Chief Operating Officer - Automotive

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Aurangabad

Industry: Automotive / Auto Components

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Department: Strategic & Top Management

Education: MBA+B.Tech / B.E. in Mechanical, Production, Automobile, or related specialization preferred

Experience:

- 20+ years of experience in Automotive Manufacturing with strong exposure to HPDC (High Pressure Die Casting)

- Minimum 5+ years of hands-on HPDC experience mandatory

- Experience in handling multiple manufacturing plants is essential

- Strong background in Automotive OEM/Tier-1 automotive component manufacturing only

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and oversee end-to-end manufacturing operations for multiple plants in the automotive components industry. The role requires a strategic leader with strong expertise in HPDC operations, plant P&L management, EBITDA improvement, operational excellence, and business growth. The candidate will be responsible for driving operational efficiency, profitability, productivity, and long-term organizational growth while ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead and manage complete plant operations across multiple manufacturing facilities.

- Drive overall Plant P&L accountability and ensure achievement of revenue and profitability targets.

- Ensure consistent achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual EBITDA goals.

- Develop and implement strategic operational plans aligned with organizational objectives.

- Monitor manufacturing performance, productivity, quality, delivery, and cost optimization initiatives.

- Lead HPDC manufacturing operations with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiency.

- Drive continuous improvement initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and operational excellence practices.

- Ensure optimum utilization of manpower, machinery, and production resources.

- Oversee budgeting, cost control, capex planning, and financial performance of plants.

- Strengthen production planning, inventory management, and supply chain coordination.

- Collaborate with business leadership for strategic planning and business expansion initiatives.

- Ensure adherence to quality standards, safety norms, and statutory compliance requirements.

- Build strong customer relationships with Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 clients.

- Lead plant leadership teams to create a high-performance and result-oriented culture.

- Review operational KPIs regularly and implement corrective actions for performance improvement.

- Drive productivity enhancement, scrap reduction, cycle time improvement, and cost-saving projects.

- Support new product development, process industrialization, and capacity expansion initiatives.

- Ensure smooth coordination among production, quality, maintenance, SCM, finance, and HR functions.

Key Result Areas (KRAs):

- Achievement of Plant P&L and EBITDA targets.

- Improvement in operational efficiency and manufacturing productivity.

- Reduction in production cost, rejection, and rework levels.

- Capacity utilization and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) improvement.

- On-time delivery and customer satisfaction enhancement.

- Successful management of multi-plant operations.

- Implementation of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.

- Improvement in quality metrics and reduction in customer complaints.

- Inventory optimization and working capital management.

- Team development, leadership effectiveness, and succession planning.

- Compliance with safety, environmental, and statutory standards.

Required Skillsets:

- Strong expertise in HPDC (High Pressure Die Casting) operations.

- Proven experience in handling multiple automotive manufacturing plants.

- Strong knowledge of Plant Operations, Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain.

- Expertise in P&L management, budgeting, and EBITDA improvement.

- Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing processes and systems.

- Experience in Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, and operational excellence tools.

- Excellent strategic planning and business management capabilities.

- Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.

- Expertise in productivity improvement and cost optimization initiatives.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

- Excellent communication and team management skills.

- Ability to drive organizational transformation and business growth.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

- Candidates from Automotive / Auto Components manufacturing background only.

- Strong exposure to HPDC manufacturing is mandatory.

- Experience working with Automotive OEMs or Tier-1 suppliers preferred.

- Proven track record in leading large-scale manufacturing operations.

- Willingness to work from Aurangabad location.