Senior Manager

Job Description

Senior Manager – Utilities (Water)

Position Title: Senior Manager – Utilities (Water)
Department: Facilities & Utilities / Engineering Services
Location: Manufacturing Plant
Reports To: Head – Utilities / Manufacturing Operations / Engineering Director
Direct Reports: Managers / Leads – Water & Wastewater Utilities

Role Purpose

Provide strategic, technical, and people leadership for end‑to‑end water and wastewater utilities across the plant (and multi‑plant, if applicable). Lead water security, sustainability, statutory compliance, cost optimization, and technology roadmap aligned with business continuity, ESG commitments, and long‑term capacity expansion. Own plant (or cluster)‑level Specific Water Consumption (SWC), reuse/recycle, reliability, and governance outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategy, Governance & Business Continuity

• Define and execute the water management strategy & roadmap: capacity planning, redundancy, drought preparedness, and long‑term sourcing.
• Act as single‑point accountability for water risk management, ZLD robustness, and regulatory posture.
• Establish governance frameworks, standards, and best practices for utilities operation across shifts / plants.
• Own annual OPEX & CAPEX budgeting, multi‑year investment plans, and ROI tracking for utilities.

2) Operations Excellence & Reliability

• Ensure 24×7 safe and compliant operations of WTP, RO/RO‑EDI, DM, Softener, UF/MBR, Cooling Towers, Boiler Feedwater Systems, ETP, STP, ZLD (MEE/ATFD), sludge handling, and plant‑wide water networks.
• Drive world‑class reliability targets (≥99% uptime for critical systems) through TPM, asset health monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Sponsor predictive & condition‑based maintenance programs using CMMS (SAP PM / Maximo).

3) Performance Management & Optimization

• Own and review plant / cluster‑level utilities KPIs:
• Specific Water Consumption (SWC)
• % Recycle / Reuse
• Cost per kl
• Energy per kl
• Chemical intensity
• Compliance & audit scores
• Lead Lean / Six Sigma / DOE programs for recovery improvement, membrane performance optimization, CT cycle enhancement, and blowdown minimization.
• Institutionalize water & mass balance dashboards and analytics for real‑time decision‑making.

4) Compliance, EHS & Sustainability Leadership

• Ensure 100% compliance with CPCB / SPCB norms, Water Act, Hazardous Waste Rules, and permit conditions.
• Serve as utilities owner for ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and ESG audits.
• Champion safety leadership: chemical management, confined space, work at height, contractor safety, and emergency preparedness.
• Deliver ESG water targets aligned to corporate sustainability commitments.

5) Projects, Technology & Digitalization

• Provide leadership oversight for brownfield & greenfield projects:
• Basis of design, technology selection
• Vendor evaluation & governance
• Commissioning & stabilization
• Sponsor adoption of new water technologies:
• Advanced membranes & resins
• Zero‑liquid‑discharge optimization
• Low‑chemical / low‑energy treatment solutions
• Drive digital transformation: SCADA/BMS integration, historian analytics, alarm rationalization, and Power BI executive dashboards.

6) People, Vendor & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and mentor future‑ready utilities leadership through succession planning and capability development.
• Lead multiple managers, engineers, and cross‑shift teams; define competency frameworks and training roadmaps.
• Manage strategic AMCs, rate contracts, and long‑term supplier partnerships (chemicals, membranes, sludge disposal).
• Collaborate closely with Production, Process, Quality, EHS, Projects, Finance, and Corporate Sustainability teams.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• B.E./B.Tech in Chemical / Mechanical / Environmental Engineering (M.Tech preferred).
• 14–18 years experience in large‑scale manufacturing utilities with 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Deep expertise in RO/UF/MBR/DM/Softener, ETP/STP, ZLD, cooling water systems, and water networks.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, IMS standards, CMMS, and SCADA systems.

Technical & Leadership Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of membrane science, resin chemistry, hydraulics, and instrumentation.
• Proven ability to lead large CAPEX programs and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Strong business acumen: cost optimization, financial evaluation, risk management.
• Executive‑level communication, decision‑making, and crisis management skills.

KPIs for the Role

• SWC: Sustained year‑on‑year reduction vs baseline.
• Recycle / Reuse: Best‑in‑class ZLD performance.
• Reliability: ≥99% uptime for critical utilities.
• Compliance: Zero statutory violations / audit NCs.
• Cost Efficiency: Utilities cost within budget with validated savings.
• Safety: Zero LTI; proactive near‑miss closure.