General Manager - Operations

The role is based in Erode with regular travel to farm, partner mills, and export hubs. shadi Collective is a vertically-integrated, regenerative cotton initiative that grows its own fibre and transforms it into luxury garments. The company's seed-to-sew model requires a skilled individual who can orchestrate the entire supply chain efficiently while upholding the organization's values. As the conductor of the supply chain orchestra, you will be responsible for owning the entire value chain, from seed procurement and farm planning to spinning, weaving, dyeing/printing, garmenting, and final export dispatch. Your role involves converting design intent and sales orders into on-time, first-time-right deliveries, while focusing on driving efficiency, quality, and sustainability at every step. Key Responsibilities: 1. Farm & Raw-Fibre: Collaborate with the agronomy team to plan crop cycles, select seed varieties, manage regenerative inputs, and set harvest targets. Ensure bale-level traceability data is secured. 2. Yarn & Fabric Engineering: Approve yarn counts, crimp allowances, warp/weft kilogram plans, and loom loading. Make decisions on the make-or-buy mix for fabric production. 3. Processing & Finishing: Enforce process cards for singeing, desizing, bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing/printing, and finishing. Aim to achieve RFT 90%, E 0.5, and meet water/energy KPIs. 4. Garment Production: Lead CAD marker approval, SAM/SMV line balancing, and first-piece sign-offs. Monitor rework, mending, and cut-to-pack cost variance. 5. Dispatch & Customer OTIF: Ensure alignment with packing specs, carton markings, and export documentation to deliver on-time-in-full 98% across all sales orders. 6. Data, Compliance & Improvement: Run daily KPI cockpit, maintain certification roadmap, and champion Lean, TPM, and Kaizen events. Focus on cost-saving impacts. 7. Leadership & Culture: Coach cross-functional staff, promote a safety-first, artisan-centric workplace, and uphold a transparent wage matrix. Foster a culture that values craftmanship and sustainability. Ideal Profile: - 15+ years of experience in premium apparel/textile operations with 5+ years of multi-plant or P&L ownership. - Proficiency in farm dynamics, yarn mathematics, loom engineering, dye/print processes, and sewing line balancing. - Experience in ERP rollout or utilization, familiarity with data dashboards, and Lean/TPM practices. - Educational background in Textile/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering with an MBA/PGDM in Ops as a plus. - Proficiency in Tamil and English, Hindi proficiency desirable for vendor interfaces. - Desired traits include a systems thinker, collaborative mindset, empathy towards farmers and artisans, and a strong commitment to ethics. This full-time, permanent position offers benefits such as cell phone reimbursement, health insurance, paid sick time, paid time off, and Provident Fund. The work schedule is in the morning shift with performance bonuses and yearly bonuses available. Join us in our purpose-driven culture with direct access to the Founder & VP, and contribute to redefining sustainable luxury on a larger scale. Application Deadline: 11/08/2025 Expected Start Date: 15/08/2025,