Hiring for Head - Engineering, Plant Maintenance & Projects for food manufacturing company based at Nadiad

Job Description:

Hiring  for a Head - Engineering, Plant Maintenance & Projects to lead the complete engineering, utilities, maintenance and project function for a modern, highly automated food manufacturing plant. The role requires a hands-on technical leader with strong exposure to Namkeen, snacks, food manufacturing or FMCG plant operations, including automatic processing and packaging lines, utilities, engineering cost control, OEM/vendor coordination and plant expansion projects.

The candidate should be capable of working directly with Directors / Promoters, understanding plant-level engineering needs across mechanical, electrical, utilities, automation, safety and infrastructure areas, and converting business requirements into reliable engineering systems and timely project execution.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering & Plant Maintenance

• Lead the complete engineering, plant maintenance, utility and technical services function for the manufacturing unit.
• Ensure high machine uptime through robust preventive, predictive and breakdown maintenance systems.
• Plan and monitor maintenance schedules for processing lines, frying systems, seasoning systems, conveying, cooling, packaging, material handling and support equipment.
• Maintain machine history records, breakdown analysis, spare parts planning, maintenance checklists and engineering documentation.
• Improve plant productivity by reducing recurring breakdowns, downtime, wastage, rework and equipment-related losses.
• Drive structured root-cause analysis for major breakdowns and recurring technical problems.

Machinery & Automation Exposure

• Manage fully automatic and semi-automatic food manufacturing machinery used in Namkeen, snacks or FMCG operations.
• Work with processing and packaging equipment from reputed OEMs such as Heat and Control, Favorite or similar machinery manufacturers.
• Support automation improvements, equipment modification, line balancing and efficiency enhancement initiatives.
• Ensure all machinery is maintained as per OEM recommendations, food safety requirements and plant operating standards.

Project Management

• Lead plant engineering projects including new machinery installation, capacity expansion, automation, line modification, utilities improvement and infrastructure development.
• Prepare project scope, technical specifications, cost estimates, business justification, implementation plan, manpower needs and execution timelines.
• Track project progress against milestones, cost, quality, safety and commissioning requirements.
• Coordinate with Directors / Promoters, Production, Quality, Purchase, Finance, OEMs, contractors, consultants and vendors for timely execution.
• Manage machinery installation, testing, commissioning, trials, stabilization and final handover to operations.
• Identify project risks, cost variations, technical gaps and execution delays, and ensure timely escalation and corrective action.

Utilities, Infrastructure & Compliance

• Oversee plant utilities including electrical systems, compressors, boilers, DG sets, HVAC, water systems, air handling, fire systems, refrigeration and other support systems.
• Ensure reliable and cost-effective utility operations with focus on energy saving, water saving, compressed air efficiency and operating cost control.
• Maintain plant infrastructure, civil works, fabrication requirements, safety systems and engineering support areas.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with food safety, hygiene, EHS, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits, inspections and certifications by maintaining engineering records, safety compliance and plant maintenance documentation.
• Build contractor safety discipline and ensure safe work practices during maintenance shutdowns, installations and project activities.

Vendor, OEM & Cost Management

• Develop and manage reliable vendor networks for spare parts, service, automation, fabrication, utilities, AMC, plant projects and technical support.
• Negotiate with OEMs, contractors and suppliers for cost-effective service contracts, spare parts, project execution and maintenance support.
• Plan critical spares, reduce dependency-related downtime and control inventory without affecting plant reliability.
• Prepare and monitor engineering, maintenance, utilities and project budgets.
• Track maintenance cost, repair cost, spare consumption, utility cost, AMC cost, contractor cost and downtime losses.
• Drive cost reduction through preventive maintenance, vendor development, energy optimization and process improvement.

Required Experience & Technical Knowledge

Key Competencies

Key Performance Indicators

Preferred Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should be a mature, hands-on, plant-focused engineering leader with strong exposure to Namkeen, snacks, food manufacturing or FMCG operations. The person should be comfortable managing both day-to-day plant maintenance and long-term engineering projects, while working directly with Directors / Promoters. The candidate must bring technical depth, cost consciousness, vendor control, team leadership and the ability to support future automation, capacity expansion and plant reliability initiatives.

For further details please call Megha on 9377677857 or you can share your updated candidature on megha@postaresue.co.in