Job Title Head - CPU & Caf Projects

Reporting to- Chief Culinary Officer

Location - Corporate Gurgaon

Overall purpose of the role

Strategic leader responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and operationalizing Compass Group India's entire central kitchen ecosystem. This role involves end-to-end ownership-from greenfield site identification and feasibility analysis through design, construction, commissioning, and seamless handover to operations. The successful candidate will build and scale India's largest & most advanced commercial kitchen infrastructure while ensuring compliance with Group food safety standards, sustainability mandates, and operational excellence benchmarks.

Key Accountability:

Deliver central kitchen & caf projects that drive cost efficiencies, ensure smooth downstream operations, and support 25%+ YoY business growth.

Key deliverables / Scope of role

A. Strategic Planning & Business Development (20%)

- Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year Central Kitchen Infrastructure Roadmap aligned with business growth projections across all sectors with specific focus on Business & Industry.

- Conduct market intelligence and feasibility studies to identify optimal locations based on demand clusters, logistics networks, and regulatory environments.

- Build investment cases and ROI models for each central kitchen project (CapEx requirements, payback periods, operational leverage).

- Partner with Finance, Sales and Operational / Regional teams to align capacity planning with client acquisition pipelines.

- Establish strategic partnerships with technology providers, equipment OEMs, and civil contractors.

B. Site Identification & Acquisition (15%)

- Lead site selection process evaluating proximity to demand centres, transportation connectivity, utilities availability, labour markets, and regulatory compliance.

- Negotiate land lease/purchase agreements, obtain necessary statutory approvals (licensing, environmental clearances, FSSAI approvals, fire NOCs etc.).

- Manage relationships with state and local authorities.

- Ensure compliance with RERA, environmental laws, and safety regulations.

C. Design & Engineering (20%)

- Develop comprehensive design briefs incorporating production capacity, product mix, equipment specifications, utility requirements.

- Collaborate with architects, MEP consultants, and others experts to create optimal layouts (zoning, material flow, hygiene barriers, cold chain integrity).

- Specify industrial kitchen equipment, automation systems, refrigeration infrastructure, and waste management solutions.

- Ensure designs meet Indian and Compass Group global standards (where relevant).

- Drive aggressive automation in every area to improve productivity, throughput & to optimize cost.

- Integrate sustainability features: renewable energy, water recycling, waste-to-energy etc.

D. Project Management & Construction (25%)

- Oversee end-to-end project execution: tender processes, contractor selection, construction supervision, quality assurance.

- Manage multi-disciplinary teams including civil contractors, MEP vendors, equipment suppliers, and commissioning specialists.

- Ensure adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

- Implement robust project governance: stage-gate reviews, risk mitigation, change management, stakeholder communication.

- Coordinate utility connections (power, water, gas, effluent treatment), automation/ system integrations, and safety systems.

E. Commissioning & Operations Handover (15%)

- Lead commissioning activities: equipment calibration, trial productions, process validations, HACCP plan verification.

- Obtain all regulatory certifications and licenses (FSSAI State/Central License, Pollution Control clearances etc.).

- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training manuals, and preventive maintenance schedules.

- Train operations teams on equipment handling, food safety protocols, and quality systems.

- Execute structured handover to Operations with defined KPIs, SLAs, and performance dashboards.

- Provide 6-month post-handover technical support and optimization.

F. Team Leadership & Capability Building (5%)

- Build and mentor a high-performing hybrid team of specialists both internal and external; develop extremely strong external partner ecosystem where required.

- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

- Drive innovation & continuous improvement for existing CPUs bringing in new technologies, automation & process optimization ideas and ensuring effective deployment in existing CPU network.

Person specifications

- B.Tech/B.E. in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Food Technology

- Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience in building large-scale commercial kitchens and cafeterias, food processing infrastructure with a significant portion of this experience gained in the corporate or manufacturing sectors e.g. in hospitality, catering, large restaurants.

- Proven expertise in project management, including budget forecasting, timeline management, and resource allocation.

- In-depth knowledge of food service equipment, kitchen layouts, and operational workflows; expertise in food safety management systems; strong understanding of statutory compliances.

- Proficiency in project management tools; excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills; strong focus on data-driven decision making.

- Exceptional stakeholder management (SteerCo, government authorities, contractors, consultants).

- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects concurrently, crisis management and problem-solving under pressure, change leadership and organizational agility.

- Certification in PMP, Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt), HACCP Lead Auditor, or equivalent will be an advantage.

Key Contacts and working relationships

- Business Leads, Sector Leads, Regional Heads / Directors, Operations State Heads

- Sales & solutioning teams

- Head Culinary & Innovation, Regional Chef's, CPU teams

- HSEQ teams

- External partners / vendors