Head or Manager Manufacturing & Project Operations

Location: Bangalore
Position: Head Manufacturing & Project Operations
Alternative appointment: Manager Manufacturing & Project Operations for a strong high-potential candidate

Role Overview

The role will lead order-to-delivery manufacturing and project execution of standard, configured and customized packaging and filling machines. The position will be responsible for ensuring machines are completed as per approved scope, quality, safety, performance, cost and delivery commitments.

We are also open to considering a strong Manufacturing & Project Operations Manager with the potential to grow into the Head's role.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end order-to-delivery execution, including project milestones, build readiness, risk escalation, testing, FAT, dispatch and handover.
• Lead manufacturing, assembly, wiring, shop-floor resource allocation and machine testing.
• Manage customized and engineer-to-order machine builds while improving productivity, material flow, work instructions and manufacturing discipline.
• Oversee project-wise material planning and readiness, supplier delivery and material shortage escalations, in coordination with the Group Procurement Head.
• Coordinate with procurement for technical vendor assessment and critical supplier recovery actions.
• Establish strong incoming, in-process and final inspection/testing practices, including traceability and FAT documentation.
• Coordinate closely with Design and Automation teams on manufacturability, BOM accuracy, drawing release, integration and build/test feasibility.
• Coordinate customer trials, FAT readiness, technical documentation and installation/commissioning handover.
• Lead and develop the manufacturing/project team and build stronger capabilities across assembly, electrical, testing, inspection, planning, stores and supervision.
• Monitor project-wise material commitment, build progress, rework, inventory exposure, delays and cost-to-complete.
• Coordinate with different departments during ISO audits and drive the quality program.

Preferred Industry Background

We strongly prefer candidates from:

• Packaging Machinery
• Filling Machinery
• Cartoning / Case Packaging
• Special-Purpose Machinery (SPM)
• Closely related machine-building industries

Candidates should have hands-on experience in order-driven / engineer-to-order manufacturing, customized equipment, assembly, quality, FAT and project delivery.

Candidate Profile

• Degree / Diploma in Mechanical, Production or related Engineering.
• Strong hands-on experience in machine building and customized equipment manufacturing.
• Experience taking customer-specific machinery from released design through vendor coordination, assembly, trials, FAT and dispatch.
• Strong understanding of engineering drawings, BOMs, fabricated/machined parts, purchased systems, electrical/pneumatic integration, quality and supplier capabilities.
• Strong people-management and shop-floor leadership skills.
• Practical and collaborative leadership style with the ability to build a disciplined, efficient and increasingly self-sufficient manufacturing operation.

For Head-level appointment: Proven independent end-to-end leadership of manufacturing and project operations.

For Manager-level appointment: Strong project delivery record, leadership maturity and clear potential to take full ownership of the function within an agreed development period.

Key Interfaces

The role will work closely with:

• Group Procurement Head – procurement, sourcing, vendor development and commercial negotiations
• Design / Automation – product design, controls and technical integration
• Sales / Commercial – customer commitments and approved specifications
• Service – commissioning handover, warranty feedback and manufacturing corrections
• Finance – project cost and operational reporting

The evaluation will be based primarily on the candidate's actual responsibilities, technical understanding, ability to lead people, machine-building exposure and ability to build a disciplined manufacturing operation, rather than designation alone.