Plant Head - Speciality Chemicals

Role Overview: The Plant Head will be expected to challenge existing practices, drive positive change, develop future leaders, and create a culture of accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement across the manufacturing organization. Key Responsibilities: - Lead all manufacturing operations across the plant complex. - Ensure safe, stable, and efficient production in accordance with business requirements. - Achieve production targets while maintaining quality, cost, safety, and environmental standards. - Drive optimum utilization of plant assets and manufacturing infrastructure. - Build a culture of operational discipline and manufacturing excellence. - Continuously improve plant productivity, efficiency, and overall equipment effectiveness. - Identify and eliminate operational losses, inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and waste. - Drive initiatives that improve profitability through better resource utilization and process optimization. - Improve yields, reduce consumption norms, and lower manufacturing costs. - Work closely with management to improve overall plant contribution to company EBITDA. - Establish robust systems, procedures, controls, and performance monitoring mechanisms across all manufacturing functions. - Reduce dependence on individuals by building process-driven operations. - Strengthen manufacturing dashboards, MIS, operating procedures, and review mechanisms. - Ensure operational decisions are supported by accurate data and performance metrics. - Promote a culture of accountability, discipline, and ownership. - Drive a zero-compromise approach towards safety. - Ensure full compliance with statutory requirements and industry best practices. - Strengthen safety systems, audits, training programs, and risk management processes. - Build a proactive safety culture across all levels of the organization. - Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability commitments. - Ensure all manufacturing activities operate in accordance with ISO systems and documented procedures. - Strengthen process controls, audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement programs. - Promote best practices in quality management, operational excellence, and process standardization. - Lead internal and external audits and ensure compliance with all applicable standards. - Drive the plant towards becoming a Zero Waste Discharge manufacturing complex. - Continuously reduce waste generation, emissions, rejections, and process losses. - Maximize recovery and utilization of by-products and waste streams. - Improve utilization of steam, off-gases, utilities, and process energy. - Minimize flaring and eliminate avoidable losses through engineering and operational improvements. - Lead initiatives focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable manufacturing. - Ensure high equipment reliability and plant availability. - Strengthen preventive and predictive maintenance systems. - Reduce breakdowns and improve equipment life cycles. - Develop maintenance teams capable of supporting long-term operational excellence. - Lead, mentor, and develop plant leadership teams and departmental heads. - Build a culture of learning, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. - Develop future leaders and strengthen succession planning within the plant. - Conduct regular training and capability-building programs across departments. - Foster employee engagement and ownership of plant performance. - Challenge the status quo and drive a culture of continuous improvement. - Lead productivity enhancement, automation, digitization, and modernization initiatives. - Encourage innovation and practical problem-solving throughout the organization. - Drive implementation of best manufacturing practices and benchmark performance against leading organizations. - Work closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Projects, Safety, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, and HR teams. - Ensure alignment between manufacturing objectives and overall business goals. - Support expansion projects, debottlenecking initiatives, and future growth plans. Desired Profile: - Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from a reputed institution. - Additional qualifications in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Excellence, Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or related disciplines will be an advantage. - Minimum 15 years of manufacturing experience, preferably 20+ years. - Significant experience in chemical, specialty chemical, petrochemical, resin, polymer, process manufacturing, or related industries. - Proven experience in leading large manufacturing operations and multidisciplinary teams. - Experience managing integrated manufacturing complexes will be preferred. - Strong exposure to production, maintenance, engineering, utilities, safety, quality, and continuous improvement functions. Technical Competencies: - Manufacturing Operations, Process Optimization, Cost Reduction & Productivity Improvement, Utilities Management, Energy Management, Maintenance & Reliability, ISO Systems, SHE Management, Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Root Cause Analysis, Process Safety Management, Waste Reduction & Sustainability. Leadership Competencies: - Strong leadership presence and decision-making capability. - Ability to inspire, mentor, and develop teams. - Hands-on approach with strong execution capability. - High degree of accountability and ownership. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. - Ability to drive organizational change and challenge conventional thinking. - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Career Stability: - Candidates with stable and progressive career growth will be preferred. - Ideally should have spent meaningful tenures with previous organizations and demonstrated long-term commitment. - Frequent job changes will be viewed negatively. - Candidates must have a track record of delivering measurable operational improvements and sustainable results.