General Manager Operations

General Manager – Operations

Key Responsibilities

A. Plant Operations Management

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, engineering, quality, supply chain, and EHS.
• Ensure uninterrupted manufacturing with optimized machine efficiency (twin-screw extruders, compounding lines, mixers, etc.).
• Oversee production planning aligned with customer demand and global business priorities.
• Maintain strict adherence to daily, weekly, and monthly production KPIs.

B. Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with

  ISO standards

  ,

  ASTM

  , and industry-specific quality norms relevant to polymer additives/masterbatch.
• Maintain product consistency and quality levels required for domestic and export markets.
• Drive reduction of production defects, customer complaints, and batch rejections.

C. Safety, Health & Environment (EHS)

• Enforce compliance with Gujarat State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) norms and national environmental laws.
• Implement global EHS standards including hazard control, waste management, fire safety, and incident investigation.
• Promote a safety-first culture across plant operations.

D. People Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop cross-functional teams (100–300 employees depending on plant scale).
• Drive a performance-driven culture with clear goals, continuous training, and professional development.
• Ensure effective manpower planning, recruitment, and retention.

E. Engineering & Maintenance

• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs for all plant equipment.
• Manage plant upgrades, new line installations, capacity expansions, and technology improvements.
• Ensure optimal uptime of extruders, feeders, chillers, packaging systems, and utility equipment.

F. Supply Chain & Inventory Management

• Oversee procurement, vendor management, inbound raw materials (polymers, pigments, additives), and outbound logistics.
• Ensure cost-effective sourcing and timely availability of raw materials.
• Optimize inventory levels to reduce working capital without impacting production schedules.

G. Cost & Budget Management

• Drive cost optimization initiatives across energy, manpower, wastage, and logistics.
• Prepare and monitor annual plant budgets.
• Ensure achievement of plant profitability targets.

H. Compliance & Government Liaison

• Ensure compliance with labour regulations, factory act, environmental permissions, and state regulations.
• Liaise with local authorities, statutory bodies, and industrial development authorities in Gujarat.

I. Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement programs (Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma).
• Support new product development (NPD) and trials.
• Drive automation, digitalization, and process modernization initiatives.

3. Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering / Polymer Engineering / Mechanical Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.

• 15–25 years of experience

  in polymer manufacturing, chemical processing, or masterbatch production.
• Minimum

  7+ years in senior operations leadership

  (Plant Head / GM / Senior Operations Manager).
• Strong knowledge of

  extrusion processes, compounding operations, pigment dispersion

  , and quality control.
• Experience managing operations in

  Gujarat industrial zones

  (e.g., Dahej, Sanand, Bharuch, Vapi, Vadodara) is an advantage.

Desired:

• Exposure to Middle East or global polymer manufacturing standards (preferred due to Astra Polymers’ international presence).
• Certifications in

  Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or EHS

  programs.
• Person has exposure of working in SEZ (Special Economic Zone) is preferable.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred).

4. Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Deep understanding of polymer chemistry and processing
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• High level of integrity and accountability
• Ability to thrive in dynamic, growth-oriented environments