Site Head - API Manufacturing

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs 4000000 - Rs 7000000 (ie INR 40-70 LPA)

Experience: 15+ yrs

Location: Mumbai

Job Type: full-time

We are seeking a seasoned and results-driven Site Head – API Manufacturing to lead and oversee end-to-end operations of a large-scale Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing facility. This leadership role is responsible for driving operational excellence, regulatory compliance, manufacturing efficiency, quality standards, and business performance while ensuring sustainable growth and profitability.

As the Site Head, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing, engineering, quality assurance, quality control, supply chain, EHS (Environment, Health & Safety), maintenance, and plant administration functions. You will play a critical role in ensuring that manufacturing operations consistently meet production targets, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in API manufacturing, strong people leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of managing complex pharmaceutical operations. This position requires a balance of strategic thinking and operational execution to drive productivity, compliance, innovation, and continuous improvement across the manufacturing site.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of API manufacturing operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant plant performance.
• Develop and execute site-level strategies aligned with organizational business objectives, growth plans, and operational targets.
• Drive manufacturing excellence by optimizing production processes, capacity utilization, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure adherence to cGMP, regulatory guidelines, quality standards, and pharmaceutical industry best practices.
• Lead cross-functional teams across Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Engineering, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and EHS functions.
• Monitor and improve key operational metrics including production output, yield improvement, cost optimization, cycle time reduction, and on-time delivery performance.
• Oversee plant budgeting, resource planning, capital expenditure initiatives, and operational cost management.
• Ensure successful regulatory inspections, customer audits, and compliance assessments while maintaining a strong quality culture.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on process optimization, operational excellence, lean manufacturing, and productivity enhancement.
• Drive operational risk management and establish robust systems for safety, compliance, and business continuity.
• Collaborate with R&D, technical services, and commercial teams to support new product introductions, technology transfers, and scale-up activities.
• Build and develop high-performing leadership teams through coaching, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.
• Establish strong stakeholder relationships with customers, regulatory authorities, vendors, and internal leadership teams.
• Lead digital transformation and automation initiatives to improve manufacturing effectiveness and operational visibility.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, quality, safety, and continuous improvement throughout the site.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 15+ years of progressive experience within the pharmaceutical industry, with significant leadership experience in API Manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale API manufacturing facilities and complex production operations.
• Strong understanding of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient manufacturing processes, plant operations, and production management.
• Deep knowledge of cGMP regulations, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.
• Experience handling regulatory inspections from domestic and international authorities and managing customer audits successfully.
• Strong expertise in manufacturing excellence, operational efficiency, process optimization, and cost management initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams and drive high-performance cultures.
• Experience managing plant budgets, capital projects, operational planning, and resource allocation.
• Strong understanding of EHS requirements, risk management practices, and workplace safety standards.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capabilities with a data-driven and results-oriented approach.
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement programs such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or similar methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across business functions and leadership levels.
• Exceptional communication, people management, and organizational leadership abilities.
• Strategic mindset combined with strong execution capabilities to deliver operational and business objectives.
• Ability to lead transformation initiatives and support sustainable business growth in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.