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C_SUITE

Chief Operating Officer

Michael Page International plc·Posted 2 months ago

Location

All India, Chennai

Experience

15+ years

Required Skills

SystemsStrategy PL ExecutionManufacturing OperationsSupply Chain Logistics OversightCustomers CommercialsPeopleOrganisation CultureData Governance

About the Role

Job Description: You will work with a PE backed firm in the paper and packaging industry, being part of the expansion journey to becoming a packaging solutions player.
Key Responsibilities: - Translate the promoter / board vision into a 3-5 year operational plan for paper and corrugation businesses.

  • • Deliver annual operating plan including volumes, capacity utilization, conversion costs, OTIF, quality, EBITDA margin targets.

  • • Evaluate and drive new plant locations such as in the Chennai/Bangalore belt, capacity expansion, debottlenecking, and automation.
  • • Own the performance of all plants (paper mill + corrugated plants) including production planning, maintenance, quality, and safety.

  • • Improve capacity utilization, machine uptime, yield, power & fuel efficiency, and wastage levels.

  • • Standardize SOPs, 5S, TPM/lean practices across locations.

  • • Ensure statutory and environmental compliance (Pollution Control Board, safety norms, boiler, and factory regulations).
  • • Work with Head - Logistics & SCM to optimize raw material sourcing (waste paper / kraft), freight, warehouse footprint.

  • • Decide make vs buy for corrugated capacity, satellite units, stock points near key customer clusters (Chennai, Bengaluru, etc.).

  • • Build reliable demand forecasting + production planning interface with sales.
  • • Support sales team in key account management with large FMCG, e-commerce, auto ancillary, and industrial customers.

  • • Oversee costing, pricing logic, and margin discipline at product/customer/plant level.

  • • Resolve major service issues, quality complaints, and credit/payment escalations.
  • • Build a strong second line including plant heads, SCM head, quality head, project managers.

  • • Move the organization from promoter-centric to process-driven without losing agility.

  • • Install performance management systems: KPIs, monthly reviews, dashboards, incentive structures for operations.
  • • Champion ERP/MIS implementation, ensuring a single source of truth for production, inventory, cost, and profitability.

  • • Provide a monthly ops pack to promoters/PE investors with clear metrics and variance analysis.

  • • Strengthen internal controls, approvals, and risk management in operations.
  • Qualifications Required: - 15-25 years' experience with at least 5+ years heading multi-plant operations in Paper/packaging/corrugated boxes manufacturing.

  • • Strong exposure to the South India ecosystem is a plus (Tamil Nadu/Karnataka).

  • • Proven track record of scaling plants, reducing costs, and professionalizing mid-sized companies.

  • • Comfortable working in a promoter-driven + investor-backed environment, hands-on, and on the shop floor.

  • • Good communications skills, should speak Tamil.
  • (Note: No additional details of the company were mentioned in the job description) Job Description:
    You will work with a PE backed firm in the paper and packaging industry, being part of the expansion journey to becoming a packaging solutions player.

    Key Responsibilities:

  • • Translate the promoter / board vision into a 3-5 year operational plan for paper and corrugation businesses.

  • • Deliver annual operating plan including volumes, capacity utilization, conversion costs, OTIF, quality, EBITDA margin targets.

  • • Evaluate and drive new plant locations such as in the Chennai/Bangalore belt, capacity expansion, debottlenecking, and automation.
  • • Own the performance of all plants (paper mill + corrugated plants) including production planning, maintenance, quality, and safety.

  • • Improve capacity utilization, machine uptime, yield, power & fuel efficiency, and wastage levels.

  • • Standardize SOPs, 5S, TPM/lean practices across locations.

  • • Ensure statutory and environmental compliance (Pollution Control Board, safety norms, boiler, and factory regulations).
  • • Work with Head - Logistics & SCM to optimize raw material sourcing (waste paper / kraft), freight, warehouse footprint.

  • • Decide make vs buy for corrugated capacity, satellite units, stock points near key customer clusters (Chennai, Bengaluru, etc.).

  • • Build reliable demand forecasting + production planning interface with sales.
  • • Support sales team in key account management with large FMCG, e-commerce, auto ancillary, and industrial customers.

  • • Oversee costing, pricing logic, and margin discipline at product/customer/plant level.

  • • Resolve major service issues, quality complaints, and credit/payment escalations.
  • • Build a strong second line including plant heads, SCM head, quality head, project managers.

  • • Move the organization from promoter-centric to process-driven without losing agility.

  • • Install performance management systems: KPIs, monthly reviews, dashboards, incentive structures for operations.
  • • Champion ERP/MIS implementation, ensuring a single source of truth for production, inventory, cost, and profitability.

  • • Provide a monthly ops pack to promoters/PE investors with clear metrics and variance analysis.

  • • Strengthen internal controls, approvals, and risk management in operati
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