Job description

Role & responsibilities

The Director Operations will lead and oversee end-to-end operational functions across manufacturing, production planning, engineering, supply chain, procurement, quality, maintenance, logistics and project execution.

The position requires an experienced industrial leader with a strong understanding of metal, mining, mineral processing, material handling and heavy engineering operations. The incumbent will be responsible for driving operational excellence, improving productivity, optimising costs, ensuring quality and EHS compliance, and achieving business objectives through effective resource utilisation and cross-functional leadership.

2. Key Roles and Responsibilities

A. Operations Strategy & Business Performance

- Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the organisation's business objectives and growth plans.

- Lead end-to-end operations across manufacturing, production, engineering, maintenance, procurement, supply chain and logistics.

- Translate business plans into measurable operational targets, budgets and performance indicators.

- Drive operational efficiency, productivity, capacity utilisation and cost optimisation.

- Establish systems for monitoring operational performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing corrective actions.

- Work closely with the CEO, Sales, Finance and Business Development teams to align operational capabilities with customer and business requirements.

B. Manufacturing & Production Management

- Oversee manufacturing operations for industrial equipment, mineral processing systems, crushing and grinding equipment, material handling solutions and related products.

- Ensure effective production planning, scheduling, resource allocation and timely delivery.

- Improve plant utilisation, throughput, manufacturing productivity and equipment availability.

- Optimise manpower, materials, machinery and other resources to meet production targets.

- Strengthen shop-floor management, workflow planning, inventory control and production reporting.

- Drive lean manufacturing, waste reduction, process standardisation and continuous improvement initiatives.

C. Engineering & Technical Operations

- Oversee engineering, design, technical services and manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with customer specifications and technical standards.

- Coordinate with R&D, design and engineering teams to improve product performance, reliability, manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.

- Review critical technical issues, production challenges, equipment failures and engineering modifications.

- Drive value engineering, product standardisation, technology adoption and process improvement.

- Ensure seamless coordination between engineering, production, quality, procurement and project execution teams.

- Support technical problem-solving, commissioning, installation and after-sales service where required.

D. Supply Chain, Procurement & Logistics

- Lead supply chain planning, strategic procurement, vendor development, materials management, warehousing and logistics.

- Ensure timely availability of raw materials, components and critical production inputs.

- Develop a reliable supplier ecosystem and strengthen vendor performance, quality, cost and delivery standards.

- Optimise inventory levels, procurement costs, lead times and working capital.

- Establish procurement controls, supplier evaluation systems and risk mitigation plans.

- Coordinate with Sales and Project Management teams to ensure material availability and timely project execution.

E. Quality Management

- Establish and maintain robust quality systems across manufacturing, inspection, testing and delivery.

- Ensure compliance with customer specifications, engineering standards and applicable quality requirements.

- Drive root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, defect reduction and continuous improvement.

- Monitor rejection rates, rework, warranty claims and customer complaints.

- Strengthen quality assurance, quality control and supplier quality management.

- Work with functional leaders to embed a culture of quality, accountability and customer satisfaction.

F. EHS, Safety & Statutory Compliance

- Lead the implementation of Environment, Health and Safety policies across plants, workshops, warehouses and project sites.

- Ensure compliance with applicable occupational safety, environmental and statutory requirements.

- Conduct regular safety reviews, risk assessments, audits and incident investigations.

- Drive preventive safety measures, employee awareness and emergency preparedness.

- Monitor safety performance, environmental impact, waste management and resource efficiency.

- Ensure clear EHS accountability among operational and functional leaders.

G. Maintenance & Asset Management

- Oversee preventive, predictive and breakdown maintenance of plant, machinery and equipment.

- Improve equipment reliability, uptime, availability and maintenance efficiency.

- Implement maintenance planning, critical spares management and equipment performance monitoring.

- Reduce unplanned downtime, recurring failures and maintenance costs.

- Ensure safe operation and periodic inspection of critical equipment and utilities.

H. Lean Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

- Implement Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and other relevant improvement methodologies.

- Identify process inefficiencies, eliminate waste and improve production flow.

- Establish dashboards and review mechanisms for productivity, quality, delivery, cost and safety.

- Drive digitalisation, automation and data-driven decision-making wherever commercially viable.

- Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational discipline.

I. ISO & Management Systems

- Ensure implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of applicable management systems, including:

1. ISO 9001 - Quality Management Systems.

2. ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems.

3. ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

- Oversee internal and external audits, management reviews, corrective actions and closure of non-conformities.

- Ensure adherence to SOPs, documented processes, inspection standards and compliance procedures.

- Promote standardisation and continual improvement across all operational functions.

J. Project Execution & Customer Delivery

- Ensure timely execution of manufacturing and engineering projects within approved cost, quality and delivery parameters.

- Coordinate with Sales, Engineering, Procurement, Production and Project Management teams to meet contractual commitments.

- Monitor project schedules, resource requirements, technical risks and delivery milestones.

- Resolve operational bottlenecks and critical customer issues.

- Strengthen customer satisfaction through reliable delivery, consistent product quality and responsive technical support.

K. Leadership & Team Management

- Lead and mentor functional heads and senior teams across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, procurement, supply chain, quality and EHS.

- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance targets and accountability mechanisms.

- Develop succession plans and strengthen leadership capabilities across operational teams.

- Promote collaboration, employee engagement, discipline and a performance-driven culture.

- Drive organisational development and change management to support business growth.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Production achievement against planned targets.

- Manufacturing productivity and capacity utilisation.

- On-time delivery and project execution performance.

- Operating cost reduction and conversion cost optimisation.

- Plant and equipment availability; reduction in unplanned downtime.

- Raw material yield, inventory turnover and working capital efficiency.

- Product quality, rejection rates, rework and warranty costs.

- Supplier quality, procurement savings and material availability.

- EHS performance, incident reduction and statutory compliance.

- ISO audit performance and timely closure of non-conformities.

- Lean implementation, process improvement and operational excellence.

- Team productivity, leadership effectiveness and employee retention.

4. Desired Candidate Profile

- 20 - 25+ years of relevant experience in operations, manufacturing, engineering or plant leadership within metal, mining, mineral processing, heavy engineering, industrial equipment or allied industries.

- Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role such as Director - Operations, VP - Operations, Head of Operations, Plant Head or equivalent.

- Strong exposure to manufacturing and production of industrial machinery, mining equipment, material handling systems, crushing and grinding equipment or mineral processing plants.

- Demonstrated expertise in production planning, engineering, supply chain, procurement, quality, maintenance and project execution.

- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, Kaizen and productivity improvement techniques.

- Experience in implementing and managing ISO systems, quality assurance, EHS and statutory compliance.

- Proven track record of cost reduction, operational transformation, capacity enhancement and process optimisation.

- Strong commercial awareness, budgeting skills and ability to manage operational expenditure and capital expenditure.

- Excellent leadership, analytical, problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

- Ability to work closely with senior management and cross-functional teams in a demanding industrial environment.

5. Leadership Competencies

- Strategic and operational leadership.

- Decision-making and problem-solving.

- Cost consciousness and financial discipline.

- Customer orientation and execution excellence.

- Change management and continuous improvement.

- Cross-functional collaboration and team development.

- Integrity, accountability and commitment to safety and quality.

6. Overall Role Expectation

- The Director - Operations is expected to build a high-performance operational organisation that delivers greater productivity, improved profitability, superior product quality, safe operations and consistent customer satisfaction.

- The successful candidate will combine technical expertise, manufacturing excellence and strategic leadership to strengthen operational capabilities and support the organisation's long-term growth in the metal, mining, mineral processing and material handling industries.