Assistant Refrigeration Manager

Job Title: Assistant Refrigeration Manager

Work Level: 1D Department: ICD – Foods

Location: Mumbai

Reporting To: Refrigeration Manager

Why we exist?

We believe life tastes better with Ice Cream. We exist to bring the power of ice cream to more people, in more places, in new and unexpected ways. As our founder Mr Wall's already said in 1922, 'By taking pleasure seriously". We truly embody this and are creating the world's largest IC company to accelerate these extraordinary ice cream experiences for more people around the globe.

About the company: Unilever, world's 3rd largest CPG company with revenues of $60mn, has announced the spinoff of its Ice cream business group and form an independent company. Ice cream as a business system has very different character & a distinct business system when compared to other Unilever categories as it requires a dedicated cold chain GTM, it's an impulse category and needs larger distributive and multichannel OOH footprint, needs agility to manage seasonality and rigour in front end execution.

This bold move leads the creation of an iconic pure play ice cream company "MAGNUM IC Company" which operates in 80 countries with a revenue scale of $9bn globally, headquartered in Amsterdam. Magnum IC Company houses world's most iconic brands like Magnum / Ben & Jerry, Cornetto, Breyers ,Walls and Grom. This separation gives us boost to accelerate fast in the highly attractive $1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently globally.

Magnum IC Company in India: In India, Kwality Wall's (brand of Hindustan Unilever) is a large IC business with national presence. The HUL board has approved the demerger of Kwality Walls India business as a separate listed entity. Hence KWIL will be 100% part of the Magnum IC company with its India head office in Mumbai.

Role Overview

The Refrigeration Officer will be responsible for managing the end-to-end cold chain infrastructure within the West Zone, including freezer cabinets, delivery units, and cold rooms. This role is critical in supporting the rapid growth of the Kwality Walls business in the region, which operates advanced refrigeration technologies such as hydrocarbon refrigerants and eutectic cooling systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cold Chain Management

• Ensure optimal performance and upkeep of commercial refrigeration assets across the region.

• Oversee timely placement and installation of refrigeration units in line with company standards.

• Monitor and ensure compliance with cold chain KPIs:

o Temperature Compliance Index (TCI)

o Complaint Response Time (attendance and closure)

o Freezer Uptime

2. Asset Management

• Maintain accurate records of asset inventory and ensure proper storage and handling.
• Oversee the disposal of obsolete equipment in accordance with environmental policies.
• Ensure high compliance to asset assurance.
• Implement Unilever's operational and safety systems.

3. Service & Maintenance

• Identify, recruit and manage service providers for repairs and maintenance.
• Ensure high uptime and reliability of refrigeration equipment.
• Conduct regular market visits to assess asset performance and service quality.

4. Budget & Cost Control

• Manage and control operational budgets for the region.
• Optimize warehousing and transportation costs.
• Ensure timely processing and verification of payments to suppliers and franchisees.

5. Stakeholder Coordination

• Collaborate with internal teams including Sales, Quality, Logistics, and Commercial.
• Liaise with external partners such as service providers, suppliers, and transporters. Decision-Making Authority
• Budget management for assignment area
• Selection and evaluation of franchisees and service providers
• Customer service strategy and execution Geographical Coverage
• Upcountry west towns Team Leadership
• Lead a team of approximately 20 personnel involved in repairs, maintenance, and logistics operations.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Fully operational refrigeration technical knowledge
• Logistics management
• Team Alignment
• Leadership & People Management

• Effective Communication
• External Orientation

• Bias for Action

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Diploma/BE in Mechanical Engineering
• Experience: Minimum 3 years in service and maintenance of commercial refrigeration systems within ice cream, refrigeration or engineering industry.