General Manager / Plant Head

Job Description:

Job Description – General Manager / Plant Head
Advanced Precision Machining & Special Processes Facility
Location: Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Reports To: Steering Committee (JV Board Oversight)
Role Type: Full P&L Responsibility
About the Joint Venture
The Kanoo–Unimech Joint Venture LLC is a strategic partnership between Unimech
Aerospace and Manufacturing Limited (India) and Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Company
Limited (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
The JV is being established to build a state-of-the-art Advanced Precision Machining and
Remanufacturing Facility in MODON Industrial Area, Dammam, aligned with Saudi Vision
2030 and IKTVA (In-Kingdom Total Value Add) mandates.
The initial and primary industry focus of the JV is the Oil & Gas – Upstream segment,
including drilling, wellhead, pressure control, and production equipment components. The
facility is being designed to meet API-driven and upstream qualification standards required
by major EPCs and energy operators in the Kingdom.
Role Overview
We are seeking a seasoned and entrepreneurial General Manager / Plant Head to lead this
greenfield Advanced Precision Machining & Remanufacturing Facility. This role carries full
P&L responsibility and end-to-end accountability for building, operationalizing, qualifying,
and scaling the JV facility.
The role requires deep familiarity with Oil & Gas upstream customer qualification cycles,
API standards, and high-integrity machining and remanufacturing of critical components.
Key Responsibilities
1. Business & P&L Leadership
• Own full Profit & Loss responsibility for the JV operations.
• Deliver revenue, EBITDA, cash flow, and ROCE targets as approved by the Steering
Committee.
• Build and execute annual operating plans and 3-year scale-up roadmap.
• Drive cost optimization, productivity improvements, and margin expansion.
• Manage capital deployment, capacity ramp-up, and machine utilization.
2. Greenfield Execution & Scale-Up
• Lead plant commissioning, layout finalization, equipment installation, and operational
readiness.
• Oversee ramp-up from initial machine set to full planned capacity.

• Establish structured SOPs, ERP systems, and performance dashboards.
• Build scalable processes to support phased expansion into upstream remanufacturing
services.
3. Operational & Technical Leadership
• Lead advanced CNC machining operations (milling, turning, grinding) for high-integrity
upstream components.
• Oversee machining and remanufacturing of upstream oilfield components such as
drilling tools, wellhead equipment, pressure control components, valves, and
rotating/static equipment.
• Oversee qualification and validation of special processes including heat treatment,
surface treatments & coatings (HVOF, laser cladding), NDT, welding, and API-compliant
processes.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Ensure optimal asset utilization and high OEE.
4. Quality, Certification & Compliance
• Lead facility certification journey including API Q1, API Monograms, and ISO
certifications.
• Strong working knowledge of API Q1 systems and upstream compliance frameworks is
mandatory.
• Ensure compliance with EPC and upstream customer audit requirements.
• Establish zero-defect culture with strong First Pass Yield discipline.
• Ensure strict compliance with HSE and Saudi regulatory requirements.
5. Customer & Market Interface
• Act as primary operational interface for upstream customers and EPCs.
• Lead technical discussions, audits, and qualification visits.
• Build credibility within the upstream ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
• Support business development in collaboration with JV leadership.
6. Talent & Localization Leadership
• Recruit and build a high-performance leadership team.
• Develop a skilled workforce aligned with Saudi localization requirements and IKTVA
mandates.
• Drive training, capability building, and succession planning.
• Create a performance-driven, accountable culture.
Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 18+ years of experience in precision machining and special processes.
• Mandatory: Minimum 10+ years of direct experience in Oil & Gas Upstream
manufacturing or remanufacturing environments.
• Strong exposure to EPC-driven qualification cycles and upstream service companies.

• Minimum 7+ years in senior leadership role with P&L responsibility.
• Hands-on involvement in API-certified facilities is essential.
• Proven experience in greenfield plant setup or large-scale expansion.
• Experience working in GCC upstream ecosystem preferred.
Key Competencies
• Strong understanding of upstream customer qualification and audit-heavy
environments.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with structured execution capability.
• Strong commercial and financial orientation.
• Deep technical credibility in high-integrity machining environments.
• Ability to build systems from scratch.
• High accountability and ownership mentality.
• Strong stakeholder management skills (Board / JV / Customers).
• Commitment to safety,