Role Purpose
The Head Administration & Facilities is responsible for end-to-end leadership of facilities management, infrastructure, and support services for the manufacturing facility.
The role ensures safe, compliant, cost-effective, and world-class workplace operations, enabling uninterrupted manufacturing, employee well-being, and operational excellence.
Experience
20+ years of progressive experience in Administration, Facilities, Infrastructure, or Plant Support functions within automotive or large manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Administration & Facilities Leadership
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for plant administration, facilities, and infrastructure management across manufacturing, office, warehouse, utilities, and township facilities
- Establish best-in-class administrative systems and policies aligned with global automotive standards.
2. Infrastructure & Asset Management
- Own and manage plant buildings, utilities, HVAC, power, water, waste management, roads, security systems, and common infrastructure.
- Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance of facilities to support 24x7 manufacturing operations.
3. Compliance, Safety & Sustainability
- Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and environmental requirements (Factories Act, Labour Laws, Fire & Safety, Pollution Control, ESG norms).
- Drive workplace safety, emergency preparedness, disaster management, and business continuity planning.
- Lead energy conservation, sustainability, and green initiatives (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, LEED, carbon footprint reduction).
4. Vendor & Contract Management
- Manage large vendor ecosystems covering housekeeping, security, transport, cafeteria, waste disposal, landscaping, and facility services.
- Negotiate and administer high-value contracts, ensuring service quality, SLA adherence, and cost optimization.
5. Employee Services & Workplace Experience
- Oversee employee transport, canteen operations, housing/guest houses, medical facilities, and welfare amenities.
- Ensure a safe, hygienic, and employee-friendly workplace, aligned with global manufacturing best practices.
6. Budgeting & Cost Control
- Own annual CapEx and OpEx budgets for administration and facilities.
- Drive cost optimization, value engineering, and productivity improvements without compromising safety or quality.
7. Crisis & Risk Management
- Lead response for plant emergencies, industrial incidents, natural disasters, and security threats.
- Act as a key member of the Plant Crisis Management Team.
8. Stakeholder Management
- Interface with government authorities, statutory bodies, local administration, auditors, and community stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, HR, EHS, Security, Finance, and Global Corporate teams.
9. Digitalization & Continuous Improvement
- Drive digital transformation of facilities and admin operations (CMMS, smart facilities, access control, surveillance, IoT-based monitoring).
- Implement Lean, TPM, and Kaizen initiatives in support functions.
10. Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead and develop a large multi-disciplinary team across admin, facilities, security, and services.
- Build strong succession pipelines and capability for future expansion.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering / Architecture / Facilities Management / Industrial Management
- MBA / PGDM in Operations, General Management, or Infrastructure Management preferred
Experience & Skills
- 20+ years in Administration & Facilities leadership in automotive or large manufacturing plants
- Strong knowledge of plant infrastructure, utilities, EHS, statutory compliance, and labour laws
- Proven experience managing large CapEx/OpEx budgets and complex vendor ecosystems
- Exposure to greenfield and brownfield plant setups is a strong advantage
- Experience handling Unionized employees.
- Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and crisis-handling skills
- Strong leadership, execution rigor, and decision-making ability
- Fluent in Local Language (Tamil)
