VP of Operational Excellence

Objective of this role :

The COO will be responsible for driving operational excellence across all divisions and functions, ensuring robust processes, cost competitiveness, and customer-focused delivery. As a key member of the leadership team, the COO will align overall operations with the company’s long-term growth vision while strengthening manufacturing, supply chain, technology, and people capabilities to support sustained scalability.

Roles and Responsibility :

Strategic Responsibilities :

Collaborate with the Board to build a compelling long-term vision that motivates teams to achieve the organization’s growth targets.

Define the strategic direction of the company in alignment with the Board of Directors (BOD) and ensure its effective execution.

Lead the execution of current and future business commitments to expand the company’s footprint across targeted markets.

Strengthen the leadership team by focusing on capability building, succession planning for critical roles, skill enhancement, and fostering a unified organizational culture.

Operational Responsibilities :

Oversee end-to-end business operations with a strong focus on margin control and achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual performance goals.

Develop growth strategies and implementation plans with a sharp focus on market needs, operational deliverables, performance metrics, and long-term sustainability.

Engage consistently with existing customers and build strong external relationships with clients, vendors, industry leaders, and influencers to reinforce the company’s brand and market presence.

Work closely with the Finance Head and Board to ensure robust financial controls, timely reporting, and adherence to budgets.

Assess team capabilities and implement development programs to enhance skills and improve productivity across functions.

Deploy continuous improvement methodologies—Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean, and Kaizen—to improve throughput, efficiency, and cost competitiveness.

Track industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to keep operations future-ready.

Ensure optimal plant capacity utilization aligned with future demand forecasts and upcoming business wins.

'Business Growth Enablement :

Support business diversification into new product lines

Build scalable supply chain and vendor ecosystems to minimize lead times and reduce logistics constraints.

Partner with Sales and Business Development teams to align operational capabilities with customer (OEM & Tier-1) requirements.

'Governance & Compliance

Drive strong operational governance through structured goal sheets, dashboards, and periodic review mechanisms.

Ensure compliance with quality standards (IATF, ISO) and all statutory and regulatory requirements.

Identify and manage risks across production, supply chain, operations, and people functions.

People & Culture :

Build, mentor, and develop a strong leadership pipeline across all functions.

Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and customer-centricity.

Partner with HR to strengthen talent acquisition, leadership development, capability building, and succession planning initiatives.

Key Areas :

Business Performance & Growth :

Deliver year-on-year revenue and profitability targets in line with the organization’s strategic plan.

Expand the company’s presence across key markets by driving new business wins and enabling diversification into new product lines.

Strengthen customer relationships (OEMs & Tier-1s) and enhance customer satisfaction through consistent delivery, quality, and responsiveness.

Operational Excellence :

Improve operational efficiency across plants and functions through Lean, TOC, and Kaizen initiatives.

Achieve targeted improvements in throughput, capacity utilization, cycle time, and OEE.

Ensure consistent on-time delivery (OTD), reduction of rework, and improved first-pass quality.

Strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce lead times, and remove logistical bottlenecks

Culture, Governance & Stakeholder Management

Drive a unified, customer-centric organizational culture across all plants and functions.

Embed operational discipline, innovation, and agility throughout the workforce.

Build an engaging work environment that supports employee development, collaboration, and productivity.

Strengthen governance through structured reviews, dashboards, KPIs, and robust compliance systems.

Ensure adherence to statutory, regulatory, and quality standards (IATF, ISO).

Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders including the Board, customers, vendors, partners, and regulatory bodies.

Proactively identify, mitigate, and manage risks across operations, supply chain, and people functions.

Candidate Criteria :

Educational Qualifications

Engineering degree in Mechanical / Automobile / Electrical / Polymer (preferred).

MBA in Business Management or Strategy from a reputed institute (preferred).

Experience Requirements

25+ years of experience in the automotive components or manufacturing industry.

5–7 years in a senior leadership role such as COO / Operation Director / Business Head, with full operational responsibility.

Proven experience in scaling manufacturing operations, managing multi-plant environments, and leading large teams.

Strong experience working with OEMs and Tier-1 customers, ensuring delivery, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Exposure to global markets, international customer requirements, and M&A / post-merger integration (preferred).

Technical & Functional Expertise

Deep expertise in Lean, TOC, Kaizen , and world-class manufacturing practices.

Strong understanding of automotive component manufacturing , production processes, and shop-floor operations.

Solid knowledge of supply chain, vendor management, procurement, and production planning .

Comprehensive understanding of quality systems such as IATF / ISO and statutory compliance requirements.

Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans , and other automotive-specific processes.

Exposure to digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0 , automation, and transformation initiatives.

Business & Financial Acumen

Strong P&L management experience with a track record of improving EBITDA, PBT , and overall financial performance.

Strong financial discipline with expertise in cost control, budgeting, and operational efficiency .

Demonstrated ability to drive cost competitiveness , optimize resources, and manage CapEx / OpEx.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

Excellent leadership and team-building capabilities with a strong focus on people development .

High customer orientation with the ability to build and sustain relationships with OEMs, Tier-1 customers , and other key stakeholders.

Strong decision-making ability with a strategic mindset and hands-on operational approach.

Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.