Director and Head

Job Title: Director and Head of SMI

Division/Company/Entity: ASSA ABLOY India

Location: Jamnagar, Gujarat (Shree Mahavir Industries)

Department: Operations

Reports to:

Solid line: SVP & Head of SAARC

Dotted line: Director & COO - MEIIA

Direct Reports: 5

Region of Reports: Jamnagar

Position Summary

ASSA ABLOY Group Company Shree Mahavir Metalcrafts Pvt. Ltd., located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is seeking an experienced Director and Head of SMI to lead and optimize the end-to-end operations of the plant. This role requires a strong focus on people leadership, environmental stewardship, and statutory compliance to ensure cost-effective, high-quality, and safe operations. The ideal candidate will drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and operational excellence, while fostering a culture of teamwork and capability development to achieve exceptional results.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Goal Alignment: Define and cascade plant goals in alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives to all levels within the plant.

Operational Oversight: Plan, organize, direct, and manage day-to-day plant operations to achieve optimal output and meet customer expectations.

Resource Optimization: Ensure efficient utilization of resources, including manpower, machinery, materials, financials, and time.

Continuous Improvement: Lead and implement best practices in Lean, Six Sigma, and quality standards to drive operational excellence.

Cost Management: Oversee and reduce the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) through consistent monitoring and improvement initiatives.

Supply Chain Strategy: Implement a robust supply chain strategy, collaborating with functional heads to ensure smooth vendor management and supply chain efficiency.

Health, Safety, and Compliance: Champion workplace health and safety initiatives, ensuring strict adherence to regulatory and company processes.

Statutory Compliance: Guarantee full compliance with all statutory requirements relevant to plant operations.

Employee Development: Foster a positive work environment and lead initiatives to build a high-performing, cohesive team focused on achieving outstanding results.

Required Skills & Abilities

Analytical Proficiency: Strong numerical and analytical skills to support data-driven decision-making.

Financial Acumen: Skilled in managing standalone P&L.

Operational Excellence: Expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma principles, and quality management.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Systems: Strong awareness of EHS systems and regulatory compliance.

Team Leadership: Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire a high-performing team.

Metals Manufacturing Knowledge: In-depth understanding of metals manufacturing processes.

ERP Awareness: Familiarity with MRP systems, with a preference for SAP experience.

Personal Attributes

Confident and Proactive: A self-starter with a high level of initiative and a solution-oriented mindset.

Collaborative and Team-Oriented: A strong team player with a collaborative working style.

Excellent Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships across teams and stakeholders.

Results-Driven: High drive to achieve results and meet operational targets.

People and Partnership Development: Passionate about developing talent and fostering partnerships within the organization.

Education & Experience

Academic Background: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (preferably in Production/Mechanical) and a post-graduate qualification specializing in Operations Management.

Professional Experience: Over 20 years of post-qualification experience, including five or more years as a Plant Head in a leading manufacturing environment with a proven record of meeting operational performance metrics.

Note: This job description provides a general outline of the role’s responsibilities and is not intended to be exhaustive. The selected candidate may be required to undertake additional duties to support the company’s evolving needs.