Note: We're looking for candidates with experience in inhouse & contract manufacturing operations, maintenance & engineering and setting up green field manufacturing sites from FMCG companies preferably in the snack food / biscuit / foods manufacturing processes.

Role Description:

Strategic Planning and Execution:

- Identify and evaluate potential co-pack partners, negotiating contracts and manage relationships in alignment with the company's strategic plans.

- Develop and implement strategies to optimize co-pack manufacturing processes and improve overall efficiency through technical and commercial interventions.

- Build various models of co-pack manufacturing in consultation with the finance team to ensure that market demands are met at lowest possible cost.

- Develop and manage budgets for co-pack manufacturing operations, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource optimization.

Operational Management:

- Plan and schedule production and RMPM availability across all co-pack locations in coordination with central planning team by incorporating the sales priorities.

- Oversee daily co-pack manufacturing activities to ensure adherence to production schedules, quality standards, and safety regulations.

- Monitor and analyse production metrics to drive continuous improvement and address any operational issues promptly.

- Develop and implement SOPs that define the quality, cost and lead times involved in the manufacturing and supply of products

- Ensure timely dispatches of the goods from the co-pack manufacturing unit to the CFA locations within defined cost, lead time and quality of supplies.

- Define performance KPIs for co-pack operations for Quality, EHS, service, cost, and material yield to monitor performance and conduct monthly performance review meetings with co-pack partners and agree on actions to bring performance back on track.

Quality Assurance & Compliance:

- Ensure that co-pack partners adhere to our quality protocols and regulatory requirements.

- Implement and maintain quality control procedures to ensure consistency and compliance with industry & our defined quality protocols and standards.

- Oversee that the co-pack partners comply with all the statutory laws including FSSAI, and labour legislation for a smooth operation through periodic visits, training, audits and engagement with the co-pack partners.

Project Management & Engineering:

- Develop engineering project pipeline related to capacity expansion, technology upgrade and efficiency improvement for at least 2 years for both inhouse plants and co-pack locations.

- Estimate capex requirements for expansion and upgrades & evaluate co-pack vs inhouse capacity

- Identify processing and packaging technology as per latest industry trend and develop vendors for different technology platforms and build long term relationships with equipment vendors.

- Negotiate price for purchase of plant & machineries for all projects.

- Build project plants and execute projects as per agreed timelines and within budgeted cost.

- Work with plant/co-pack maintenance to build preventive maintenance schedules and build spares inventory for running the plants with higher uptime and improved OEE.

- Manage spares procurement centrally for all plants to take advantage of scale in purchase of engineering spares.

Team Leadership:

- Lead and mentor a team under him, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment for effective engagement and retention of talent.

- Conduct regular performance reviews and provide guidance and support to team members.

Risk Management:

- Identify potential risks in the co-pack manufacturing process and develop strategies to mitigate them with the help of the regulatory team located in HO

- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and address any non-compliance issues effectively.

Functional & Technical attributes required in the candidate:

- Directly managed high volume Plants / geographically distributed co-packing operations with large number of products, SKU and manufacturing lines.

- Directly managed projects of setting up green field manufacturing facilities, capacity expansion and technology upgrade in existing facilities.

- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality assurance, and industry regulations.

- Must have worked as Maintenance/Engineering manager in salty snacks manufacturing set up with extruded and fried products technologies.

- Must possess strong technical capabilities to choose the right and latest processing and packing technology, automation, GMP and safety.

- Must be a techno-commercial expert with strong negotiation & problem-solving skills and attention to details

- Must be strong people manager with demonstrated ability to hire, motivate and retain talent, should have managed large teams consisting of manufacturing and engineering professionals.

- Ability to analyze data, generate insights, and make data-driven decisions.

- Proficiency in relevant software and tools (e.g., ERP systems, Microsoft Office)

- In-depth knowledge of industry and its place on the market