- ACG Packaging Materials, a global leader in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging, is seeking an experienced and visionary Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our dynamic leadership team.

- The ideal candidate will play a pivotal role in globally driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency within our organization, to be accountable for end to end delivery of operational targets including production volumes at required quality levels, profitability and cost optimization while also driving compliance, continuous improvement, digitization and automation in the various areas of Operations along with new products and new site commissioning

- The COO will also lead the strategic planning process for Packaging Materials and advocate for the implementation of new strategic initiatives in collaboration with vertical heads overseeing global operations.

- Given the challenging result-focused environment and the strategic focus on becoming a cost leader with innovative practices, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a pivotal role in striking a balance between efficiency and cost on one hand and innovation and digitalization on the other.

C. Primary responsibilities:

Strategic Planning:

- Collaborate with the CEO to formulate long-term and strategic plans for Packaging materials.

- Develop an operating strategy aligning with the company's overall business strategy, encompassing production, global maintenance & technology transfer and supply chain management.

- Review and approve budgets, as well as individual performance Key Result Areas (KRAs) for all operating functions.

- Spearhead key initiatives for growth, operational excellence, and capacity enhancement.

- Oversee technology transfer, team development, and engagement strategies.

Functional:

Operations Management:

- Cascade the operational strategy into individual components, including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Continuous Improvement, and automation.

- Hold ultimate accountability for delivering operational performance in areas such as production volumes, quality, and cost optimization.

- Precisely execute the Annual Budget, achieving production targets while optimizing assets capacity.

- Monitor consolidated Manufacturing performance across all plants on parameters such as lead time, OE, FTR, OTDIF etc., taking corrective action when deviations occur.

- Ensure the operating organization's compliance with laws, regulations, and industry standards related to Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), Quality, and more.

- Provide oversight to heads of Operations, SCM, Continuous Improvement, Maintenance & Tech Transfer, etc.

- Establish and quantify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

- Formulate strategic action plans to address high-level escalations and challenges originating from operating functions, closely monitoring their implementation within respective departments.

- Collaborate with the Global Sales Head to fortify customer relationships, aligning efforts with growth mandates and proficiently resolving escalations.

Supply Chain Management:

- Shape and authorize comprehensive sourcing and supplier selection strategies, both domestically and internationally.

- Oversee the identification and empanelment of cost-effective vendors/suppliers for seamless procurement and logistics.

- Vigilantly monitor ongoing cost reduction initiatives within supply chain activities.

- Establish accountability measures for the Supply Chain Head, ensuring the delivery of exceptional SCM metrics, including costs, timely dispatch and delivery, and procurement efficiency.

- Ensure meticulous sourcing and dispatch of materials, aligning with budgets and maintaining superior quality standards.

Operations Projects and Maintenance:

- Monitor planning and implementation of projects in the existing plant including costs, timelines and quality. Intervene in case of escalations or issues

- Approve full scale project plans for existing plants and machines including project budgets

- Track major operations and maintenance issues. Hold the Head of Maintenance accountable for ensuring routine calibration and maintenance requirements equipment and systems are undertaken

Strategic Leadership in Continuous Improvement:

- Evaluate and finalize the business case for significant continuous improvement initiatives, providing the ultimate approval for strategic enhancements.

- Spearhead the execution of large-scale changes aimed at process improvement through collaboration with the Continuous Improvement Head. Guide the organization in the effective implementation of various tools, including Kaizen, 6S, 7QC, 6 Sigma, and Kanban, fostering a culture of innovation.

- Oversee the timely completion of IQ (Installation Qualification), OQ (Operational Qualification), and PQ (Performance Qualification) activities, ensuring adherence to stringent quality standards.

- Enforce compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and timelines, proactively resolving escalations when necessary to maintain operational efficiency

Strategic Leadership in Automation & Digitalization:

- Cultivate a culture of innovation by encouraging the team to proactively identify opportunities for automation and digitalization. Foster a forward-thinking environment that embraces technological advancements.

- Guide and coach the team in adopting external best practices, promoting a collaborative approach to establish Smart Manufacturing facilities at Packaging Materials. Leverage industry insights to drive strategic advancements in automation.

- Rigorously review the progress of ongoing automation and digitalization projects against predefined milestones. Provide strategic support and interventions to realign projects if they deviate from planned objectives.

- Spearhead the preparation of business cases for high-cost capital investments, presenting comprehensive proposals to the Board. Strategically outline the potential benefits and returns associated with proposed automation and digitalization initiatives.

Liaising with Quality and Regulatory Affairs:

- Liaison with QA & RA to ensure quality metrics for all production and improvement activities across Packaging materials. Utilize a strategic approach to ensure that quality benchmarks align with organizational objectives.

- Collaborate closely with the Quality and RA head to define and refine quality processes and procedures, ensuring a strategic alignment with the goal of achieving 100% compliance. Foster a culture of excellence in quality management.

- Proactively resolve conflicts and escalations between Manufacturing and Quality, employing a strategic approach to ensure timely resolutions. Strive for continuous improvement in quality management processes.

- Support the Global Quality and RA Head in strategically liaising with external agencies to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals. Adopt a forward-thinking approach to navigate the regulatory landscape.

- Strategically review inspection reports and audits of plants and products, maintaining a proactive stance in tracking overall quality performance. Implement strategic measures to address any identified areas for improvement.

Strategic Governance for Safety, Compliance, and Sustainability:

- Employ a strategic approach to monitor environmental, safety, and sustainability-related aspects at Packaging Materials, ensuring a comprehensive assessment and adherence to all applicable industry standards. Foster a culture of safety, environmental responsibility, and sustainability practices.

- Strategically take overall accountability for compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements at Packaging Materials. Ensure a proactive and robust approach to meet and exceed all obligations, contributing to the organization's reputation as a responsible corporate entity.

- Integrate sustainability initiatives within the strategic oversight, aligning with global best practices and industry benchmarks. Champion sustainability efforts that resonate with the organization's values and contribute to environmental stewardship.

Internal process:

- Spearhead the development of policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures across all operations functions, including Production, Maintenance, and SCM.

- Resolve escalations and conflicts between functions, collaborating with the CEO and senior leaders at Packaging Materials when necessary.

- Foster collaboration across plants and central functions, driving standardization and the sharing of best practices.

- Actively participate in councils focusing on sustainability, improvement, and capability development.

- Ensure the timely preparation and submission of reports to various internal and external stakeholders, including senior management.

- Cultivate and manage relationships with customers, key suppliers, and consultants to secure and expand business relationships globally.

- Publicly represent Packaging Materials with community stakeholders and governmental representatives, contributing to building the brand image globally.

People development:

- Take holistic responsibility for people development initiatives, cultivating in-house capabilities for department employees.

- Drive a performance-driven culture within the team, conducting timely monitoring, reviewing performance parameters, and providing actionable feedback to team members.

- Contribute to talent development within the department by offering subordinates exposure and growth opportunities to prepare them for higher roles.

- Actively engage in various people processes and talent initiatives to enhance overall employee engagement and motivation.

- Provide managerial guidance to individual role holders, ensuring their continuous growth and development.

Any other additional responsibility could be assigned to the role holder from time to time as a standalone project or regular work. The same would be suitably represented in the Primary responsibilities and agreed between the incumbent, reporting officer and HR.

D. Key Interfaces:

Internal Interfaces:

Leadership Team at Packaging Materials:

- Global Sales Head

- Head of Strategy

- Global HR Heads

- Development & Technology Head

- Global Quality Head

- Global Finance Head

Corporate Function Heads at Group level

- Corporate Commercial Head

- Chief Digital Officer

- Chief Strategy Head and other peers at the Group Level

External Interfaces:

- Top Management Associates of Customers

- Government Boards

- Regulators

- Key Suppliers

- Consultants working on various hiring positions as well as part of various operational & organisation-level initiatives

- Industry Forums and other bodies

D. Key Result Areas:

- Championing the Annual Budget for the Operations Function by driving Manufacturing and Supply Chain Metrics

- Streamlining processes to enhance productivity and reduce costs

- Ensuring overall operational excellence and efficiency.

- Optimising of Supply Chain Management for efficiency and cost-effectiveness by driving timely procurement, production, and delivery of goods or services.

- Minimising Customer Complaints & Cost of Poor Quality

- Ensure compliance with industry regulations, standards and regulations affecting the business.

- Leading continuous improvement, automation and digitalization initiatives

- Operationalization of new products and new sites

- Compliance of environmental, health and safety laws and standards

- People Process Index

E. Educational and Experience Requirements:

Minimum Requirement:

Level of Education:

- Master's in Business Administration (MBA) or a Master's in a relevant field.

- B.Tech / BE in Mechanical Engireering

Desired: