Job Title
PDA Manager – OPS
Reports To
Regional Last Mile capacity building
Location
Regional Operations
Travel Required
25% 50% þ 75%
About DHL Blue Dart Express India:
Blue Dart Express Limited, a listed company, is a leader in courier, integrated air express package distribution, and eCommerce in South Asia, offering a wide range of logistics solutions. Founded in 1983, it is recognised for reliable, time-bound, and secure delivery services across 55,000+ locations in India as well as internationally. Its competencies span across evaluation and contracting, planning and transition, delivery and execution, and specific service capabilities. We pride ourselves on innovation, digitalization, service excellence, and creating long-term partnerships with our clients, enabling businesses to thrive in the fast-paced logistics environment and ever-evolving supply-chains. It wholly-owns India’s only scheduled air cargo airline, Blue Dart Aviation Limited, since May 1994, and the Concorde Air Logistics Limited, a transport, storage, and communications business, since May 2004.
Blue Dart Express Limited is a part of the DHL Group's DHL eCommerce division, leveraging this global logistics leader’s network across 220 countries and territories to provide comprehensive express and logistics solutions to our clients. Our robust network and unmatched infrastructure have positioned the Blue Dart brand as a key India-grown logistics player with an unmatched and phenomenal global outreach rooted in the DHL brand of its majority shareholder.
We are proud to be consistently ranked among India’s Top 100 Great Places to Work, combining it with DHL Group’s Top Employer certification. Being an Employer of Choice is not just a goal; it’s a fundamental part of who we are, committed to creating a workplace where people are valued, empowered, and wear the sobriquet “Blue Darter” with honour.
If you are looking to join a purpose-led, people-first, company that shapes India’s supply-chains with integrity and safety, Blue Dart is where you belong. Blue Dart offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, access to cross-functional, succession planning and global career paths, and strong culture of recognition.
The PDA Manager – OPS is responsible for leading outsourced Pickup & Delivery Associate (PDA) operations across an assigned cluster of service centres and cities within the region. The role is accountable for ensuring adequate last-mile workforce availability, vendor capability, commercial governance and operational performance to consistently deliver Blue Dart's customer service commitments.
Reporting to the Regional Last Mile capacity building, the role manages the complete outsourced PDA ecosystem including workforce planning, vendor onboarding, delivery partner deployment, productivity management, vendor performance, billing governance, commercial controls and continuous operational improvement. The incumbent works closely with Branch Operations, HR, Finance, Procurement and vendor partners to ensure optimal delivery capacity while balancing service quality, productivity and cost efficiency.
Operating within a dynamic logistics and express distribution environment, this role plays a critical part in ensuring sufficient delivery manpower, strengthening vendor partnerships, improving operational productivity and driving scalable last-mile operations across the assigned geography.
To manage outsourced PDA operations across assigned locations by ensuring optimum workforce availability, effective vendor governance, commercial discipline, operational productivity and service excellence while driving continuous improvement, cost optimization and compliance to support Blue Dart's last-mile delivery network.
Key Roles & Responsibilities:
Outsourced PDA Workforce Planning
- Lead workforce planning for outsourced Pickup & Delivery Associates (PDAs) across assigned locations based on operational demand, shipment volumes and business forecasts.
- Ensure timely deployment of adequate manpower to support business growth, seasonal peaks and operational continuity.
- Drive proactive replacement planning to minimise workforce shortages and service disruptions.
- Monitor workforce productivity and optimise deployment across branches and service centres.
- Review manpower trends and recommend corrective actions to improve delivery capacity.
Vendor Management & Governance
- Manage end-to-end relationships with outsourced manpower vendors across assigned locations.
- Drive identification, evaluation and onboarding of new vendors to support business expansion and operational requirements.
- Conduct regular vendor performance reviews against defined service level agreements and operational KPIs.
- Ensure vendors maintain adequate manpower availability, productivity and service quality.
- Develop strong vendor partnerships focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Commercial Governance
- Govern vendor commercial agreements including rate card implementation, revisions and compliance.
- Review and validate vendor billing, invoice accuracy and payment documentation.
- Ensure timely reconciliation of vendor invoices with approved manpower deployment and agreed commercial terms.
- Monitor outsourced manpower costs and recommend opportunities for cost optimization.
- Partner with Finance and Procurement to strengthen commercial governance and financial controls.
Operational Performance & Service Delivery
- Ensure adequate PDA availability to achieve delivery commitments across assigned locations.
- Monitor productivity, manpower utilization and service performance on a regular basis.
- Drive improvements in strike rate, delivery productivity and operational responsiveness.
- Support Branch Operations teams in resolving manpower shortages and operational challenges.
- Ensure outsourced manpower supports Blue Dart's service quality and customer experience standards.
Vendor Performance & Productivity Management
- Ensure vendor compliance with statutory labour regulations, contractual obligations and Blue Dart policies.
- Monitor KYC, documentation, statutory records and compliance requirements for outsourced workforce.
- Coordinate with HR and vendors to ensure timely completion of onboarding documentation.
- Identify operational and compliance risks associated with outsourced manpower and implement mitigation plans.
- Maintain governance standards across all outsourced workforce operations.
Workforce Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure vendor compliance with statutory labour regulations, contractual obligations and Blue Dart policies.
- Monitor KYC, documentation, statutory records and compliance requirements for outsourced workforce.
- Coordinate with HR and vendors to ensure timely completion of onboarding documentation.
- Identify operational and compliance risks associated with outsourced manpower and implement mitigation plans.
- Maintain governance standards across all outsourced workforce operations.
Continuous Improvement & Digital Enablement
- Drive process improvements to enhance outsourced workforce productivity and operational efficiency.
- Support implementation of digital onboarding, workforce management and vendor management initiatives.
- Promote automation and technology adoption across PDA operations.
- Analyse operational trends and recommend initiatives to improve workforce planning and service performance.
- Lead continuous improvement projects focused on productivity, cost optimization and operational excellence.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work closely with Branch Managers, Operations Managers and Regional Operations teams to ensure adequate manpower availability.
- Partner with HR, Finance and Procurement on vendor onboarding, billing governance and workforce planning.
- Coordinate with Security and Compliance teams to ensure adherence to organizational standards.
- Build collaborative relationships with vendor partners to drive operational performance.
- Support regional operational reviews by providing workforce analytics and vendor performance insights.
Qualifications & Experience:
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration or a related discipline.
- MBA / Postgraduate qualification in Operations, Supply Chain or Management preferred.
Experience:
- 8–10 years of progressive experience in logistics, express distribution, eCommerce, last-mile operations or outsourced workforce management.
- Proven experience managing outsourced manpower, vendor partners and delivery operations across multiple locations.
- Strong understanding of last-mile delivery operations, workforce planning and vendor governance.
- Experience in commercial management including vendor billing, invoice validation, rate card management and cost optimization.
- Exposure to manpower planning, productivity improvement, SLA management and operational governance.
- Experience working with digital workforce management platforms, automation initiatives and operational MIS will be an added advantage.
Technical Skills:
- Last Mile Operations Management
- Outsourced Workforce Management
- Vendor Governance & Performance Management
- Workforce Planning & Capacity Management
- Commercial & Rate Card Management
- Vendor Billing & Invoice Validation
- Productivity & Cost Optimization
- Delivery Operations Planning
- Operational Analytics & MIS
- Digital Workforce Management
- Process Improvement & Automation
- Compliance & Risk Management
Key Competencies:
- Operational Leadership
- Execution Excellence
- Commercial Acumen
- Stakeholder Management
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Decision Making
- Analytical Thinking
- Customer Focus
- Team Collaboration
- Change Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
Key Performance Indicators:
Workforce Availability
PDA fulfilment against approved requirement • Vacancy levels • Deployment turnaround time
Vendor Performance
Vendor SLA adherence • Performance Scorecard • Vendor compliance rating
Service Delivery
Strike Rate • Delivery productivity • First Attempt Delivery support
Workforce Productivity
Deliveries per PDA • Productivity per route • Utilization levels
Commercial Governance
Vendor billing accuracy • Invoice turnaround time • Zero billing discrepancies
Cost Optimization
Cost per Delivery • Cost per Shipment (where applicable) • Budget adherence
Vendor Onboarding
Timely onboarding of new vendors • Vendor readiness against business demand
Compliance
Vendor statutory compliance • Documentation completion • Audit compliance
Digital & Automation
Adoption of digital onboarding • Automation initiatives implemented • System compliance
Continuous Improvement
Productivity improvement initiatives • Process optimization projects delivered
Stakeholder Satisfaction
Branch and Operations feedback • Timely issue resolution • Vendor responsiveness
Business Continuity
Peak season manpower readiness • Contingency planning • Service continuity across assigned locations
When you join us, you’re not just taking a job—you’re becoming part of a purpose-led movement that’s reshaping the future of logistics across India and the world. At Blue Dart, we don’t just deliver parcels—we deliver excellence, innovation, and opportunity every day.
Here’s what makes us stand out:
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Great Place to Work® Certified—a testament to our people-first culture, inclusive environment, and commitment to your growth and well-being.
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Competitive pay and performance-linked rewards that truly recognize your impact.
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Structured learning, global exposure, and on-the-job coaching to help you grow faster than ever.
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Best-in-class benefits—from comprehensive medical cover (including optional parental care) to financial wellness and generous time off.
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A culture that celebrates diversity, innovation, and bold thinking—where your voice is heard and your contributions matter.
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Global career paths across the DHL Group, opening doors to opportunities in 220+ countries and territories.
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The pride of working with India’s most awarded logistics brand, trusted by millions and driven by purpose.
This is your chance to do meaningful work, build a career without borders, and thrive in a company that’s not just a logistics leader—but a Great Place to Work. Come grow with us.
Disclaimer:
At Blue Dart Express Limited, all recruitment is conducted through a fair, transparent, and merit-based process aligned with our commitments to Human Rights and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB).
Blue Dart does not request or accept any fees, deposits, or payments from candidates at any stage of the recruitment or onboarding process. Any such request is fraudulent and unauthorized.
Blue Dart shall not be responsible for any loss arising from such fraudulent activity. For verification, candidates may write to [email protected].
