Business Unit Manager

Apave International; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Apave International seeks an experienced Business Unit Manager to lead Baltic India across Food & Commodities Inspection, Food Safety & FSSAI, VOC/COC, Organic and Tea Certification services in India.

The role oversees strategy, revenue, profitability and client growth, driving cross-functional collaboration and compliance with APEDA/NPOP and international standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15–20 years of relevant experience in the TIC industry, preferably in Food & Agriculture, Commodities, Inspection, Testing or Certification.
• Proven experience in business development, P&L management and leadership of a business unit.
• Strong knowledge of Food Safety, FSSAI regulations and certification requirements, along with Food & Commodities Inspection, VOC/COC, Organic and/or Tea Certification.
• Good understanding of APEDA, NPOP, Trustea and other relevant regulatory/certification requirements.
• Strong commercial, sales, negotiation and customer relationship management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Strong leadership, people management and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall P&L, revenue and profitability of Baltic India.
• Develop and implement the annual business plan, budget and growth strategy for Baltic India.
• Drive business development across Food & Commodities Inspection, Food Safety & FSSAI Certifications, VOC/COC, Organic and Tea Certification, identifying new markets, customers and service opportunities.
• Develop and expand Food Safety and FSSAI-related certification and compliance services, ensuring alignment with applicable regulations, standards and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers, processors, exporters, importers, retailers and other stakeholders within the food and agriculture sector.
• Lead major customer negotiations, tenders, proposals and strategic business opportunities.
• Develop the Organic Certification business, including services under APEDA/NPOP and applicable international standards.
• Drive the development of Tea Certification, including Trustea and other relevant certification/sustainability schemes.
• Develop the VOC/COC business and ensure effective delivery of conformity assessment services in line with applicable requirements.
• Ensure effective management of Food & Commodities inspection operations, including resource planning, productivity, quality and customer service.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, certification and Apave requirements, maintaining the integrity, independence and impartiality of certification activities.
• Monitor revenue, costs, profitability, collections, utilization and business performance and take corrective action where required.
• Lead, develop and motivate the Baltic India team; ensure appropriate manpower, competency, training and succession planning.
• Identify opportunities for cross-selling and collaboration with other Apave India entities.
• Monitor market trends, regulatory developments and competitive activity and translate these into business opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with Company policies, Code of Ethics, Quality & Environmental Management Systems and applicable local regulations.
• Provide regular business performance, financial, operational and business development reports to the Operations/Perimeter Director.

Skills

Business development

P&L management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Food safety knowledge

FSSAI regulations

Agriculture/Commodity inspection

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Food Technology, Science, Engineering or Business Management

Job description

Apave International is looking for an experienced and commercially driven Business Unit Manager to lead and grow our Baltic India business across Food & Commodities Inspection, Food Safety & FSSAI, VOC/COC, Organic Certification and Tea Certification.

General Summary

The Business Unit Manager will be responsible for the overall business development, operations, P&L and growth of Baltic India, covering Food & Commodities Inspection, Food Safety & Certifications under FSSAI, VOC/COC, Organic Certification and Tea Certification services across India.

The position will develop and implement the business strategy, achieve revenue and profitability objectives, strengthen customer relationships, develop new markets and ensure operational and certification excellence. The role requires a commercially driven, entrepreneurial and people-oriented leader with strong knowledge of the Food, Agriculture and Commodities inspection and certification sector.

The position will operate under the direction of the India Country Manager

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (PDR)

Responsible for the overall P&L, revenue and profitability of Baltic India.

Develop and implement the annual business plan, budget and growth strategy for Baltic India.

Drive business development across Food & Commodities Inspection, Food Safety & FSSAI Certifications, VOC/COC, Organic and Tea Certification, identifying new markets, customers and service opportunities.

Develop and expand Food Safety and FSSAI-related certification and compliance services, ensuring alignment with applicable FSSAI regulations, standards and customer requirements.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers, processors, exporters, importers, retailers and other stakeholders within the food and agriculture sector.

Lead major customer negotiations, tenders, proposals and strategic business opportunities.

Develop and expand the Organic Certification business, including services under APEDA/NPOP and applicable international standards.

Drive the development of Tea Certification, including Trustea and other relevant certification/sustainability schemes.

Develop the VOC/COC business and ensure effective delivery of conformity assessment services in line with applicable requirements.

Ensure effective management of Food & Commodities inspection operations, including resource planning, productivity, quality and customer service.

Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, certification and Apave requirements, maintaining the integrity, independence and impartiality of certification activities.

Monitor revenue, costs, profitability, collections, utilization and business performance and take corrective action where required.

Lead, develop and motivate the Baltic India team; ensure appropriate manpower, competency, training and succession planning.

Identify opportunities for cross-selling and collaboration with other Apave India entities.

Monitor market trends, regulatory developments and competitive activity and translate these into business opportunities.

Ensure compliance with Company policies, Code of Ethics, Quality & Environmental Management Systems and applicable local regulations.

Provide regular business performance, financial, operational and business development reports to the Operations/Perimeter Director.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required (KSAR)

Minimum 15–20years of relevant experience in the TIC industry, preferably in Food & Agriculture, Commodities, Inspection, Testing or Certification.

Proven experience in business development, P&L management and leadership of a business unit.

Strong knowledge of Food Safety, FSSAI regulations and certification requirements, along with Food & Commodities Inspection, VOC/COC, Organic and/or Tea Certification.

Good understanding of APEDA, NPOP, Trustea and other relevant regulatory/certification requirements.

Strong commercial, sales, negotiation and customer relationship management skills.

Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.

Strong leadership, people management and stakeholder management skills.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification, preferably in Agriculture, Food Technology, Science, Engineering or Business Management.

Familiarity with Quality Management Systems and Environmental Management System will be an advantage.