Plant Head (Ethanol Distillery)

Job Summary

The Plant Head is responsible for the overall management and performance of an ethanol-based distillery, ensuring safe, efficient, and profitable plant operations. The role involves leading production, engineering, maintenance, utilities, quality assurance, EHS, supply chain coordination, and statutory compliance while achieving production targets and maintaining world-class operational standards. The Plant Head is accountable for maximizing plant availability, optimizing costs, ensuring Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities Plant Head (Ethanol Distillery)

• Lead overall plant operations to achieve production, quality, safety, and profitability targets.
• Ensure efficient operation of fermentation, distillation, utilities, and ethanol production processes.
• Drive operational excellence by optimizing productivity, yield, and plant efficiency.
• Oversee preventive and breakdown maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and plant uptime.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, environmental, excise, and safety regulations.
• Manage plant budgets, manufacturing costs, and resource utilization.
• Ensure availability of raw materials, utilities, and critical consumables for uninterrupted operations.
• Lead quality assurance initiatives to meet product specifications and customer requirements.
• Drive Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), environmental sustainability, and energy conservation initiatives.
• Develop, mentor, and lead cross-functional teams while fostering a high-performance work culture.
• Coordinate with corporate functions, government authorities, auditors, and external stakeholders.
• Lead continuous improvement, process optimization, and capacity enhancement projects.
• Monitor plant performance through key operational KPIs and implement corrective actions.
• Promote a culture of safety, operational discipline, and continuous improvement across the plant.
• Support strategic planning, expansion projects, and long-term business objectives.

Education

• B.E./B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• Diploma/Degree in Industrial Fermentation & Alcohol Technology (DIFAT) preferred.
• MBA (Operations) is an added advantage.

Experience

• 25-30 years of experience in grain-based or molasses-based ethanol/distillery operations.
• Minimum 510 years in a Plant Head/Unit Head/Factory Head role.
• Experience in commissioning or expansion of ethanol plants is desirable.
• Strong exposure to fermentation, distillation, DDGS, evaporation, utilities, and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) operations.