Plant Manager Operations

Role & responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end greenfield implementation from project phase to stable operations, including readiness checks, trial runs, and performance qualification.
• Coordinate with corporate projects/consultants for CAPEX handover, ensuring utilities, process equipment, safety systems and infrastructure meet design and statutory requirements before takeover.
• Drive vendor/ OEM commissioning, FAT/SAT, performance guarantees and punch-list closure, ensuring documentation and training for operations and maintenance teams.
• Establish SOPs, work instructions and control plans for all production, maintenance, quality and warehouse activities.

Production planning, shift & workforce management

• Own production targets, capacity utilization and daily/weekly/monthly production plans aligned with sales demand and inventory policies.
• Set up shift structures; deploy manpower across lines; monitor line balancing, bottlenecks and adherence to schedules.
• Review daily production meetings, resolve chronic issues and ensure robust escalation practices across shifts.

Quality, process optimization and continuous improvement

• Implement and maintain stringent quality standards appropriate to refrigerant and HFO solutions manufacturing, including incoming, in-process and final product controls.
• Analyze process data for yield, rework, scrap, and deviations; lead root-cause analysis (RCA), CAPA and continuous improvement projects (Lean/Kaizen/6).
• Partner with Technical/QA teams to support product qualifications, customer audits and certification requirements.

Safety, EHS, regulatory & statutory compliance

• Ensure full compliance with Factories Act, Pollution Control Board norms, hazardous chemicals/pressure vessel and environmental regulations relevant to gas/chemical operations.
• Establish and enforce EHS management systems (PTW, LOTO, JSAs, incident reporting, emergency response, mock drills).
• Conduct regular safety walks, HAZOP/HAZID reviews and EHS training; drive zero-incident culture.

Budgeting, cost control, OPEX & inventory management

• Prepare and manage annual plant budget (OPEX, maintenance, consumables, utilities, indirect materials); track and control variances.
• Optimize energy, consumables, labour and maintenance costs, driving cost-per-unit reductions year-on-year.
• Oversee inventories of raw materials, cylinders/packaging, spares and finished goods, ensuring accuracy, stock turns and minimal obsolescence.

Vendor/supplier, contractor and stakeholder management

• Manage key vendors for utilities, equipment, spares, calibration, logistics and facility services; ensure service-level adherence and competitive cost.
• Supervise contractors (civil, mechanical, maintenance, housekeeping, security) for compliance, safety and productivity.
• Liaise with government/industrial park authorities at Sricity, local administrative bodies and inspectors on plant matters.

HR responsibilities: hiring, training, labour relations

• Build the plant team from scratch: define roles, participate in recruitment, selection and onboarding for all operational positions.
• Drive skill development plans, technical and safety training matrices, and certification programs for operators and technicians.
• Maintain positive employee relations; if applicable, engage with unions/works committees professionally, ensuring compliance, discipline and grievance handling.

Systems & reporting (ERP, MES, KPI dashboards)

• Implement and utilize ERP/MRP systems for production, inventory, procurement and maintenance transactions.
• Introduce basic MES/data capture systems for OEE, downtime, quality and energy monitoring; develop daily/weekly KPI dashboards for management reviews.
• Ensure accurate and timely MIS reports for HQ (production, cost, EHS, quality, HR).

Risk management, business continuity and escalation

• Identify critical operational risks (equipment, utilities, supply chain, safety) and implement mitigation/contingency plans.
• Own emergency response plans (chemical leaks, fire, power failure, major equipment breakdowns) with clear roles and communication chains.
• Establish escalation protocols for serious incidents, production disruptions and regulatory non-compliance.

Preferred candidate profile