Reports To: VP/CPO

Purpose of the role:

General Manager - Projects will provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple concurrent projects executed under various Project Managers. The role is accountable for project governance, timely delivery, customer interaction and satisfaction, and seamless coordination with internal stakeholders. The incumbent will act as a key escalation point, ensuring proactive issue resolution and regular alignment with the Chief Project Officer (Projects).

Technical Skills Required:

- Knowledge of ASRS systems, warehouse rack solutions, and precise alignment of structures.

- Strong adherence to EHS protocols, HIRA, and WMS standards.

- Skilled in scheduling, risk management, resource planning, and budget monitoring.

- Expertise in Testing & Commissioning (T&C) of automation systems.

- System integration across PLC, SCADA, middleware layers, software (WMS/WES) integration and interface validation.

- Experience in end-to-end system validation including FAT, SAT, site commissioning, and performance benchmarking.

- Experience with IQ/OQ/PQ, inspections, and RCA to ensure high standards.

- Analytical skills to address errors or issues at site and coordinate with stakeholders to achieve quick resolutions.

Behavioural Skills Required:

- Strong leadership and people management skills.

- Excellent project governance and escalation management.

- Strategic thinking with execution focus.

- High emotional intelligence and customer handling capability.

- Exceptional communication and presentation skills.

- Ability to work in high-pressure, multi-project environments.

- Familiarity with project monitoring tools and detailed reporting.

- Strong communication and collaboration with stakeholders and teams.

- Capable of knowledge transfer and leveraging learnings from past projects.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Multi-Project Leadership & Governance:

- Ensure standardization and governance of Testing & Commissioning practices across all automation projects.

- Drive readiness reviews for system integration, WMS interfaces, and robotics deployment prior to Go-Live.

- Oversee and manage a portfolio of multiple projects handled by different Project Managers.

- Establish standardized project governance, review mechanisms, and performance metrics across projects.

- Ensure adherence to project scope, timelines, quality standards, and commercial commitments.

- Identify risks early and drive mitigation plans across all assigned projects.

2. Project Reviews & Escalation Management:

- Conduct structured and regular project reviews with Project Managers to track progress, risks, dependencies, and resource needs.

- Closely monitor T&C progress including system integration issues, interface failures, and commissioning delays.

- Escalate critical integration risks related to WMS, WCS, and robotics systems impacting project timelines.

- Drive closure of escalated items by coordinating cross-functional support.

3. Engagement with CPO - Projects:

- Conduct regular review meetings with the Chief Project Officer (Projects) to present consolidated project status, risks, and corrective action plans.

- Provide inputs for strategic decision-making related to capacity planning, prioritization, and organizational improvements.

- Ensure alignment of project execution with organizational objectives and leadership expectations.

4. Customer & Stakeholder Management:

- Act as a senior interface with customers, ensuring amicable handling of concerns, expectations, and escalations.

- Represent client in monthly client steering committee meetings and senior-level customer reviews.

- When required, be stationed at customer sites to drive project completion, manage escalations, and ensure on-time delivery.

- Engage with customers during system commissioning phases to ensure successful validation of WMS integration, robotics workflows, and operational performance.

- Provide leadership during Go-Live, hypercare, and stabilization phases of automation projects.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination (Internal Stakeholders):

- Drive end-to-end coordination with internal stakeholders including: Supply Chain Management (SCM), Manufacturing, Purchase & Vendor Management, Planning, Design & Engineering, Sales & Business Development, Human Resources, Quality & Installation Teams, Software and IT.

- Ensure alignment of internal teams to project priorities, timelines, and customer commitments.

- Resolve inter-departmental dependencies and bottlenecks impacting project execution.

- Drive alignment between software (WMS/WCS), controls, robotics, and site execution teams for seamless commissioning and integration.

- Coordinate with IT and software teams for interface testing, data validation, and system interoperability.

6. Performance, Compliance & Continuous Improvement:

- Monitor project performance indicators and ensure corrective actions where required.

- Promote best practices, standard operating procedures, and continuous improvement in project execution.

- Ensure compliance with safety, quality, contractual, and statutory requirements across projects.

- Capture lessons learned from commissioning and integration phases to improve future project execution.

7. Testing & Commissioning Leadership:

- Lead end-to-end Testing & Commissioning strategy for complex warehouse automation solutions.

- Ensure successful integration of WMS, WCS, PLC, and robotics platforms into a unified operational system.

- Drive site acceptance (SAT), performance testing, and final handover to customer operations teams.

Minimum Qualification:

- BE/ B. Tech- Mechanical, Electrical, Electrical & Electronics, Mechatronics, Instrumentation.

Years of experience:

- 10-15 years.

- Experience in large-scale project execution, with at least 4+ years in senior leadership handling multiple projects.

- Strong background in automation, intralogistics, manufacturing, EPC, or complex industrial projects (preferred).

- Proven experience in customer-facing roles and executive-level stakeholder management.

- Extensive experience in handling Testing & Commissioning of large-scale warehouse automation projects including WMS integration and mobile robotics deployment.

Additional Qualifications / Certifications:

- Knowledge of AutoCAD/ Bricscad, Drawing Reading.

- Proficiency in MS Office & Outlook.

Other skills (preferred):

- Proficiency in MS Project / Primavera.

- PMP certified.