Divisional Head

Responsibilities:

• Lead profit center operations & revenue expansion
• Manage P&L, drive profit growth & maximize EBITDA
• Oversee plant ops & automotive expertise within SBu
• managed minimum 3 manufacturing plants
• Qualification: BE/B.Tech in Mechanical / Automobile / Production / Industrial Engineering; MBA/PGDM preferred
• Position Summary
• We are looking for an experienced Divisional Head to lead a strategic automotive Tier-1 business division comprising multiple manufacturing plants. The incumbent will be responsible for overall P&L, operations, manufacturing, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, customer management, people development and business growth.
• The ideal candidate should have a strong track record of managing at least 3 plants simultaneously, preferably across multiple locations, with experience in automotive OEM/Tier-1 manufacturing.
• Key Responsibilities
• 1. Divisional P&L & Business Leadership
• Own complete P&L responsibility for the division.
• Develop and execute the annual business plan, operating plan and strategic roadmap.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability, EBITDA improvement and cost optimisation.
• Identify new business opportunities and support expansion of the division.
• Review plant-wise financial and operational performance.
• 2. Multi-Plant Operations Management
• Lead and monitor minimum 3 manufacturing plants through respective Plant Heads.
• Ensure achievement of production, productivity, OEE, capacity utilisation and delivery targets.
• Drive standardisation of processes, systems and best practices across plants.
• Review plant performance through structured MIS and monthly/weekly business reviews.
• Ensure optimum utilisation of manpower, machinery, infrastructure and resources.
• 3. Manufacturing Excellence
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, VSM, line balancing and continuous improvement.
• Improve OEE, throughput, productivity and manufacturing efficiency.
• Lead cost-reduction and VA/VE initiatives.
• Implement Industry 4.0 / automation / digital manufacturing initiatives wherever applicable.
• Ensure adherence to operational excellence and manufacturing standards.
• 4. Quality & Customer Excellence
• Ensure achievement of quality targets and reduction in customer complaints, PPM and warranty issues.
• Drive APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC and 8D methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949 and applicable customer-specific requirements.
• Act as a senior escalation point for key OEM customers.
• Build strong relationships with major automotive OEM/Tier-1 customers.
• 5. Supply Chain & Delivery
• Ensure OTIF performance and uninterrupted supply to customers.
• Coordinate with SCM, procurement, production and logistics teams.
• Drive inventory optimisation and working-capital improvement.
• Ensure effective capacity and manpower planning.
• Support supplier development and risk mitigation for critical components.
• 6. New Product Development & Program Management
• Provide leadership support for new product launches and major customer programs.
• Ensure timely completion of APQP, PPAP, tooling, capacity and production-readiness activities.
• Coordinate with Engineering, R&D, Quality, Manufacturing and Commercial teams.
• Ensure successful SOP and ramp-up of new programs.
• 7. Capex & Capacity Expansion
• Identify capacity requirements based on business growth.
• Lead Capex planning, justification and execution.
• Ensure timely commissioning and utilisation of new equipment, lines and facilities.
• Evaluate automation and technology investments based on ROI.
• 8. People & Leadership
• Lead Plant Heads, Functional Heads and senior management teams across multiple locations.
• Build a high-performance leadership culture.
• Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines.
• Drive performance management, capability development and employee engagement.
• Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration.
• 9. Compliance, EHS & Governance
• Ensure compliance with statutory, safety, environmental and corporate requirements.
• Drive a strong EHS culture across all plants.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, systems and governance mechanisms.
• Establish robust internal controls and operational review mechanisms.
• Key KPIs
• Division Revenue & EBITDA
• P&L / Profitability
• OEE & Capacity Utilisation
• Productivity & Manufacturing Cost
• Customer PPM / Customer Complaints
• OTIF / Delivery Performance
• Inventory & Working Capital
• Scrap & Rejection
• Cost Reduction / VA-VE
• Capex ROI
• Employee Productivity
• Safety Performance
• New Product Launch / SOP Adherence
• Candidate Profile
• The ideal candidate should have:
• 18–25+ years of overall experience in the automotive industry.
• Strong experience in Tier-1 automotive component manufacturing.
• Proven experience of independently managing minimum 3 manufacturing plants.
• Experience managing Plant Heads / Business Unit Heads and senior functional teams.
• Strong P&L and commercial understanding.
• Experience with automotive OEM customers and customer escalation management.
• Strong exposure to manufacturing excellence, quality, SCM and NPD.
• Experience in multi-location operations is highly preferred.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, decision-making and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Preferred Industry Background
• Candidates from established automotive Tier-1 suppliers with multi-plant responsibility and exposure to OEM customers will be preferred.
• Ideal candidate: A senior automotive leader who has progressed from Plant/Operations leadership into a multi-plant / divisional leadership role, with demonstrated responsibility for business growth, P&L, operational excellence and customer management.