Head Of Transport

Overview

Head Of Transport Jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at Dulsco Group

Title: Head Of Transport

Company: Dulsco Group

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Job Purpose

The Head of Transport is a strategic leadership role responsible for delivering a safe, cost-efficient, compliant, and SLA-driven transport operation supporting 24/7 workforce deployment across the UAE and regional mobilisation corridors. This role provides critical operational support to the Deployment Operations Command Centre (DOCC), ensuring seamless integration between transport services and workforce planning, mobilisation, and business continuity protocols.

As a visible and transformational leader, the Head of Transport will establish and execute an evidence-based fleet strategy that drives continuous performance improvement, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and financial sustainability. This role manages operational and customer risks whilst optimising fleet resources, technology adoption, and vendor partnerships to support Dulsco Group's growth objectives in the manpower supply sector.

The Head of Transport works in close collaboration with Planning, Deployment, Accommodation, HR, and Operational Support teams to ensure transport operations enable reliable, safe, and efficient movement of the workforce whilst maintaining full compliance with UAE transport regulations and international fleet management standards.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

1. Develop, implement, and deliver a comprehensive transport and fleet strategy aligned to Dulsco Group's vision, commercial objectives, and sustainability targets
2. Lead transformational change programmes and technology adoption initiatives to modernise fleet operations, reduce manual intervention, and improve operational efficiency
3. Set annual operational performance targets, KPIs, and budget parameters in alignment with business growth and financial sustainability objectives
4. Identify future transport requirements to unlock business growth, including expansion into new contracts, geographies, and service lines
5. Establish benchmarking practices and external networking to maintain awareness of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments

Fleet Operations and DOCC Integration

1. Own the delivery and performance of all transport assets supporting DOCC-led deployment plans, shift schedules, and short-notice workforce movements
2. Provide real-time operational visibility of fleet movements to support shift-based deployment accuracy, no-show response protocols, and worker safety monitoring
3. Ensure seamless integration with DOCC systems, Planning functions, and Accommodation teams to align transport capacity with workforce availability and deployment timelines
4. Oversee the quality, safety, and operational performance of both in-house and third-party fleet resources, drivers, and supervisory teams
5. Lead the development and execution of robust resource allocation plans ensuring delivery to operational requirements, client SLAs, and budget constraints

Deployment, Mobilisation, and Business Continuity

1. Ensure transport readiness for all mobilisation activities including visa clearance support, airport pickups, worker induction transport, accommodation transfers, and site deployments
2. Support cross-border and regional deployments with scalable fleet models, secure contractor routing solutions, and compliance with international transport regulations
3. Maintain transport service continuity for live deployment cases, urgent escalations, high-volume onboarding peaks, and emergency response requirements
4. Lead the transport component of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) by establishing alternate fleet routing, backup transport vendors, driver contingencies, and rapid response protocols
5. Participate in emergency simulations, crisis management exercises, and support transport actions during operational incidents or BCP activations

Compliance, Safety, and Regulatory Management

1. Ensure 100% compliance with UAE Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Department of Transport (DoT), Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), and other relevant regulatory bodies
2. Maintain all fleet documentation, safety inspections, vehicle registrations, insurance certificates, and driver licensing in full compliance with UAE Federal Traffic Law and local emirate regulations
3. Implement and monitor occupational health and safety standards aligned to ISO 45001 principles, ensuring zero harm to workers, drivers, and the public
4. Lead fatigue risk management programmes for drivers including rest cycle monitoring, shift planning compliance, and incident prevention protocols
5. Conduct regular vehicle audits, safety inspections, and driver performance assessments to maintain operational standards and regulatory compliance
6. Ensure alignment with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 27001 Information Security Management where applicable to transport operations

Technology, Innovation, and Digitalisation

1. Introduce and leverage fleet management technology including GPS tracking systems, telematics platforms, route optimisation software, and predictive maintenance tools
2. Build integrated dashboards and reporting tools that support DOCC systems for centralised monitoring, real-time alerting, incident flagging, and performance analytics
3. Drive adoption of digital tools to reduce idle fleet time, improve fuel efficiency, enhance driver safety, and enable data-driven decision-making
4. Lead initiatives to support Dulsco's sustainability goals including transition to hybrid/electric vehicle options, carbon footprint reduction, and environmentally responsible practices
5. Champion automation and process improvement projects to minimise manual intervention, streamline routing, and improve overall fleet efficiency

People Management and Development

1. Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing transport team including Fleet Managers, Fleet Supervisors, Coordinators, and administrative support staff
2. Manage in-house and third-party fleet resources with a focus on driver rest cycles, fatigue risk management, performance standards, and incident-free operations
3. Provide active coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to build ownership, accountability, and service excellence across the team
4. Establish clear direction, set measurable performance targets, and create a positive team culture aligned to Dulsco's values and operational standards
5. Collaborate with HR to support recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and succession planning for transport roles

Financial and Commercial Management

1. Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning for fleet asset procurement, maintenance programmes, and vendor contracts
2. Monitor key transport KPIs including cost per deployed head, fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, downtime, and vehicle utilisation rates
3. Continuously identify cost savings and efficiency opportunities without compromising service quality, safety standards, or client SLAs
4. Negotiate commercial terms with vehicle suppliers, fuel providers, maintenance contractors, insurance brokers, and third-party transport vendors
5. Provide regular financial reporting, variance analysis, and commercial insights to senior leadership and finance teams

Stakeholder Management and Collaboration

1. Act as a key stakeholder within the People Solutions leadership team and serve as gatekeeper for all matters impacting day-to-day transport operations
2. Build and maintain strong networks with internal functions including DOCC, Planning, Accommodation, HR, Finance, Procurement, Legal, and Operational Support
3. Establish effective partnerships with external stakeholders including RTA, DoT, vehicle suppliers, insurance providers, government authorities, and industry bodies
4. Represent the transport function in client meetings, operational reviews, and strategic planning sessions as required
5. Proactively identify areas of potential business risk and seek timely resolution through collaboration and escalation

Qualifications and Education Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Transport Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field
2. Professional certifications in Fleet Management, Transport Operations, or Logistics (e.g., Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Fleet Management Certification) are highly desirable
3. Formal training in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management systems, ISO standards, or Business Continuity Planning is advantageous
4. Minimum 12–15 years of progressive experience in fleet or transport management, with at least 7–10 years in a senior leadership role
5. Proven track record managing large-scale transport operations supporting 24/7 workforce deployment, manpower supply services, or similar high-volume, time-sensitive environments
6. Demonstrated experience in the UAE or wider GCC region, with strong knowledge of local transport regulations, labour mobility requirements, and government compliance frameworks
7. Exposure to complex, multi-site operations involving cross-functional collaboration, emergency planning, SLA-sensitive delivery, and stakeholder engagement
8. Proven success in leading technology adoption, digital transformation, and process improvement initiatives within fleet operations
9. Experience managing both in-house and third-party transport resources, vendor contracts, and commercial negotiations

Skills and Capabilities

Leadership and Management

Operational and Technical Excellence

Commercial and Financial Acumen

Communication and Stakeholder Management

Language Requirements

1. Fluency in English (spoken and written) is mandatory
2. Proficiency in Arabic (spoken and written) is highly desirable given the operational environment and stakeholder engagement requirements
3. Additional languages relevant to the workforce demographics (e.g., Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog) are advantageous