Plant Head

Native Milk; Pune District; On-site; INR 500,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Native Milk in Pune seeks an experienced Plant Head to lead our dairy manufacturing operations end-to-end, coordinating milk procurement, production, quality assurance, maintenance, inventory, and dispatch while driving safety and compliance.

The role requires 8–15 years in dairy manufacturing with 3–5 years in leadership, strong knowledge of milk processing and value-added products, and proven ability to optimize costs, improve processes, and mentor cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 8–15 years of experience in dairy manufacturing with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of milk processing, value-added dairy products, and dairy plant operations.
• Experience in managing production planning, quality systems, maintenance, and manpower.
• Good understanding of FSSAI, HACCP, GMP, and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day plant operations to ensure smooth and efficient production.
• Plan and monitor production schedules for Milk, Curd, Paneer, Ghee, UHT Milk, and other dairy products.
• Oversee preventive and breakdown maintenance of all plant equipment.
• Coordinate with Milk Procurement to ensure adequate raw milk availability and manage inventory of packaging and finished goods.
• Lead and mentor Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Dispatch teams; drive safety and discipline.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly MIS reports for management; drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce costs.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Quality systems

Maintenance management

Team management

ERP/MIS reporting

Excel

Education

B.Tech in Dairy Technology

M.Tech in Dairy Technology

B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

B.Tech in Food Technology

Tools

ERP/MIS software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About Company:
When we say native, we mean honest to our roots. Over time we have realised that dairy free could not have been the solution to what came before us. And in coming back to our Indian roots we realised that - dairy farming is nurturing a nature based ecosystem that thrives when each element is given due respect and care.

About Role:
We are seeking an experienced and result-oriented Plant Head to lead our dairy manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end plant activities, including milk procurement coordination, production, quality assurance, maintenance, inventory, dispatch, compliance, and manpower management. The role requires strong leadership to ensure efficient operations, high product quality, cost optimization, and timely delivery.

Key ResponsibilitiesProduction & Operations

• Lead day-to-day plant operations to ensure smooth and efficient production.
• Plan and monitor production schedules for Milk, Curd, Paneer, Ghee, UHT Milk, and other value-added dairy products.
• Ensure optimum utilization of manpower, machinery, and resources.
• Achieve production targets while minimizing wastage and downtime.

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure compliance with FSSAI, GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards.
• Monitor product quality from raw milk receipt to finished goods dispatch.
• Work closely with the Quality team to resolve quality issues and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure laboratory and production SOPs are followed.

Maintenance & Engineering

• Oversee preventive and breakdown maintenance of all plant equipment.
• Ensure efficient operation of pasteurizers, homogenizers, boilers, chilling systems, compressors, and packing machines.
• Improve plant efficiency through preventive maintenance and process improvements.

Procurement & Inventory

• Coordinate with the Milk Procurement team to ensure adequate raw milk availability.
• Monitor raw material, packaging material, and finished goods inventory.
• Reduce production losses and optimize material consumption.

Team Management

• Lead and mentor Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Dispatch teams.
• Develop employee skills through training and performance reviews.
• Ensure adherence to safety policies and workplace discipline.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain production, quality, maintenance, and inventory records.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly MIS reports for management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

Requirements

• B.Tech/M.Tech in Dairy Technology, Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8–15 years of experience in dairy manufacturing, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of milk processing, value-added dairy products, and dairy plant operations.
• Experience in managing production planning, quality systems, maintenance, and manpower.
• Good understanding of FSSAI, HACCP, GMP, and food safety regulations.

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Expertise in production planning, cost control, and process optimization.
• Proficiency in ERP/MIS reporting and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and drive operational excellence.

Pay: ₹500,000.00 - ₹800,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person