Description:

Objective of this role:

The COO will be responsible for driving operational excellence across all divisions and functions, ensuring robust processes, cost competitiveness, and customer-focused delivery.

As a key member of the leadership team, the COO will align overall operations with the companys long-term growth vision while strengthening manufacturing, supply chain, technology, and people capabilities to support sustained scalability.

Roles and Responsibility:

Strategic Responsibilities:

- Collaborate with the Board to build a compelling long-term vision that motivates teams to achieve the organizations growth targets.

- Define the strategic direction of the company in alignment with the Board of Directors (BOD) and ensure its effective execution.

- Lead the execution of current and future business commitments to expand the companys footprint across targeted markets.

- Strengthen the leadership team by focusing on capability building, succession planning for critical roles, skill enhancement, and fostering a unified organizational culture.

Operational Responsibilities:

- Oversee end-to-end business operations with a strong focus on margin control and achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual performance goals.

- Develop growth strategies and implementation plans with a sharp focus on market needs, operational deliverables, performance metrics, and long-term sustainability.

- Engage consistently with existing customers and build strong external relationships with clients, vendors, industry leaders, and influencers to reinforce the companys brand and market presence.

- Work closely with the Finance Head and Board to ensure robust financial controls, timely reporting, and adherence to budgets.

- Assess team capabilities and implement development programs to enhance skills and improve productivity across functions.

- Deploy continuous improvement methodologiesTheory of Constraints (TOC), Lean, and Kaizento improve throughput, efficiency, and cost competitiveness.

- Track industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to keep operations future-ready.

- Ensure optimal plant capacity utilization aligned with future demand forecasts and upcoming business wins.

Business Growth Enablement:

- Support business diversification into new product lines.

- Build scalable supply chain and vendor ecosystems to minimize lead times and reduce logistics constraints.

- Partner with Sales and Business Development teams to align operational capabilities with customer (OEM & Tier-1) requirements.

Governance & Compliance:

- Drive strong operational governance through structured goal sheets, dashboards, and periodic review mechanisms.

- Ensure compliance with quality standards (IATF, ISO) and all statutory and regulatory requirements.

- Identify and manage risks across production, supply chain, operations, and people functions.

People & Culture:

- Build, mentor, and develop a strong leadership pipeline across all functions.

- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and customer-centricity.

- Partner with HR to strengthen talent acquisition, leadership development, capability building, and succession planning initiatives.

Key Areas:

Business Performance & Growth:

- Deliver year-on-year revenue and profitability targets in line with the organizations strategic plan.

- Expand the companys presence across key markets by driving new business wins and enabling diversification into new product lines.

- Strengthen customer relationships (OEMs & Tier-1s) and enhance customer satisfaction through consistent delivery, quality, and responsiveness.

Operational Excellence:

- Improve operational efficiency across plants and functions through Lean, TOC, and Kaizen initiatives.

- Achieve targeted improvements in throughput, capacity utilization, cycle time, and OEE.

- Ensure consistent on-time delivery (OTD), reduction of rework, and improved first-pass quality.

- Strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce lead times, and remove logistical bottlenecks.

Culture, Governance & Stakeholder Management:

- Drive a unified, customer-centric organizational culture across all plants and functions.

- Embed operational discipline, innovation, and agility throughout the workforce.

- Build an engaging work environment that supports employee development, collaboration, and productivity.

- Strengthen governance through structured reviews, dashboards, KPIs, and robust compliance systems.

- Ensure adherence to statutory, regulatory, and quality standards (IATF, ISO).

- Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders including the Board, customers, vendors, partners, and regulatory bodies.

- Proactively identify, mitigate, and manage risks across operations, supply chain, and people functions.

Candidate Criteria:

Educational Qualifications:

- Engineering degree in Mechanical / Automobile / Electrical / Polymer (preferred).

- MBA in Business Management or Strategy from a reputed institute (preferred).

Experience Requirements:

- 25+ years of experience in the automotive components or manufacturing industry.

- 57 years in a senior leadership role such as COO / Operation Director / Business Head, with full operational responsibility.

- Proven experience in scaling manufacturing operations, managing multi-plant environments, and leading large teams.

- Strong experience working with OEMs and Tier-1 customers, ensuring delivery, quality, and customer satisfaction.

- Exposure to global markets, international customer requirements, and M&A/post-merger integration (preferred).

Technical & Functional Expertise:

- Deep expertise in Lean, TOC, Kaizen, and world-class manufacturing practices.

- Strong understanding of automotive component manufacturing, production processes, and shop-floor operations.

- Solid knowledge of supply chain, vendor management, procurement, and production planning.

- Comprehensive understanding of quality systems such as IATF/ISO and statutory compliance requirements.

- Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and other automotive-specific processes.

- Exposure to digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, automation, and transformation initiatives.

Business & Financial Acumen:

- Strong P&L management experience with a track record of improving EBITDA, PBT, and overall financial performance.

- Strong financial discipline with expertise in cost control, budgeting, and operational efficiency.

- Demonstrated ability to drive cost competitiveness, optimize resources, and manage CapEx/OpEx.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies:

- Excellent leadership and team-building capabilities with a strong focus on people development.

- High customer orientation with the ability to build and sustain relationships with OEMs, Tier-1 customers, and other key stakeholders.

- Strong decision-making ability with a strategic mindset and hands-on operational approach.

- Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.