Country Manager

Position: Country Manager

Location:Pune, India
(Includes a 6-month onboarding and training assignment at the facility in Europe)

Role Overview: An experienced and entrepreneurial industrial leader to lead its manufacturing operations in India. This role combinesoperational leadership,P&L ownership, andlong-term organizational development, with strong integration into the company's European standards and culture. While the General Manager will contribute to key decisions during the plant establishment phase,their primary focus will be on stabilizing, scaling, andoptimizingoperations post-launch.

Education-  Bachelor’s orMaster’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field/ MBA preferred

• 15–25 years of progressive leadership experience in automotive, industrial, or precision manufacturing
  

• Minimum 5–8 years in aPlant Head / Factory Manager / General Manager role in India
  

• Exposure togreenfield or plant ramp-up environments, with the ability to contribute at a strategic level (without requiring full operational ownership of the setup phase)
  

• Experience working with or withinEuropean industrial organizations (e.g., Tier-1 suppliers, OEM ecosystems)
  

• Strong understanding ofEuropean operating standards, including HSE, governance, and reporting transparency
  

• Demonstrated experience managing:
  Customer relationships with major OEMs / Tier-1 suppliers
  Quality, environmental, and safety systems (QMS / EMS / HSE)
  P&L responsibility, CAPEX planning, and budgeting
  
• Comfortable operating within amatrix organization with structured reporting to international headquarters
  
  

Core Competencies

Technical & Operational Excellence:

• Deepexpertisein manufacturing processes
  (preferably metal forming, stamping, sealing, or precision components)
• Strong background in: Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen and Continuous Improvement, Total Productive Maintenance, (TPM), Cost optimization and operational efficiency
  
• Advanced knowledge of quality and compliance systems: ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001
  

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Contribution to Plant Setup

• Providetargeted input and oversight during the plant setup and industrialization phase
  

• Support key decisions related to operations, organization, and standards
  

• Ensure alignment with global requirements without direct day-to-day involvement
  

2. Operations & Business Leadership

• Assume full responsibility for plant performance withhigh autonomy and accountability post-launch
  

• Manage all core functions: Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR & Administration, Finance
  
• Drive operational excellence, cost control, and productivity improvements
  

• Build and develop a strong local leadership team
  

3. Customer & Business Development

• Act as the senior representative for key customer accounts
  

• Ensure delivery excellence and contractual compliance
  

• Support business growth by developing relationships andidentifyingnew opportunities in India
  

4. Integration & Knowledge Transfer

• Complete a6-month immersion in Europe toacquire operational standards and culture
  

• Transfer European manufacturing practices and quality expectations to the Indian operation
  

• Foster strong alignment and collaboration between India and Europe
  

5. Governance & Performance Management

• Provide clear, structured, and transparent reporting to European leadership
  

• Monitor and drive key KPIs, including:
  Production efficiency, Quality performance, Cost management, Safety metrics, Workforce performance
  
• Ensure full transparency on risks, challenges, and progress