Head of Operations - Hyderabad

Job description

This is a key plant leadership role reporting to the Plant Head. This role calls for a hands-on operations professional who takes ownership of daily plant performance, drives a culture of discipline and continuous improvement, and manages a large, structured team with clarity and accountability. The ideal candidate brings strong manufacturing execution skills, comfort with technology and automation, and the ability to develop people at scale. Plant Operations & Ownership Manage end-to-end manufacturing operations with accountability for daily output, quality, and efficiency targets. Drive daily and periodic production targets with an unrelenting focus on on-time delivery and throughput. Report plant performance, risks, and operational updates to the Plant Head on a structured basis. Automation & Technology Support adoption and optimisation of existing automation systems; identify opportunities for improvement and escalate proposals for new automation investments. Work with engineering and technology teams on automation improvements across assembly, QC, and related processes; provide floor-level inputs for technology planning. Stay current on smart manufacturing trends and bring relevant innovations to the floor. People Leadership Lead and develop managers and supervisors across production, quality, and dispatch. Oversee performance, skilling, and engagement of 500+ blue-collar operators with varied skill sets. Develop supervisors and team leads; contribute to succession planning and foster a high performance, accountable culture on the floor. Ensure fair, transparent people practices — with particular focus on operator welfare and retention. Quality, Safety & Compliance Maintain high product quality through robust QC frameworks, SOP adherence, and rapid defect resolution. Drive a non-negotiable safety culture; ensure all statutory and regulatory compliance requirements are met. Embed lean manufacturing, 5S, and structured problem-solving practices across all production lines. Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement Identify and eliminate waste, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks through data-driven analysis and root cause resolution. Lead Kaizen and CI initiatives; institutionalize a culture where improvement is everyone's responsibility. Track and drive key operational metrics — OEE, yield, cycle time, and throughput — with rigor. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Supply Chain, Planning, Technology, and Quality teams for seamless end-to-end operations. Collaborate with demand and commercial teams to align production capacity with business requirements.