Senior Manager – Operations

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Manager - Operations to lead and optimize end-to-end manufacturing operations in our automotive/electronics manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will bring deep domain expertise in high-volume production environments and a proven track record of driving operational excellence, efficiency, and profitability. This role is critical in ensuring seamless production, strong KPI performance, cost control, quality adherence, and continuous improvement initiatives while aligning operations with overall business objectives.

Job Location- Loni Kalbhor (Pune)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily manufacturing operations, including production planning, shop floor management, supply chain coordination, and quality control for automotive/electronics products.
• Drive operational efficiency through lean manufacturing principles, process optimization, automation initiatives, and waste reduction programs.
• Monitor, analyze, and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as OEE, Yield, Cycle Time, On-Time Delivery, Cost per Unit, Inventory Turns, Safety Metrics, and Customer Satisfaction. Demonstrate strong understanding of KPI interdependencies and their impact on overall business performance.
• Develop and implement strategies to achieve production targets while maintaining highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance (IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO22163 etc.).
• Lead cross-functional teams including Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to resolve bottlenecks and improve throughput.
• Champion continuous improvement (Kaizen, Six Sigma, 5S) and digital transformation projects to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
• Manage operational budgets, control manufacturing costs, and identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising quality.
• Ensure robust safety protocols, environmental compliance, and a strong safety culture on the shop floor.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align operations strategy with long-term business goals, new product introductions (NPI), and capacity expansion plans.
• Mentor, develop, and build high-performing operations teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.E./B.Tech) in Electronics, Mechanical, Production, Industrial Engineering, or a related field from a recognized institution.
• MBA (preferably in Operations, Supply Chain, or General Management) from a reputed business school (Tier-1 / Top-20 institutions preferred).

Experience:

• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience in automotive or electronics manufacturing industry.
• At least 5 years in a senior Operations leadership role (Operations Manager / Senior Manager / Deputy Plant Head level) handling large-scale manufacturing setups.
• Proven expertise in managing high-volume production lines with deep understanding of KPI frameworks and the inter-relationships between operational metrics (e.g., impact of downtime on cost and delivery, quality vs. throughput trade-offs).

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills with ability to lead large teams (100+ workforce).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with data-driven decision-making approach.
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing systems, ERP (SAP preferred), MES, Industry 4.0 tools, and lean/six sigma methodologies.
• Proven track record in achieving significant improvements in OEE, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in handling multi-product, high-mix manufacturing environments will be an advantage.
• Results-oriented mindset with high ownership and resilience.