JOB TITLE: Plant Director - Sri City Plant Knauf stands for opportunity . We know that opportunity looks different to each person, and we are proud that we see opportunity in everyone. This exciting role within the Knauf India could be the perfect next opportunity for you to build a unique career, in a values-led culture with a clear purpose of making tomorrow a home for all of us. We are a global manufacturer of construction materials and within our Group, our 41,500 team members in 90 countries across 300 sites provide a huge opportunity for anyone with ambition and energy. We value everyone's contribution equally and we ask that you bring your whole self to work, to enrich the business further, as together we achieve more in a safe and inclusive environment. Knauf India is proud to be part of the Knauf Group. We have a 15+ year heritage in GYPSUM manufacturing and have big plans for the future. Our global reach in 90 countries continues to grow and we are looking for passionate, ambitious people to help us achieve our goals. We are all led by the same core values and believe in the powerful potential of large companies to have a positive impact on the world. We are now looking for another team mate to join us in Sri City Plant as Plant Director. Can you say ‘yes’? Do you treat your colleagues with respect? Do you always have the customer in mind? Do you act with future generations in mind? Do you like to seek out opportunities to grow and develop? Do you have a proven track record of delivering results? The Plant Director will be overseeing the entire manufacturing operations of Sri City Plant, ensuring efficiency, productivity and compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements. Managing daily operations of the manufacturing plant, ensuring production targets are met while maintaining high-quality standards. Managing all aspects of plant operations, including production, maintenance, quality control, and supply chain coordination. What You’ll Be Doing PLANNING Create annual operating plans that support the set strategic directions and correlate with annual operating budgets. Evaluate market trends to modify strategies that will enhance revenues and profitability. Foresee potential threats from competition and devise operational strategies to avoid and overcome them. Develop and implement production schedules to meet demand forecasts, ensuring optimal resource utilization and minimal downtime Schedule preventive and predictive maintenance to reduce equipment failures and production interruptions. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Promote a culture that reflects the organization’s values, encourages good performance, and rewards productivity Provide general oversight of all Knauf activities while managing the day-to-day operations and assures a smooth functioning, efficient organization. Develops future leadership within the organization including talent management and succession planning within Sri City Plant in India. Approve and maintains the plant operation policies, procedures, and standards in line with Knauf global and regional policies. Provide leadership to the plant organization by directing activities towards the vision and mission of the organization and to ensure that all teams are aware of what they are required to achieve and how they are performing against their objectives. Ensure effective people development across the teams so that the company is equipped with human capital capable of achieving performance targets FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Develops, consolidates and approves the total Plant &Investment Budget, Business Plans, Strategic & Financial objectives for Sir City Plant. Approve operational - specific investments in co-ordination with the country GM and Regional Technical Director. Manage the organization’s resources within the budget guidelines. Implement cost-saving strategies in production while maintaining quality and operational effectiveness Develop and manage the plant budget, controlling costs and improving profitability. Manage budgets and allocate resources effectively to meet production and business goals. SALES MANAGEMENT Work closely with sales team to ensure production capacity aligns with customer demands and sales targets. Monitor stock levels and align production planning with sales forecasts to minimize the risk of overproduction or shortages. Support sales processes by ensuring timely and complete deliveries, enhancing customer satisfaction through efficient production planning. Optimize production cost to support pricing strategies, maintaining competitive pricing while ensuring profitability. Collaborate with sales teams to align production capabilities with new product developments and market demands. PEOPLE Recommends the functional structure within the plant organization for HR & Country GM& Regional Technical Director approval. Ensure continued availability of qualified human resources to meet the growth and evolving needs of the organization. Maintains and drives a professional, positive, innovative and inspiring work culture and assures a work environment that recruits, retains and supports quality employees. Develop direct reports through setting individual objectives, reviewing performance and providing ongoing formal and informal feedback and appraisal to maximize subordinate and business performance. Ensure the succession planning is in place by overseeing and managing the professional development and productivity of all staff members and making sure trainings per job level are taking place. Ensures performance management processes are in place and all grievances and disciplinary matters are dealt with in line with Company guidelines and local labor laws. Encourage a diverse and inclusive workplace by supporting company-wide DEI initiatives and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees, Recommends improvements to the HR processes (e.g., manpower planning, travel, salary administration…etc.) To be a change leader to align the teams thinking to meet the challenges of the dynamic market environment. Lead the action plans for Gallup as Knauf’s engagement platform. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & HSE Implement lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity. Monitor and support health and safety culture in the plant; and ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and local regulatory standards. Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all HSE regulations and company policies. Manage and mentor a diverse team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Ensure optimal production efficiency while meeting quality and delivery targets. Develop and implement operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, and cost control. Sustainability & CI Lead initiatives for energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable resource use in alignment with corporate Sustainability goals. Ensure compliance with evolving environmental regulations and implement circular economy practices where feasible. Drive digital transformation projects including IoT integration, real-time data analytics, and smart factory solutions, in line with advance CI practices. Change Management Proven ability to lead cultural change and integrate new processes or teams during expansions. Ability to drive organizational change initiatives with empathy and clarity to ensure team alignment. Stack holder Management Build strong cross-functional relationships with global teams, suppliers, and customers to align local execution with global business strategies. THIRD PARTIES To build and maintain good rapport with governmental institutions. What We’d Love For You To Have We are interested in you as a person: your attitude, behaviors and values. As long as you have the willingness to learn anything you need for the role that you don't already have, we'd love to speak to you. If you have experience in the following areas – this is an added advantage: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred). Proven experience (15+ years) in a plant management role within the building materials industry, preferably plasterboard, derivative and metal profile manufacturing. Ability to work across Matrix organization in an agile way. Ability to act as the spokesperson with superior communication skills, both written and verbal. Strong ability to build synergy across Commercial, Finance, Sales, People Management, Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Practical experience in managing relationship with diverse support functions. Agility in decision-making. Adaptability in execution proven ability in problem analysis, solving and rectification plans. Cooperatively work with others to produce and deliver required tasks and exercises collaborative teamwork. Implement efficiency drives to improve business performance. Develop & maximize relationships with both team members inside and outside functions. Advanced proficiency in English, both written and spoken, to effectively communicate with international teams and stakeholders. Strong knowledge of production processes, equipment, and best practices in related production processes. Strong leadership and communication skills with a track record of team development. Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions. Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies. Proficiency in ERP systems and production management tools. Commitment to workplace safety and quality assurance standards. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Knowledge of HSE regulations and quality management systems. We’ll Provide A competitive salary Benefits What happens next? We appreciate that your time is precious and applying for a new job can be a lengthy process - so we have committed to replying to your application within Seven working days. Founded in 1932, Knauf is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction materials for interior design, building insulation, and design ceilings. Knauf entered the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) in 1997. Today, we are a leading player across the region, with operations spanning 15 countries and 19 state-of-the-art production facilities, driven forward by 2,000 high-performing professionals. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, MEASA's reach extends across Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, the GCC, Ghana, Greece, India, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Turkey. In MEASA, we offer the opportunity to be part of a global family of over 41,500 colleagues in 96 countries, who are dedicated to the same core values, and to a shared sense of purpose. We encourage all our people to shape their own career, with the freedom to stretch their skills and learn new ones. Driven by an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability, we are building more than just exceptional gypsum-based solutions — we’re shaping a future we can all be proud of. Show more Show less
