About the Role
We are hiring a Business Head / COO to run day-to-day business operations across our manufacturing and B2B trading divisions, reporting directly to the Managing Director. This is a full P&L ownership role covering sales, operations, finance, and organisation building for a 17-year-old packaging group based in Puducherry.
Key Responsibilities
1. Business Growth & P&L
- Own annual business plan, revenue targets, gross margin, EBITDA, and cash flow.
- Develop and execute growth strategy across manufacturing and trading divisions.
- Identify new customers, markets, products, and revenue opportunities.
- Review business performance and take corrective action.
2. Sales & Commercial
- Lead sales managers and regional sales teams.
- Build a predictable sales pipeline and improve customer acquisition.
- Drive pricing discipline, contribution margins, and customer profitability.
- Strengthen collections and reduce overdue receivables.
- Develop key-account relationships and institutional business.
3. Manufacturing & Operations
- Oversee factory production, quality, maintenance, and dispatch.
- Improve capacity utilisation, productivity, and material yield.
- Implement production planning, SOPs, and operational controls.
- Ensure timely execution of new manufacturing projects.
- Reduce wastage, downtime, and operational inefficiencies.
4. Finance & Working Capital
- Work closely with accounts and purchase teams.
- Monitor daily cash flow, receivables, payables, inventory, and bank limits.
- Maintain working-capital discipline and improve cash conversion.
- Ensure budgets, MIS, and monthly financial reviews are completed.
- Support the MD in capital allocation and expansion decisions.
5. Organisation & Leadership
- Build a strong second-line management team.
- Recruit, train, and develop managers and supervisors.
- Establish clear KRAs, KPIs, accountability, and reporting systems.
- Reduce owner dependency through professional processes.
- Create a culture of execution, discipline, and continuous improvement.
6. Systems & Governance
- Implement standard operating procedures across departments.
- Ensure ERP, MIS, and management reporting are accurate and timely.
- Conduct weekly business reviews and monthly performance reviews.
- Maintain compliance, safety, quality, and internal controls.
Candidate Profile
Must have:
- 12-20 years of relevant business management experience.
- Experience managing a manufacturing or B2B distribution business.
- Strong understanding of sales, operations, finance, and working capital.
- Proven experience leading teams and delivering measurable business results.
- Strong analytical, commercial, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and make decisions.
- Willingness to be based in Puducherry and travel as required.
Preferred:
- Packaging, plastics, industrial consumables, or related manufacturing experience.
- Experience managing a business with Rs 20-100+ Cr annual revenue.
- Previous designation: Business Head / COO / General Manager / Plant Head / Regional Business Head.
- Experience in business expansion, factory commissioning, or multi-location operations.
- MBA / PGDM / Engineering / relevant professional qualification.
Note: We do not hire only based on designation. A strong Business Head / COO with proven execution may be more suitable than a corporate CEO who has never operated a business of this scale.
Performance Expectations
The candidate will be expected to:
- Build a clear 12-month operating plan within the first 30 days.
- Establish department-wise KPIs and weekly review systems.
- Improve sales productivity, collections, and inventory discipline.
- Create a scalable organisation with clear reporting lines.
- Lead manufacturing expansion and ensure projects meet agreed timelines.
- Deliver profitable growth without compromising cash flow.
First 100 Days
0-30 days: Business audit, team assessment, customer review, cash-flow review, and operating plan.
Compensation
Salary: Rs 6-7 LPA CTC, depending on experience and proven results. Variable pay: Performance-linked incentive based on agreed business KPIs. Final compensation based on candidate quality, current package, and business impact.
Pay: ₹600,000.00 - ₹700,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
