Functional Head - Technical

Job Description

Business and Unit Brief

Aditya Birla Group is building a pipeline of accomplished technica leaders across its process manufacturing businesses in India. The role will lead a large and complex technical and engineering mandate for a large manufacturing site with multiple manufacturing units within with end-to-end accountability for safe, reliable, sustainable and profitable performance. The specific Group company, business and plant location will be shared with shortlisted candidates at a later stage of the selection process.

The operating environment may involve complex process technologies, multiple raw-material and product streams, demanding quality and service expectations, significant supply-chain and logistics interfaces, stringent statutory and environmental requirements, and a diverse workforce and stakeholder ecosystem. The successful leader will combine strategic orientation with strong execution, operating discipline, commercial judgement, stakeholder maturity and the ability to build a high-performing organisation.

Role Details

Role Purpose:Lead the technical function of a large process manufacturing plant, with accountability for production planning and performance, operational efficiency, plant maintenance and availability, energy management, project execution, safety, sustainability, statutory compliance and technical capability building.

Key Responsibilities

• Production and Operations Lay down production targets and schedules, review plant performance daily, and ensure operating parameters, consumption norms and marketing schedules are met within budgeted cost.
• Operational Efficiency Benchmark operating parameters against world-class standards, work with technology suppliers and internal technical experts to close performance gaps, and drive efficiency improvement plans tracked through management reviews, MIS and cost reports.
• Plant Maintenance and Availability Plan mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and civil maintenance in line with production requirements, run preventive and predictive maintenance systems, and analyse unscheduled downtime to sustain maximum plant availability.
• Planning, Budgeting and Cost Control Prepare the annual budget in line with customer requirements and value-creation targets, monitor maintenance expenditure, identify cost-saving opportunities, and build technical synergy across Group units through shared benchmarks and best practices.
• Energy Management and Statutory Compliance Conduct mandatory energy audits under applicable legislation, review daily power and energy consumption, implement energy-saving schemes, and ensure compliance with relevant statutory and regulatory directives in a power-intensive process environment.
• Project and Scheme Execution Evaluate block estimates and project feasibility, review detailed engineering schedules, monitor progress and de-bottleneck critical areas to deliver brownfield and greenfield projects on time and within budget.
• Safety, Sustainability and Manufacturing Excellence Ensure accident-free operations in a highly hazardous process environment, implement manufacturing excellence practices and periodic sustainability audits, and maintain full compliance with applicable factory, boiler, environmental and other statutory requirements.
• People Development Set KRAs and performance targets, conduct assessments and training-need identification, build capability and career plans for the team, and provide direction during crisis and emergency situations.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Unit Head

Reported by: Sectional heads across Production and Operations, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Civil Maintenance and Utility Services

Global Manufacturing Leadership Program

This role is part of the Global Manufacturing Leadership Program (GMLP).

The Global Manufacturing Leadership Program (GMLP) is Aditya Birla Group's flagship leadership hiring initiative focused on building the next generation of manufacturing leaders. Designed for high-potential professionals with a proven track record in manufacturing and operations, GMLP offers accelerated career growth through challenging leadership roles across the Group's diverse businesses, including Cement, Metals, Chemicals, Carbon Black, Pulp & Fibre, Mining, and other global manufacturing operations.

Through GMLP, selected candidates gain exposure to large-scale manufacturing environments, world-class technologies, cross-functional assignments, and mentorship from senior business leaders. The program is aimed at professionals who aspire to move beyond functional excellence and take on broader business and operational leadership responsibilities, while contributing to the long-term growth and transformation of one of the world's leading diversified multinational groups.

Important Note

This is a pipeline position intended to identify leadership talent for current and future Unit Head opportunities within Aditya Birla Group. Application to this posting does not relate to a single disclosed vacancy. Business, company and location details will be discussed with relevant shortlisted candidates as the process progresses.