GM-Imports & Freight

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At VIL, we know that diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages authenticity and fosters a sense of belonging. We strive for everyone to feel valued, connected and empowered to reach their potential and contribute their best.

VIL's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our Values of Passion, Boldness, Trust, Speed and Digital. Consequently, our recruiting efforts are directed towards attracting and retaining best and brightest talents. Our endeavour is to be First Choice for prospective employees.

VIL ensures equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

VIL is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce.

• Role	GM – Imports & Freight
  Job Level/ Designation	M3 / General Manager
  Function / Department	Commercial
  Location	Mumbai
  Job Purpose	To lead and manage end-to-end imports for a large Indian telecom company, ensuring timely, compliant and cost-effective movement of telecom equipment, spares and related materials from multiple partners across the world. The role will own import planning, documentation, customs clearance and delivery coordination, and will manage Custom House Agents (CHAs) and other logistics partners to support business requirements.
  Key Result Areas/Accountabilities	End-to-End Import Management • Manage the complete import lifecycle from purchase order readiness and shipment planning through customs clearance and delivery to the designated warehouse or project location. • Coordinate imports from multiple OEMs, suppliers and partners across the world through air, sea, courier and other approved modes. • Maintain shipment visibility, track milestones and proactively resolve documentation, transit, port, airport and clearance-related exceptions. • Align import priorities with procurement, deployment, warehouse, planning and business teams to meet network rollout and operational requirements. Customs & Regulatory Compliance • Ensure adherence to applicable Indian customs, foreign trade and import regulations, internal policies and approved compliance controls. • Validate import documentation including commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin, insurance documents, licences and other statutory documents, as applicable. • Coordinate classification, valuation, duty assessment and eligibility of exemptions or concessions with authorized internal and external experts. • Maintain audit-ready records and support customs queries, assessments, audits, notices and post-clearance requirements in coordination with relevant stakeholders. CHA & Logistics Partner Management • Lead and govern the performance of Custom House Agents (CHAs), freight forwarders, carriers, transporters and other import service providers. • Define service expectations, review turnaround times, documentation quality, compliance, costs and exception closure, and drive corrective actions. • Ensure timely filing of bills of entry, customs clearance, duty payment coordination, port or airport release and onward transportation. • Manage escalations with CHAs and logistics partners and ensure clear ownership until closure. Import Planning, Cost & Working Capital • Develop shipment and clearance plans based on supplier readiness, material criticality, route, mode, lead time and warehouse capacity. • Monitor and control freight, customs duty, clearance, detention, demurrage, storage and related import costs. • Drive measures to minimize avoidable charges, ageing, blocked shipments and delays while maintaining compliance. • Support budgeting, forecasting, accruals, reconciliation and management reporting for import operations. Stakeholder & Partner Coordination • Work closely with procurement, finance, taxation, treasury, legal, regulatory, security, insurance, warehouse, deployment and technology teams. • Engage global suppliers and partners to ensure shipment readiness, accurate documentation, timely dispatch and resolution of discrepancies. • Coordinate with banks and finance teams for import remittances and closure of documentation requirements, as applicable. • Provide clear status, risks, decisions required and recovery plans to senior stakeholders. Governance, Risk & Continuous Improvement • Establish standard operating procedures, controls, dashboards and review mechanisms for import operations. • Identify compliance, cost, lead-time and continuity risks, and implement preventive and corrective actions. • Drive process digitization, data quality and system-based shipment tracking and reporting. • Build team capability and promote strong ownership, ethical conduct, safety and compliance across internal teams and partners.
  Core Competencies, Knowledge, Experience	• Strong knowledge of end-to-end import operations, customs clearance, international logistics and trade documentation. • Working understanding of customs classification, valuation, duty structures, exemptions and import compliance requirements. • Proven capability in managing CHAs, freight forwarders, shipping lines, airlines, transporters and global suppliers. • Strong commercial acumen, negotiation ability and focus on cost, lead time and working capital. • Excellent stakeholder management, escalation handling and cross-functional coordination skills. • Strong analytical, problem-solving, governance and management reporting capabilities. • Ability to lead teams and partners in a high-volume, time-critical and compliance-sensitive environment. • Exposure to telecom equipment imports, project logistics and multi-country supply chains is preferred.
  Must have technical / professional qualifications	• Graduate degree in Engineering, Commerce, Logistics, Supply Chain or a related discipline. • MBA / Postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain, International Business or Operations is preferred. • Relevant certification in customs, foreign trade, import-export management or supply chain will be an advantage. • Hands-on experience in import operations and customs clearance for a large telecom, technology, infrastructure or engineering organization is preferred. • Proficiency in ERP systems, shipment tracking tools, data analysis and management reporting.
  Years of Experience	• 7–10 years of relevant experience, including significant leadership responsibility in imports and international logistics.

   

Vodafone Idea Limited (formerly Idea Cellular Limited)
An Aditya Birla Group & Vodafone partnership