Head of Production Operations

Job Objective - To take full command of end-to-end plant operations in a high-performance specialty chemicals environment. This role demands a technically competent, results-driven operations leader with proven experience in batch manufacturing, solvent recovery systems, compliance-heavy processes, and multi-step reaction management.

The Head of Operations will be accountable for achieving production goals, maximizing plant efficiency, and ensuring safety, quality, and cost objectives are consistently met.

Core Responsibilities

1. Plant Operations Management

2. Technical Excellence & Process Optimization

3. Safety, EHS & Regulatory Governance .

4. Compliance, Documentation & Audits

5. Pilot Plant & Scale-Up Integration 6. Strategic Planning & Cost Control

7. People Development & Team Management

8. Continuous Improvement & Industry Benchmarking .

Qualifications & Experience

B.E./B.Tech in Chemical Engineering (Mandatory); M.E./M.Tech or MBA (Operations/Industrial Management) is desirable.

Minimum 15 years of plant experience with at least 8 years in senior plant leadership role in specialty chemicals, intermediates, or performance chemicals manufacturing.

Certifications Preferred

Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt)

ISO Lead Auditor (9001/14001/45001)

Responsible Care / EHS Certifications

SAP HANA / PP/PM/MM or MES Training

Key Competencies

Expertise in multiproduct batch manufacturing

Strong understanding of reaction kinetics, process safety, and material compatibility

Proficiency in SAP (Production, Quality, Maintenance, Inventory) modules

Handson experience in utility systems: chillers, boilers, scrubbers, ETP, solvent recovery

Strong leadership, analytical and decision-making abilities

Communication skills to collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders

High attention to process discipline, data integrity, and compliance

Performance Metrics (KPIs)

Batch Yield vs Standard

Ontime Batch Completion Rate

Safety Incidents & Near Misses

Downtime (Planned vs Unplanned)

Customer Rejections / Returns

Solvent Recovery Efficiency