Head – Greenfield Manufacturing Project | Dairy & Beverages

Lotus Dairy Products Private Limited; Jaipur; On-site; INR 5,000,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Lotus Dairy Products Private Limited is seeking a Head – Greenfield Manufacturing Project to lead a flagship dairy and beverages facility from concept through construction, commissioning and commercial production. The role demands hands-on leadership across engineering, CAPEX, procurement, and operations readiness in a high-visibility setting.

The ideal candidate will have 15–25 years in dairy/FMCG manufacturing, proven Greenfield delivery, and deep knowledge of hygienic design, process systems,

Qualifications

• 15–25 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience delivering at least one Greenfield manufacturing project from concept to production.
• Strong dairy/beverage or FMCG manufacturing background.
• Experience managing large CAPEX projects and multiple vendors.
• Expertise in plant engineering, hygienic design and food safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, master plan, timeline and critical path.
• Own project delivery across CAPEX, quality, safety and performance.
• Coordinate internal teams, consultants, technology partners and contractors.
• Oversee plant design, commissioning and ramp-up to commercial production.
• Ensure operations readiness including QA, utilities, EHS and supply chain.

Skills

Project leadership

Dairy & FMCG

CAPEX management

Vendor management

Automation/SCADA/PLC

Tools

SCADA

PLC

Job description

Head – Greenfield Manufacturing Project | Dairy & Beverages

Location: Jaipur/Kota, Rajasthan

Experience: 15–25 years

Industry: Dairy / FMCG / Food & Beverages

Function: Projects / Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Opportunity

We are embarking on an ambitious Greenfield manufacturing project to create a modern, integrated dairy and beverage manufacturing facility. The facility will manufacture a wide portfolio of dairy and non-dairy beverages as well as conventional dairy products, with capabilities including:

• Aseptic bottle filling
• Can filling
• Carbonated beverage bottling
• Dairy & non-dairy RTD beverages
• Dahi, chaach & lassi
• Pouch milk
• Ghee
• Advanced processing, packaging and utility infrastructure

We are looking for an experienced Head – Greenfield Manufacturing Project to take complete ownership of this project from concept and engineering through construction, equipment installation, commissioning, product trials and commercial production.

This is a high-visibility leadership role with direct interaction with the Senior Management, and the opportunity to shape the plant's technology, layout, equipment, operating philosophy and long-term manufacturing capabilities.

The Role

You will act as the owner's representative and overall project leader, coordinating internal teams, consultants, technology partners, equipment suppliers, EPC/civil contractors and other stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and execute the overall project strategy, master plan, timeline and critical path.
• Own project delivery across time, CAPEX, quality, safety and performance.
• Establish project governance, reporting and risk-management systems.
• Identify bottlenecks early and drive timely resolution.

Plant Design & Engineering

• Lead plant conceptualization, process flow, layout and engineering.
• Ensure efficient product flow, hygienic zoning, food safety and future expansion capability.
• Coordinate process, civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, utility and automation engineering.

Lead the technical evaluation and selection of major technologies and equipment, including:

• Dairy processing and UHT/aseptic systems
• Aseptic bottle filling
• Can filling
• Carbonated beverage lines
• Beverage preparation and blending
• Fermented dairy processing
• Packaging systems
• CIP
• Boilers / steam
• Water treatment
• ETP/STP
• Automation / SCADA / PLC
• Identify and evaluate technology and equipment suppliers.
• Lead technical and commercial negotiations.
• Manage vendor engineering, FAT, delivery and installation.
• Ensure suppliers deliver against agreed specifications, timelines and performance guarantees.
• Coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and utility works.
• Ensure buildings and infrastructure are designed around the process rather than the other way around.
• Drive installation, integration and project execution at site.

Own the transition from construction to commercial manufacturing:

Ensure successful ramp-up, achievement of capacity and performance parameters, closure of snags and complete handover to operations.

Operations Readiness

Work with management to build the manufacturing organization and ensure readiness across:

• Production
• QA/QC & Food Safety
• Utilities
• Warehouse
• EHS
• Supply Chain

Ensure SOPs, training, documentation, spares, maintenance systems and operating processes are in place before commercial production.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on manufacturing/project leader, not simply a conventional project manager.

• 15–25 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience delivering at least one major Greenfield manufacturing project from concept through commercial production.
• Strong experience in dairy, beverages, food processing or FMCG manufacturing.
• Experience managing large CAPEX projects and multiple technology/equipment vendors.
• Strong understanding of plant engineering, utilities, hygienic design and food safety.
• Demonstrated commissioning and plant start-up experience.

Following experiences will be highly desirable:

• Aseptic PET/bottle filling
• Can filling
• Carbonated beverages
• RTD dairy/non-dairy beverages
• CIP systems
• Automated manufacturing systems
• Integrated multi-product manufacturing facilities
• Experience managing ₹100+ crore CAPEX projects

The right candidate should be equally comfortable discussing a plant layout with an architect, a process specification with an equipment supplier, CAPEX with the promoter, and commissioning issues with the engineering team on the shop floor.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will deliver:

A safe, food-compliant, technologically robust and commercially viable manufacturing facility — on time, within the approved CAPEX, and capable of achieving its intended production and quality parameters.

This is an opportunity to build a major manufacturing platform from the ground up and have a lasting impact on the company's next phase of growth.

• If you have personally led the execution and commissioning of a Greenfield dairy, beverage, food or FMCG manufacturing facility, we would be keen to hear from you.