Chief Operating Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION:JOB TITLE: Chief Operating Officer – Tank DivisionDEPARTMENT: Tank OperationsJOB CATEGORY: Management & LeadershipLOCATION: Rabalc & KhopoliREPORT TO: Managing Director / CEOFUNCTIONAL AREAS: Plant Operations, Automation & Robotics, Fabrication, Paint Shop, Production Excellence, Quality, SCM, People LeadershipABOUT HI‑TECH:Founded in 1989, Hi‑Tech is a global leader in galvanised radiators and corrugated tanks for transformers. Serving Siemens, ABB, Hitachi, Toshiba, Wesco and others, we operate across Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA, Taiwan, and India.Our Facilities:• Tank Division: MIDC, Rabale, Navi Mumbai• Radiator Division: Khopoli, Maharashtra• Headquarters: Ghansoli, Navi MumbaiQUALIFICATIONS:Education:B.E. / B.Tech or M.Tech in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering. MBA / PGDBM preferred.Professional Experience:Minimum 20–25 years in manufacturing operations, with at least 8–10 years in Senior Leadership / COO / Plant Head role in heavy engineering, sheet-metal fabrication, or automotive sector.Domain Expertise:End-to-end manufacturing operations, Automation & Robotics, Fabrication (cutting, bending, welding, assembly), Paint Shop (liquid & powder), TPM, Lean Manufacturing.Certifications:Lean Six Sigma, TPM / JIPM certification, PMP / Operations Excellence certification preferred.EXPERIENCE:Leadership:Proven track record of managing multi-plant operations with >1000 employees, driving safety, productivity, and culture.Automation & Robotics:Hands-on leadership in deploying robotic welding, CNC machining, PLC / SCADA systems, MES, and smart factory practices.Fabrication Excellence:Deep knowledge of sheet metal, heavy fabrication, cutting, welding, assembly lines, and quality systems.Paint Shop Management:Experience in running high-volume paint shops, ensuring productivity, environmental compliance, and quality finish.Global Exposure:Experience in meeting international customer standards (Siemens, ABB, Toshiba, etc.), and handling audits from global OEMs.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Operational Leadership:Oversee daily operations across fabrication, automation, paint shop, assembly, and dispatch. Ensure adherence to safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets (SQDC).Automation & Smart Manufacturing:Drive automation roadmap, implement Industry 4.0 (SCADA, MES, IoT), robotic welding, and digital dashboards for plant KPIs.Fabrication & Paint Shop:Optimise fabrication lines (cutting, bending, welding, assembly). Improve paint shop efficiency, reduce rework, ensure EHS compliance.Strategic Planning:Align manufacturing operations with 5-year business growth plan, capacity expansion, and capex projects.Cost & Productivity:Lead cost reduction, OEE improvements, energy efficiency, and resource optimization.People Leadership:Build, coach, and empower plant leadership team. Drive a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.Customer Orientation:Ensure timely deliveries, customer satisfaction, and zero-defect supplies to global clients.TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES:·Automation & Robotics: FANUC, ABB, KUKA robotic systems; PLC/SCADA (Siemens, Allen Bradley); MES platforms.·Fabrication Systems: CNC cutting, VMC, bending, resistance welding, MIG/MAG/TIG welding lines.·Paint Shop: Electrostatic painting, powder coating, CED coating, ETP/STP compliance.·ERP & Analytics: SAP/Oracle, Power BI/Tableau for manufacturing dashboards.·Lean & TPM Tools: 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, OEE, JIT, Six Sigma.KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:·Strategic & Operational Leadership·Strong Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills·Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Champion·Stakeholder Management & Negotiation Skills·High Emotional Intelligence & Team Development Ability·Global Quality Standards OrientationLEARNING & GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:Leadership Growth:Exposure to global customers, supplier ecosystems, and cross-border manufacturing practices.Technology Advancement:Lead automation, robotics, and paint shop modernization projects.Strategic Role:Involvement in long-term capacity expansion, JV partnerships, and global scaling.