Chief Technical Officer - Steel/Mining/Alumina & Agro Processing Industry

Position - Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

Reports Directly to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Oversee end-to-end Technical Operations across all units in Steel, Mining, Alumina and Agro processing.

- Champion adoption of Industry 4.0 Technologies to enhance backward integration from Bauxite Mining to TMT Bar Production and ATH refinement.

- Lead risk mitigation for plant uptime, safety compliance, and environmental standards in high-stakes Mining and Heavy manufacturing environments.

- Foster a culture of continuous technical innovation aligned with Central India's resource-rich yet logistically challenging terrain.

STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Develop a 5-year Technical roadmap prioritizing automation in Billet Rolling Mills and TMT production to achieve 20% capacity uplift by FY2028, integrating AI-driven predictive maintenance for owned Bauxite mines.

- Spearhead strategic partnerships with OEMs for advanced furnace technologies, targeting 15% reduction in energy intensity across steel and alumina plants within 3 years.

- Evaluate and integrate digital twins for Mining operations to forecast Bauxite yields, ensuring 95% supply chain reliability for downstream ATH and steel production.

- Position the Group as a Central India leader in sustainable tech by strategizing carbon capture pilots in Alumina processing, compliant with national Green steel mandates by 2027.

- Drive R&D initiatives for value-added products like high-strength TMT variants, leveraging agro byproducts for hybrid composites to diversify beyond core steel.

- Benchmark against peers like JSW and Tata Steel to refine tech stack, focusing on IoT-enabled quality control for wire rods and billets.

- Advise the Board on tech-enabled M&A opportunities in Mining tech, Capped at - 500 Crore outlay, to bolster backward integration.

OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Direct Daily oversight of 10+ Manufacturing units, enforcing 98% plant availability through real-time SCADA systems in TMT, billet, and ATH lines.

- Optimize Mining-to-Mill logistics for Bauxite, reducing throughput delays by 25% via GPS-tracked fleets and automated crushers.

- Implement lean manufacturing protocols across flour milling and rice processing to cut waste by 15% annually, syncing with steel ops seasonality.

- Ensure HSE compliance in High-risk zones, targeting zero LTIs through VR-based training for 3500+ employees.

- Lead capex projects for furnace upgrades, delivering 10% output boost in billets without compromising shift productivity.

- Coordinate multi-site maintenance regimes, minimizing downtime to under 2% via predictive analytics on critical assets like rolling mills.

FINANCIAL & GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Own Technical capex budgeting exceeding - 1000 Crore over 3 years, achieving ROI >18% on automation projects in Steel and Mining.

- Drive Opex efficiencies to compress variable costs by 12% YoY through energy audits and raw material yield optimization in Alumina refining.

- Enforce cost controls on maintenance spends, capping at 8% of divisional revenue while extending asset life by 25%.

- Lead internal audits for tech asset utilization, ensuring 95% depreciation alignment with actual performance.

- Report quarterly variance analysis to CEO on tech budgets, flagging deviations >5% with corrective action plans.

- Ensure compliance with SEBI LODR for tech disclosures in annual reports, mitigating governance risks.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS:

- Internal: CEO (primary accountability), CFO (financial alignment), COO (operational synergy), Business Unit Heads (steel, mining, alumina, agro), HR Director (talent development).

- External: OEM partners (Siemens, ABB for automation), regulatory bodies (Chhattisgarh Pollution Control Board, DGMS for mines), industry forums (CII Eastern Region), academic collaborators (NIT Raipur), key suppliers (bauxite equipment vendors).

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE:

1) Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering from a premier institute (IIT/ NIT preferred); MBA or advanced Technical certification (e.g., PMP, Six Sigma Black Belt) advantageous.

2) Minimum 20 - 25 years of progressive experience in Heavy manufacturing, with at least 10 years in CXO/ Leadership roles at conglomerates in steel, mining, or metals (e.g., JSW, SAIL, Vedanta).

3) Proven track record in Central India operations, ideally with P&L ownership exceeding - 2000 Crore in Tech-led turnarounds.

4) Familiarity with backward-integrated models in Bauxite-to-Alumina or Iron ore-to-Steel value chains.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

- Expertise in Industry 4.0 tools: AI/ML for predictive maintenance, IoT/SCADA for process control, digital twins for asset simulation.

- Strong acumen in capex project management, from feasibility to commissioning in multi-plant setups.

- Proficiency in HSE frameworks and sustainable tech (e.g., green hydrogen in steel, circular economy in Mining).

- Resilience in high-pressure settings, with hands-on experience in crisis response (e.g., plant breakdowns, supply disruptions).