Job Title: Site Engineering Head – Fermentation Plant
Location: Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
Department: Engineering & Projects
Reports To: Plant Head / COO
Role Overview
The Site Engineering Head will lead all engineering, maintenance, utilities, and capital project functions for a large-scale fermentation-based manufacturing facility. This role ensures optimal plant reliability, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement of engineering systems supporting fermentation processes (biotech/pharma/food).
Key Responsibilities
1. Engineering & Maintenance Leadership
- Lead mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and automation teams.
- Ensure high uptime and reliability of fermentation systems, utilities, and downstream processing equipment.
- Develop and implement preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance strategies.
2. Fermentation & Process Support
- Collaborate with Production and Process teams to ensure efficient operation of fermenters, bioreactors, and associated systems.
- Support scale-up, debottlenecking, and process optimization initiatives.
- Ensure sterility, contamination control, and process integrity.
3. Utilities & Infrastructure Management
- Oversee critical utilities: steam boilers, chillers, cooling towers, compressed air, water systems (RO, DM, WFI), HVAC.
- Ensure uninterrupted supply of utilities aligned with fermentation process requirements.
- Optimize energy consumption and drive sustainability initiatives.
4. Capital Projects & Expansion
- Lead greenfield/brownfield projects, including planning, execution, and commissioning.
- Manage EPC contractors, budgets, timelines, and technical compliance.
- Implement new technologies and automation systems.
5. Compliance & Safety
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards (GMP, ISO, environmental and safety norms).
- Drive EHS initiatives and maintain a zero-harm culture.
- Prepare for audits and inspections.
6. Automation & Digitalization
- Oversee DCS/PLC/SCADA systems and plant automation.
- Drive Industry 4.0 initiatives, including predictive analytics and smart maintenance tools.
7. Cost & Performance Management
- Manage engineering budgets, cost optimization, and lifecycle costing.
- Track KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and energy efficiency.
8. Team Development
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing engineering team.
- Develop succession planning and capability-building programs.
Key Requirements
Education
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Instrumentation Engineering.
Experience
- 20-25 years of experience in engineering within fermentation-based industries (biotech, pharma, food, or chemicals).
- Minimum 5+ years in a leadership role managing large manufacturing sites.
Technical Skills
- Strong expertise in fermentation equipment (bioreactors, CIP/SIP systems).
- Knowledge of utilities and clean systems.
- Experience with automation systems (PLC/DCS/SCADA).
- Project management and commissioning experience.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic thinking and execution
- Strong cross-functional collaboration
- Crisis management and decision-making
- Continuous improvement mind-set
Preferred Experience
- Experience in large-scale fermentation plants (e.g., enzymes, probiotics, antibiotics, biofuels).
- Exposure to global regulatory standards.
- Experience in remote or developing industrial regions.
Work Environment
- Manufacturing plant environment with exposure to utilities, heavy machinery, and fermentation processes.
- Required to relocate to Jammu and working in a developing industrial ecosystem.
