Plant Head / Plant Operations - Solar Cell Manufacturing Company

Role Overview

The Plant Head will lead end-to-end operations of a high-precision Solar Cell Manufacturing facility, ensuring world-class production efficiency, quality, safety, and compliance. The role requires deep expertise in manufacturing operations, process optimization, equipment maintenance, people management, and continuous improvement in a high-technology environment.

Role & responsibilities

1. Plant Operations & Production Management

• Lead overall plant operations including Production, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, SCM, and EHS.
  
• Ensure uninterrupted production of solar cells while achieving daily, monthly, and annual output targets.
  
• Monitor OEE, cycle times, yield levels, equipment uptime and capacity utilization.
  
• Drive scale-up and ramp-up activities for new production lines.
  

2. Process & Technology Management

• Oversee solar cell manufacturing processes (Texturing, Diffusion, PECVD, Metallization, Firing, Testing).
  
• Implement process optimization, yield enhancement and cost-reduction initiatives.
  
• Work with R&D and technology partners for process improvements and adoption of new technologies (Mono PERC, TOPCon, HJT, etc.).
  

3. Quality & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with ISO standards, SPC, TQM, 5S, lean practices.
  
• Achieve zero-defect manufacturing and meet global customer quality requirements.
  
• Lead root-cause analysis for process deviations, defects, and equipment failures.
  

4. Maintenance & Asset Management

• Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance for high-precision manufacturing equipment.
  
• Oversee utilities, cleanroom operations, HVAC, water treatment and safety systems.
  

5. Safety, EHS & Regulatory Compliance

• Implement a safety-first culture ensuring full compliance with statutory and environmental norms.
  
• Conduct regular audits, risk assessments and safety drills.
  

6. Leadership & People Management

• Lead a large multi-disciplinary workforce including engineers, technicians, and support teams.
  
• Develop capability-building programs, technical training and performance management systems.
  
• Drive high employee morale, retention and culture alignment.
  

7. Cost Control & Budgeting

• Manage plant financial performance including cost optimization, waste reduction, resource efficiency, and budgeting.
  
• Drive energy conservation and raw material usage efficiency.
  

8. Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Management

• Support long-term strategy planning for capacity expansion and technology upgrades.
  
• Coordinate with corporate, suppliers, auditors, and international technology partners.

Preferred candidate profile

• Expertise in Solar Cell / Solar Module.
  
• Strong knowledge of high-precision process equipment and automation.
  
• Leadership in handling 500+ workforce teams.
  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
  
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, Kaizen.
  
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skill