Project Manager

Job Title:
Project Manager – Operations & Infrastructure

Location:
Pune (with travel to factories/farms as required)

Reporting To:
COO

Role Overview

The Project Manager will lead end-to-end execution of strategic operations projects including capacity expansion, quality improvement, process optimisation, and infrastructure creation across manufacturing and supply chain. The role requires strong project planning, cross-functional coordination, vendor management, and on-ground execution capabilities to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with measurable business impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. Capacity Expansion Projects

Plan and execute manufacturing capacity expansion initiatives (new lines, equipment upgrades, layout changes).

Conduct feasibility studies, capex planning, ROI calculation, and project scoping.

Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, and external vendors.

Monitor installation, commissioning, and trials to ensure targets on throughput, uptime, and cost per unit.

2. Quality Improvement Projects

Lead projects aimed at reducing defects, improving yields, and strengthening product consistency.

Work closely with QA/QC and Production to identify root causes using tools like 5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA.

Implement process control systems and automation solutions to improve quality performance (CPK, defect rates, rework).

3. Process Improvement & Lean Initiatives

Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in manufacturing, packing, warehousing, and supply chain.

Drive lean programs such as SMED, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, OEE improvements.

Deploy SOPs, digital tools, and workflow improvements to optimise cost and productivity.

4. Infrastructure Creation

Manage civil, utilities, and infrastructure projects for new facilities, expansions, and upgrades.

Work with architects, contractors, and government bodies for approvals and safe execution.

Ensure compliance with FSSAI, GMP, safety standards, and factory norms.

5. Project Governance & Execution

Prepare detailed project plans, timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation plans.

Track progress, highlight deviations, and resolve issues proactively.

Ensure projects are delivered within cost, time, and quality parameters.

Build dashboards & documentation for weekly/monthly reviews with leadership.

6. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

Manage vendor selection, negotiations, contracts, and performance monitoring.

Lead cross-functional teams to align on project goals, deliverables, and timelines.

Communicate updates to leadership with clear visuals and data-driven insights.

Skills & Qualifications

Must-Have

5–10 years of experience in manufacturing, projects, operations, supply chain, or engineering.

Proven experience in executing capex projects, process improvement, or quality improvement initiatives.

Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, utilities, layouts, and equipment.

Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and structured problem-solving tools.

Excellent project management skills – planning, prioritisation, vendor & stakeholder coordination.

Ability to work hands-on on factory floors and manage multiple parallel projects.

Good-to-Have

Mechanical/Industrial/Production Engineering background.

Experience with food processing, FMCG, agri-processing, or D2C manufacturing.

Exposure to ERP/MES/automation projects.

Certification in PMP, Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt) is a plus.

Personality Traits

Strong ownership and execution mindset.

Detail-oriented with a bias for structured problem solving.

Ability to work in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Excellent communication and vendor negotiation skills.

Collaborative, humble, and willing to get hands dirty on the shopfloor.

KPIs / Success Metrics

On-time and on-budget delivery of projects.

Improvement in capacity, productivity, and quality metrics.

Reduction in manufacturing cost per unit.

Implementation of new infrastructure with zero safety incidents.

Reduction in defects, downtime, and rework.

Improvement in OEE, yield, and throughput.

Relevant profiles can be shared on