WE ARE HIRING: Senior Manager Operations / Head of Operations

Location: Sri Lanka
Employment Type: Full-time
Company Industry: Manufacturing / Commercial Refrigeration / Consumer Durables

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Manager Operations / Head of Operations to lead end-to-end manufacturing plant operations within a commercial refrigeration and consumer durables manufacturing environment.

The selected candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence across production, quality, supply chain, engineering, maintenance, HSE, workforce management, budgeting, and stakeholder reporting. This senior leadership role requires strong plant management experience, proven manufacturing leadership, and the ability to translate strategic objectives into measurable operational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Manufacturing Management

• Plan, schedule, and oversee all production activities to achieve volume, quality, and delivery targets.
• Drive continuous improvement in manufacturing processes for visi coolers and related products.
• Monitor production KPIs and implement corrective actions where required.
• Coordinate capacity planning and ensure optimal utilization of plant resources.
• Ensure on-time delivery, production efficiency, and strong operational control across the plant.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to product quality standards across all manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with the quality function to drive defect reduction and improve customer satisfaction metrics.
• Ensure all plant processes comply with ISO standards, statutory regulations, and internal SOPs.
• Support customer audits, regulatory inspections, and internal compliance reviews.

Engineering & Maintenance

• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance to maximize equipment uptime.
• Lead capital expenditure projects, including new machinery installation, plant upgrades, and automation initiatives.
• Work with engineering teams to implement Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and TPM programmes.
• Manage tooling, jigs, and fixtures lifecycle across manufacturing lines.
• Ensure plant machinery, utilities, and equipment are maintained to support continuous production.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Lead a zero-incident safety culture across all plant operations.
• Ensure compliance with HSE regulations, including refrigerant handling, electrical safety, and fire safety protocols.
• Conduct and oversee risk assessments, safety audits, and incident investigations.
• Promote safe working practices across all departments and operational teams.

People Management & Workforce Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop cross-functional plant teams.
• Manage workforce planning, shift scheduling, attendance, and performance appraisals.
• Foster a high-performance culture aligned with operational and business goals.
• Identify training needs and build internal capability across plant departments.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams to achieve productivity, quality, safety, and efficiency targets.

Budget, Cost & Performance Management

• Monitor cost per unit, overheads, and operational variances.
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives across manufacturing, energy, logistics, and procurement.
• Prepare actionable recommendations to improve cost efficiency and operational performance.
• Support budgeting, cost control, and resource optimization across the plant.

Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Provide regular operational reports covering production performance, quality metrics, safety incidents, and improvement initiatives.
• Represent plant operations in management reviews, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align plant-level execution with business strategy.
• Ensure operational decisions are supported by accurate reporting, data, and performance insights.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field is mandatory.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or an MBA will be preferred.
• Certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt, TPM, or PMP will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in a senior plant management or operations leadership role.
• Proven experience in consumer durables, refrigeration, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, or white goods manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary plant teams of 200+ employees.
• Strong track record in implementing Lean, TPM, process improvement, and efficiency enhancement programmes.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, quality assurance, engineering maintenance, HSE, cost control, and workforce management.
• Excellent leadership, decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication, reporting, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to lead large-scale plant operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Ready to take your career to new heights?

We're InTalent Asia, your go-to recruitment partner in Sri Lanka, and we've got an exciting opportunity for you! Our client is looking for a dynamic individual to fill the role of Senior Manager Operations / Head of Operations.

At InTalent Asia, we're not just recruiters; we're here to architect your career success. Join us in the journey of matching your skills with unparalleled opportunities.

Apply now and see how you can be the perfect fit for this exclusive position!

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