Senior General Manager – Plant Head

Job Overview

This leadership position is responsible for guiding the entire Ranjangaon manufacturing facility to fulfill operational, quality, customer satisfaction, and business goals. The role demands driving excellence across production, maintenance, quality control, logistics, and seamless Just-in-Time supply delivery to key Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) clients. Additionally, the Plant Head must nurture strong customer relationships, supervise a large unionized workforce, coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, and align with corporate headquarters to maintain steady plant productivity and business growth.

Company Profile

A prominent Tier-1 supplier in the automotive components sector.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee all manufacturing activities with focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) targets.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Kaizen, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 strategies to enhance output and operational efficiency.
• Assure Just-in-Time production and material availability through effective planning, inventory management, and supply chain coordination.
• Lead cross-department efforts aimed at improving product quality, reducing costs, eliminating waste, and boosting delivery performance.
• Maintain high equipment reliability via systematic maintenance and continuous process enhancements.
• Manage and develop a workforce exceeding 1,000 individuals within a unionized environment.

Customer Relations

• Establish and nurture robust partnerships with major OEM clients such as Tata Motors, Mahindra, John Deere, and Volvo Eicher.
• Engage directly with customers to fully grasp their operational needs.
• Represent the company in high-level customer meetings as required.
• Ensure operational dependability and rapid responsiveness to bolster client trust.

Human Resources and Industrial Relations

• Lead a manufacturing staff above 1,000 people, including managing union relations and harmonizing seasoned and new talent.
• Maintain stable industrial relations and foster a positive workplace atmosphere.
• Enhance credibility among both long-standing and newly recruited employees.
• Efficiently manage stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Promote a high-performance culture based on engagement, staff growth, and harmonious labor relations to meet operational demands.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Guide functions including production, maintenance, logistics, and operations.
• Coordinate with HR, Finance, Quality, Procurement, and R&D centralized teams.
• Ensure plant objectives are aligned with corporate policies.
• Retain full responsibility for plant performance within a matrix organizational structure.

Operational Enhancement and Capacity Growth

• Support the stabilization and capacity ramp-up of recent facility expansions.
• Promote ongoing improvement projects across plant activities.
• Consistently meet operational and business targets.
• Develop deep insight into customer expectations, corporate priorities, and plant rhythms to execute efficiently.

Qualifications and Background

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from a recognized institute.
• 20 to 25 years of manufacturing experience with a minimum of 5 to 7 years in Plant Head or Head of Operations roles.
• Experience preferably in automotive OEMs or Tier-1 automotive parts manufacturers.
• Proven track record in managing high-volume operations catering to leading OEM clients.
• Expertise in sheet metal manufacturing processes including press shop, welding, and painting; experience in wheel manufacturing is a plus.
• Past management of large unionized manufacturing teams.

Desired Personal Attributes

• Customer-focused mindset with the capacity for direct OEM engagement.
• Expertise in leadership and managing stakeholders across plant, corporate, and customer levels.
• Ability to build trust with both veteran employees and fresh talent.
• Strong operational discipline and sound decision-making skills in a changing production environment.
• Quick grasp of organizational priorities and ability to align accordingly.
• Readiness to commute daily to the Ranjangaon plant and full commitment to the location.

Cultural and Leadership Fit

• Mature, humble, and people-oriented leadership style.
• Skilled relationship builder with employees, customers, and stakeholders.
• Comfortable managing a steady, experienced, and unionized workforce.
• Adaptable with a preference for transparent, low-politics organizational culture.
• Capable of gaining credibility rapidly and driving collaboration across teams.