Senior Project Manager

Job Profile: Senior Project Manager – Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives

Position: Senior Project Manager

Location: Gujarat, India

Employment Type: Full-time

Reporting To: CEO / Founders

Role Level: Executive Leadership Team

Contact: Sarthak Daruka (E: sarthak@darukafoods.com )

About the Company:

We are a new venture in the plant-based food space, setting up a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit to produce innovative plant-based dairy alternatives.

Our vision is to deliver sustainable, nutritious, and high-quality alternatives to meet the rising demand for health-conscious and environmentally-friendly food products, both domestically and

internationally. While we will launch our own consumer brand, a significant portion of production will be focused on third-party / contract manufacturing.

As part of this journey, we are building a strong Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and are looking for a Senior Project Manager who combines technical expertise, leadership ability, and strategic industry insight.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Strategic Role

• Serve as a core member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), contributing to company strategy, plant setup, and innovation roadmap.
• Work directly with the founders to identify key areas of innovation in plant-based product development.
• Take the lead in building and scaling the Food Technology & R&D team, hiring and mentoring new staff as the company grows.

2. Plant Setup & Manufacturing

• Play a critical role in establishing the new manufacturing facility, with hands-on involvement in machinery selection, process design, and plant layout.
• Leverage personal industry contacts to recommend machinery vendors, raw material suppliers, and technical consultants.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards including FSSAI, HACCP, GMP, ISO, and international certifications (USFDA, EFSA, Codex Alimentarius, etc.) to enable smooth exports.

3. Budget & Cost Management

• Collaborate with founders and finance team to ensure plant setup and production processes remain within budget.
• Provide input on cost-effective production techniques and sourcing strategies without compromising on quality.

4. Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the development of plant-based milk, flavoured milk, fortified/protein-rich beverages, creamers, and tofu.
• While direct experience in plant-based dairy is valuable, candidates with strong expertise in Ready-to-Drink (RTD) products, beverages, or dairy/functional foods are encouraged.
• Oversee pilot trials, scale-up, and commercialization of products, ensuring taste, nutrition, and shelf- life meet both domestic and export standards.
• Stay updated with global trends in plant-based foods, bringing fresh ideas for new product innovation.

5. Market & Business Support

• Use existing professional network to establish agreements with potential B2B buyers, distributors, and contract partners.
• Support business development by providing technical input during buyer discussions, especially in B2B and export contracts.
• Align product development with market demand to ensure commercial success.

6. Export & Compliance Readiness

• Ensure all products meet international quality, safety, and labelling requirements, enabling the company to export seamlessly to global markets.
• Work closely with regulatory bodies, certification agencies, and trade associations to maintain compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s / Ph.D. in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Food Science, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in food technology with significant exposure to RTD beverages, dairy, or functional/fortified products.
• Prior experience in factory setup, process design, or new product launches is highly desirable.
• Experience with international food safety regulations and export readiness.
• Strong industry network with contacts among machinery vendors, raw material suppliers, and potential B2B buyers.
• Demonstrated track record of team leadership and executive-level decision making.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong expertise in formulations for RTD beverages, functional nutrition, proteins, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and fermentation processes.
• Excellent project management skills, able to balance innovation with budget and timelines.
• Commercially aware, capable of aligning technical R&D with market and business goals.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, excited to work in a fast-paced, start-up environment.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and networking ability.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to build a manufacturing facility and product portfolio from the ground up.
• Be part of the Executive Leadership Team, shaping both technical and business strategy.
• Chance to impact both domestic and international plant-based markets.
• Performance-linked incentives, and potential equity/ESOPs for the right candidate.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: ₹50,000.00 - ₹100,000.00 per month

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Surat, Gujarat: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Master's (Required)

Experience:

• Food processing: 10 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person