfaction scores
- Prepare monthly operations performance reports for senior management covering volumes handled, KPI achievement, escalations resolved, and process improvement progress
🎓 Qualifications and Requirements
- Graduate degree from a recognized institution; MBA or Diploma in Port Management is an advantage
- 4 - 10 Years of experience in shipping line operations, port services, or freight forwarding with at least 2 years in a team leadership or supervisory role
- Demonstrated ability to manage import and export operations teams of 10 or more people across documentation, customer service, and customs coordination functions
- Strong knowledge of shipping documentation workflows, customs clearance processes, and CHA coordination for import and export cargo
- Good client relationship management skills for handling escalations, resolving disputes, and maintaining accounts in a competitive shipping market
- Experience setting operations KPIs, monitoring team performance, and driving process improvements in a shipping or port services environment
- Excellent communication in Tamil and English for coordinating across internal teams, customers, CHAs, port authorities, and terminal operators
- Good Tamil and English communication skills for team coordination and client interaction in Chennai.
✅ Required Skills
🏆 Certifications and Qualifications
Graduate for shipping documentation and operations roles; Diploma in Port Management or Maritime Studies for shipping operations roles; Customs Broker licence (CHA licence) for customs clearance roles; IICL container inspection certification for container operations roles; IATA DGR for dangerous goods documentation roles; Merchant Navy (DG Shipping) certificates for marine officer roles; SAP or Portnet/FOIS software for port logistics systems roles; knowledge of Bill of Lading, Shipping Bill, and customs ICEGATE for documentation roles; FIATA or IATA for freight forwarding related shipping roles
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of jobs are available in Chennai's private port and shipping company sector?
Chennai's private port and shipping sector offers a broad range of roles across documentation, operations, commercial, and management functions. Entry-level positions include shipping documentation executive, container operations executive, and ship chandler executive. Mid-level roles cover vessel planning, CFS operations, customs clearance, dangerous goods documentation, and stevedoring supervision. Senior openings include import and export operations manager, trade lane manager, and country head roles at private shipping line offices, CFS operators, NVOCC companies, stevedoring firms, and marine services organizations based in Chennai.
What is the salary range for port and shipping company jobs in Chennai?
Entry-level documentation and operations roles in Chennai's private shipping sector pay Rs.16,000 to Rs.42,000 per month. Mid-level vessel planning, stevedoring supervision, and dangerous goods compliance roles earn Rs.20,000 to Rs.52,000. Senior management roles such as import and export operations manager and trade lane manager command Rs.45,000 to Rs.1,30,000 per month. Country Head and GM roles at private shipping line offices earn Rs.1,20,000 to Rs.2,80,000, while MD and CEO positions at shipping and port services companies reach Rs.2,00,000 to Rs.4,80,000 per month.
What skills are most valued for port and shipping company jobs in Chennai?
Chennai's private shipping companies and port service firms actively seek candidates with Bill of Lading and Shipping Bill documentation knowledge, ICEGATE customs portal proficiency for clearance roles, ocean freight rate understanding for commercial roles, container stowage planning for vessel operations roles, and IMDG or IATA DGR knowledge for dangerous goods handling. Portnet, FOIS, or port community system experience adds value for port logistics roles. Strong written and spoken English for global shipping line correspondence, Tamil for local port authority and transporter coordination, and SAP SCEM or shipping ERP knowledge are consistently in demand across Chennai's port and shipping job market.
What does an Import and Export Operations Manager do at a Chennai private shipping company?
An Import and Export Operations Manager at a Chennai private shipping company leads the full operations function covering documentation, customs coordination, customer service, and vessel operations support, manages cross-functional teams, owns major customer account relationships, monitors and minimizes demurrage exposure, drives operations KPIs, coordinates with terminals and stevedoring companies, leads process improvement, and prepares management performance reports. They are the senior operational leader responsible for end-to-end shipment execution quality and customer satisfaction for the company's Chennai port operations.
What KPIs are most important for operations managers at Chennai shipping companies?
Import and export operations managers at Chennai shipping companies are typically measured on B/L issuance turnaround time from shipping instruction receipt, customs clearance cycle time from arrival to out-of-charge, delivery order release speed after out-of-charge, demurrage and detention costs as a percentage of freight revenue, customer query resolution rate within defined SLA, documentation error rate across B/Ls and Shipping Bills, and vessel operations exception rate for cargo or schedule deviations. Companies also track customer satisfaction scores from shipper and consignee feedback as a qualitative performance indicator for operations management.
What experience helps candidates advance to operations manager roles in Chennai shipping companies?
Candidates who have held roles across shipping documentation, customs clearance, and customer service at Chennai shipping companies, NVOCC operators, or CHA firms build the operational breadth needed for operations manager roles. Demonstrated team leadership, handling of major account escalations, and direct involvement in demurrage dispute resolution are experience markers that shipping company hiring managers look for. Familiarity with Chennai Port and Ennore Port working practices, local customs and terminal procedures, and the Chennai exporter and importer community provides contextual knowledge that accelerates effectiveness in the operations manager role.
What is the salary for Import and Export Operations Manager in Chennai Port and Shipping Company in
A Import and Export Operations Manager in Chennai earns between Rs.47,000 and Rs.1,07,000 per month in July 2026, depending on experience, skills, and employer.
What experience is required for Import and Export Operations Manager jobs in
4 - 10 Years of relevant experience is typically required for Import and Export Operations Manager positions in Chennai's private Port and Shipping Company sector.
வேலை விவரம் - தமிழில்
Chennai-ல் Import and Export Operations Manager வேலைவாய்ப்பு. மாத சம்பளம் ரூ.47,000 முதல் ரூ.1,07,000 வரை. 4 - 10 Years અனுபவம் தேவை. Port and Shipping Company-ல் Full Time பணி. ஆர்வமுள்ளவர்கள் Jobzi மூலம் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்.