Operations Manager – Manufacturing (Beverages)

Role Overview:

As the Operations Manager for the Beverages division (Campa Cola), you will be responsible for overseeing and optimizing all day-to-day plant operations to ensure the delivery of key business objectives related to cost, quality, and delivery. This role demands strong leadership in production planning, process improvement, people management, and strategic execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy & Operational Planning

• Lead the end-to-end planning, coordination, and management of daily plant operations to meet business goals.
• Ensure efficient delivery of production volumes while optimizing capacity, reducing unnecessary costs, and upholding the highest quality standards.
• Own and deliver all key business performance metrics – including cost control, quality assurance, and timely delivery.
• Drive operational excellence through continuous process improvements, plant yield optimization, and executive training.
• Implement and maintain quality and safety systems in line with company policies and regulatory standards.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable operational plans, providing clarity and direction to teams.
• Lead factory projects to build future capabilities and upgrade technologies.

Production Planning

• Oversee production scheduling, ensuring alignment with demand forecasts and resource availability.
• Manage plant capacity effectively, factoring in staff availability and seasonal variability.
• Optimize production lead times and resource utilization to maximize output and efficiency.
• Supervise planning and purchasing teams to ensure accurate material forecasting and timely input of data into planning systems.
• Collaborate closely with Health & Safety teams to uphold safety standards and support zero-harm initiatives.
• Ensure consistent quality by working with compliance teams to meet customer and client specifications.
• Conduct regular line checks and audits to monitor workloads and performance.
• Lead daily production meetings to align manufacturing teams on priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

People Management

• Ensure timely and comprehensive training for all plant staff (TCE) and keep records updated.
• Support the professional development of team members through performance reviews (PDRs) and tailored development plans.
• Foster a high-performance culture by empowering team leaders to manage their departments with autonomy and accountability.
• Actively engage and motivate teams, promoting critical thinking, proactive problem-solving, and effective resource allocation.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline through mentorship and continuous capability building.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience in plant operations management, preferably in the beverages or FMCG sector.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, process optimization, and resource management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement strategic initiatives.
• Familiarity with quality systems, HSE compliance, and lean manufacturing practices.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and people development skills.
• Open to travel 15 Days of travel PAN India - Greenfield Plants/ Co-packers.