Head - Production - Agrochemicals
The group also has interests in Advisory Services, including Stress Resolution Advisory, Asset Reconstruction and Agricultural Ventures. · Not specified · onsite · Posted 25d ago
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About this role
Job Description - Head of Production
Position: Head - Production
Location: Dahej, Gujarat
Experience: 20+ Years
Industry: Agrochemicals / Pesticides / Specialty Chemicals
Reporting to: Plant Head / Unit Head / COO
Role Purpose:
Lead and manage the complete production function at the Dahej manufacturing facility, ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective and timely manufacturing of agrochemical products while maintaining high standards of quality, EHS, regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end production operations for agrochemical / pesticide manufacturing processes.
- Ensure achievement of production targets as per the annual operating plan and customer requirements.
- Optimize plant capacity utilization, batch cycle time, yields and productivity.
- Ensure adherence to approved manufacturing processes, SOPs, batch records and operating procedures.
- Monitor production performance and take corrective actions for deviations, delays and bottlenecks.
- Coordinate with Production Planning, QA / QC, Maintenance, Engineering, R&D and Supply Chain functions.
Process & Productivity Improvement:
- Drive initiatives for improving process yields, throughput, productivity and overall equipment effectiveness.
- Identify opportunities for reduction in raw-material consumption, solvent losses, energy consumption and manufacturing costs.
- Lead process optimization, debottlenecking and capacity-enhancement initiatives.
- Implement Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S and other operational excellence initiatives.
EHS & Process Safety:
- Ensure strict compliance with company EHS standards and statutory requirements.
- Provide strong leadership for process safety management, particularly for hazardous chemical operations.
- Ensure safe handling, storage and processing of hazardous chemicals, solvents and intermediates.
- Drive HAZOP recommendations, MOC, PSSR, risk assessments and process safety improvement initiatives.
- Ensure effective implementation of emergency response, fire safety and occupational safety systems.
- Develop a strong safety culture with zero tolerance for unsafe operating practices.
Quality & Compliance:
- Ensure production operations comply with quality standards and approved specifications.
- Work closely with QA / QC to minimize batch failures, deviations, reprocessing and customer complaints.
- Ensure proper documentation and traceability of manufacturing activities.
- Support regulatory, customer and statutory audits.
People & Team Leadership:
- Lead a large production team comprising Production Managers, Shift In-charges, Engineers, Officers, Operators and contract manpower.
- Build a performance-oriented culture with clear KPIs and accountability.
- Develop second-line leadership and succession plans.
- Identify training requirements and ensure technical, safety and operational competency development.
- Manage manpower productivity and optimize shift deployment.
Cost Management:
- Prepare and monitor the production budget.
- Drive manufacturing cost reduction without compromising safety or quality.
- Monitor key cost parameters including raw materials, utilities, solvents, consumables, manpower and reprocessing.
- Establish production KPIs and review performance against targets.
Maintenance & Reliability:
- Coordinate with Maintenance and Engineering teams to ensure maximum equipment availability.
- Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Identify recurring equipment / process-related issues and drive root-cause analysis.
- Participate in plant modification, expansion and new-project implementation.
New Product / Scale-up:
- Support technology transfer and scale-up of new agrochemical products / processes from R&D or pilot scale to commercial production.
- Work with R&D, Process Development and Engineering teams on commercialization.
- Ensure successful commissioning and stabilization of new processes and equipment.
Key Performance Indicators:
- Production volume and plan adherence
- Capacity utilization
- Batch cycle time
- Yield and productivity
- Manufacturing cost per MT
- OEE / equipment utilization
- Batch rejection and reprocessing
- Solvent / raw-material recovery
- Energy and utility consumption
- Safety incidents / process safety compliance
- Customer complaints related to manufacturing
- Manpower productivity
- Successful implementation of debottlenecking and cost-reduction projects
Candidate Profile:
Education:
- B.E. / B.Tech in Chemical Engineering preferred.
- M.Tech / MBA / PG qualification would be an added advantage.
Experience:
- 20+ years of relevant manufacturing experience, with substantial experience in a senior Production / Manufacturing leadership role.
- Mandatory experience in Agrochemicals / Pesticides / Crop Protection Chemicals.
- Experience in batch chemical manufacturing and hazardous chemical processes is essential.
- Should have handled a sizeable manufacturing plant and a large production workforce.
- Experience in plant expansion, capacity enhancement, commissioning and technology transfer would be preferred.
Technical Competencies:
- Agrochemical / pesticide manufacturing processes
- Batch process operations
- Process optimization and scale-up
- Process safety and HAZOP
- Manufacturing cost optimization
- Production planning and scheduling
- Root Cause Analysis / CAPA
- Lean Manufacturing / Operational Excellence
- EHS and statutory compliance
- ERP / SAP-based production systems
Leadership Competencies:
- Strong plant-floor leadership and decision-making ability
- Ability to manage production under pressure and meet delivery commitments
- Strong cross-functional coordination
- Data-driven approach to productivity and cost improvement
- Excellent people-management and communication skills
- Ability to develop and retain a strong second line
- Strong safety and compliance orientation
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate should currently be working as Head / GM / VP - Production, Plant Head, or Senior Production Head in an established agrochemical, pesticide or crop-protection chemical manufacturing company, with 18 - 25+ years of experience and proven experience managing a complex chemical manufacturing operation.
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