General Manager

Clarion Fresh foods Pvt Ltd; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarion Fresh Foods is seeking an exceptional AGM/GM Operations to lead multi-site manufacturing operations with Safety as the absolute priority. You will create a culture of safety while driving operational excellence in Quality, On-Time Delivery, and Cost Management.

As head of operations across a diverse portfolio—pickles, wet batters, rice mixes, health mixes, masalas, RTC products, squashes—you will bring deep expertise in pickling, brining, and wet batter operations, alongside strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• 12–18+ years of core food processing experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing multi-unit operations.
• Hands-on experience in wet batter processing and pickling/brining operations is mandatory.
• Direct agri-sourcing and vendor management leadership for food manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Champion a proactive Safety First workplace culture across all facilities.
• Provide strategic direction and daily oversight for multi-location manufacturing facilities.
• Direct end-to-end strategic procurement for raw agricultural produce, spices, grains, and packaging materials.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma) to minimize yield losses and waste.

Skills

Leadership

Safety culture

EHS & Food Safety

Multi-site operations

Quality management

Lean / Kaizen / Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Technology / Food Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Operations Management

Job description

Position Summary

Clarion Fresh Foods is seeking an exceptional, high-integrity AGM / GM Operations to lead multi-site manufacturing operations. In this role, Safety (Workplace Safety, Environment & Food Safety) is our absolute #1 priority. You will be responsible for creating an uncompromising culture of safety across all facilities while driving operational excellence in Quality, On-Time Delivery, and Cost Management.

As the head of operations across a diverse, multi-product portfolio—including pickles, wet batters, rice mixes, health mixes, masalas, ready-to-cook (RTC) products, and squashes—you will bring deep expertise in pickling, brining, and wet batter operations, alongside strong leadership in agricultural and raw material procurement.

Core Operational Priorities

• Safety & Compliance (Top Priority): Zero-compromise approach to EHS, occupational safety, and regulatory food safety standards.
• Quality & Food Integrity: Flawless quality control across wet, dry, preserved, and fresh product streams.
• On-Time Delivery (OTD): Seamless supply chain synchronization and high fulfillment rates.
• Cost Optimization: Waste reduction, yield maximization, and lean operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) & Food Safety Leadership (Priority #1)

• Champion a proactive "Safety First" workplace culture across all manufacturing facilities.
• Ensure strict adherence to statutory EHS standards, occupational hazard protocols, machine safety guidelines, and environmental regulations.
• Lead compliance with national and international food safety frameworks (e.g., FSSAI, HACCP, ISO 22000, US FDA).
• Maintain gold-standard hygiene, sanitation, and allergen control across plants, particularly in high-moisture/fresh areas like wet batters and pickling units.

2. Multi-Site Operations & Production Management

• Provide strategic direction and daily operational oversight for multi-location manufacturing facilities.
• Oversee manufacturing across diverse product categories:
  • Wet Operations: Pickles, brining, squashes, and fresh wet batter operations (fermentation control, cold chain management, shelf-life integrity).
  • Dry & Blending Operations: Masalas, rice mixes, health mixes, and ready-to-cook (RTC) lines.
• Establish uniform Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across plants to ensure operational consistency, high yields, and minimal batch variance.

3. Procurement & Supply Chain Management

• Direct end-to-end strategic procurement for raw agricultural produce, spices, grains, oil, packaging materials, and food-grade chemicals.
• Manage seasonal price volatility and supply chain risks for fresh produce (vegetables, mangoes, citrus for squashes) and grains/pulses (for batters and mixes).
• Build robust vendor partnerships, set quality acceptance benchmarks, and drive contract negotiations to optimize cost without compromising raw material quality.

4. Operational Excellence, Quality & Cost Management

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma) to minimize yield losses, energy consumption, and packaging waste.
• Optimize unit economics, manage plant OPEX/CAPEX budgets, and execute strategic cost-reduction projects.
• Synchronize production schedules with sales forecasts to maximize On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Experience: 12–18+ years of core food processing experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing multi-unit operations.
• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience in wet batter processing (grinding, fermentation control, cold storage) and pickling/brining operations is mandatory.
• Procurement Experience: Proven leadership in direct agri-sourcing and vendor management for food manufacturing.
• Multi-Product Portfolio: Prior leadership in multi-category operations spanning fresh/wet foods, dry powders/spices, and liquid/beverage lines.

Essential Competencies

“Safety is not just a policy—it is our operating mindset.”

• Deep commitment to workplace health, environmental safety, and zero-accident culture.
• Deep understanding of food microbiology, shelf-life extension, cold chain management, and high-shear processing.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership, negotiation, and budget/P&L management skills.
• Flexibility to travel regularly between manufacturing facilities.Role & responsibilities

Preferred candidate profile