Operations Manager

Synthite; Prakasam; Sur place; INR 1 200 000 - 2 100 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Synthite is seeking an experienced Operations Leader for its Andhra Pradesh spice processing facility. You will direct daily milling and spice handling operations, ensure compliance with FSSAI and export standards, and coordinate maintenance, QA, and packaging lines to sustain quality and on‑time shipments.

The role also oversees procurement alignment, cost control, and a safety‑driven culture, fostering continuous improvement through Lean, 5S, and Kaizen practices.

Qualifications

• Educational and professional criteria include a B.Tech/B.E. in relevant engineering streams.

Responsabilités

• Production & Process Management: plan, schedule and direct daily processing across shifts to meet targets.

Connaissances

Operations leadership

Quality & food safety

Process optimization

Cross-functional coordination

CAPA/5S/Kaizen

Documentation & audits

Formation

B.Tech/B.E. in Food Technology/Agricultural/Chemical/Mechanical Engineering

MBA/PG Diploma in Operations or Supply Chain (plus)

Description du poste

Role & responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

1. Production & Process Management

• Plan, schedule, and direct daily processing and milling operations across all shifts to meet volume, quality, and delivery targets.
• Oversee unit operations specific to spices: pre-cleaning, destoning, grading, drying/roasting, cryogenic/hammer milling, sifting, blending, and automated packaging.
• Monitor volatile oil (VO) retention, moisture control, particle size distribution (mesh analysis), and color values (ASTA) during processing.
• Optimize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) while minimizing yield loss, spillage, and dust generation.

2. Quality, Food Safety & Statutory Compliance

• Enforce rigorous compliance with FSSAI, Spices Board of India, USFDA, BRCGS, and ISO 22000/HACCP standards.
• Supervise allergen control, cross‑contamination prevention, foreign material detection (metal detectors, rare‑earth magnets, X‑ray inspection), and pest management.
• Partner closely with the Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) laboratory to ensure raw materials and finished goods meet chemical, physical, and microbiological specifications (pesticide residues, aflatoxins, salmonella, E. coli).
• Lead audits and compliance inspections conducted by export clients and regulatory bodies.

3. Plant Maintenance & Engineering

• Coordinate preventive, predictive, and breakdown maintenance for critical machinery (pulverizers, pin mills, blenders, form-fill-seal packaging machines, dust extraction and HVAC/dehumidification systems).
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) for downtime events and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Oversee steam sterilization, ethylene oxide (EtO), or irradiation coordination if post‑harvest microbial reduction treatments are handled in‑house or via third parties.

4. Supply Chain, Inventory & Cost Control

• Collaborate with raw material procurement teams regarding seasonal crop arrivals (e.g., Guntur/Prakasam chilli harvest windows) and storage parameters.
• Manage in‑process (WIP) and finished goods inventory in line with warehouse FIFO/FEFO protocols to avoid degradation of heat, color, and aroma.
• Drive operational cost‑reduction initiatives via energy efficiency, packaging yield improvement, and scrap reduction.

5. Workforce Leadership & EH&S

• Direct and mentor shift supervisors, line operators, maintenance technicians, and contract labor.
• Uphold strict Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) standards, emphasizing PPE compliance (respiratory masks, eye protection) given the high‑pungency, airborne dust nature of spice handling.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement utilizing Lean, 5S, and Kaizen methodologies.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: B.Tech/B.E. in Food Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering. (Postgraduate diploma/MBA in Operations or Supply Chain Management is a plus).
• Experience: 8 to 15 years of manufacturing operations experience, with at least 4 to 6 years in a core spice processing or seasoning plant.
• Regional Industry Knowledge: Solid understanding of Andhra Pradesh spice varieties, seasonal procurement dynamics, and local processing nuances (particularly red chilli processing and powdering).
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in size‑reduction systems (micro‑pulverizers, hammer mills), spice cleaning lines, and food export compliance.
• Certifications: Lead Auditor / Internal Auditor in HACCP, ISO 22000, or BRCGS is strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of moisture balancing, aflatoxin control, microbiology, and hygiene zoning (cleanroom/low‑care vs. high‑care zones).
• Leadership: Strong shop‑floor leadership with the ability to manage contract labor and technical teams.
• Communication: Fluency in Telugu (essential for local workforce coordination) and proficiency in English (for corporate reporting, audits, and documentation).
• Problem‑Solving: Strong analytical capability with experience in structured problem‑solving (CAPA, 5‑Why).