Senior Manager

About the Role

Kutch Copper Limited is looking for an experienced Senior Manager – WSMD Lab to lead laboratory operations supporting one of India's largest copper smelting complexes. The role will be responsible for managing weighing, sampling, moisture determination, analytical quality control, laboratory compliance, equipment reliability, and digital laboratory systems.

The position plays a critical role in ensuring accurate and timely analytical support for smelter operations, enabling data-driven process control, production optimization, and quality assurance while maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations Management

• Lead daily and shift-wise WSMD laboratory operations to support smelter production requirements.
• Ensure timely receipt, preparation, testing, and reporting of samples from smelting, converting, refining, slag, dust, by-products, and other process streams.
• Coordinate with operations, process, and quality teams to prioritize critical samples and provide timely analytical feedback.
• Ensure compliance with sample collection, preparation, preservation, testing, and reporting protocols.

Quality Assurance & Analytical Excellence

• Drive laboratory quality systems and ensure adherence to approved SOPs and testing methodologies.
• Oversee analytical quality control, calibration verification, standardization, and result validation activities.
• Review analytical data, identify deviations, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure accuracy, reliability, and traceability of laboratory results.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve testing turnaround time, workflow efficiency, and analytical performance.
• Support laboratory automation, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive best practices in sample management, testing methodologies, and laboratory operations.
• Analyze operational bottlenecks and lead improvement actions.

Equipment Reliability & Maintenance

• Ensure readiness and reliability of laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Coordinate calibration, preventive maintenance, breakdown resolution, and AMC activities.
• Maintain equipment history, calibration records, maintenance schedules, and audit documentation.
• Work closely with OEMs, maintenance teams, and service providers to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure strict compliance with HSE requirements, laboratory safety standards, and chemical handling procedures.
• Promote safe work practices, PPE compliance, and effective waste management.
• Participate in audits, risk assessments, safety inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Drive closure of safety observations and regulatory requirements.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and mentor laboratory chemists, technicians, samplers, and shift personnel.
• Allocate resources effectively to meet testing requirements and turnaround commitments.
• Support competency development, multi-skilling, and succession planning initiatives.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Inventory, Budget & Cost Control

• Monitor consumption of reagents, chemicals, gases, standards, consumables, and laboratory supplies.
• Support inventory management, procurement planning, and vendor coordination.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives while maintaining testing quality and operational reliability.
• Ensure availability of critical laboratory materials and spares.

Data Analytics & Reporting

• Prepare laboratory MIS, quality summaries, analytical reports, audit data, and performance dashboards.
• Monitor KPIs such as turnaround time, equipment uptime, repeat analysis, and testing accuracy.
• Analyze trends and provide actionable insights to support operational decisions.
• Maintain complete documentation for audits and regulatory compliance.

Digitalization & Automation

• Drive effective utilization of LIMS, SAP Lab, and other laboratory information systems.
• Support implementation of digital tools, dashboards, and automated reporting solutions.
• Ensure data integrity, traceability, and compliance with laboratory digital systems.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and operational transparency.

Desired Candidate Profile

• 15+ years of experience in laboratory operations, analytical quality control, or process laboratories.
• Strong experience within Copper Smelting, Metals & Mining, Non-Ferrous Metals, Chemical Processing, or Large Process Industries .
• Proven expertise in sample preparation, analytical testing, quality assurance, laboratory management, and process support functions.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory quality systems, calibration practices, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing teams, laboratory operations, and cross-functional stakeholder interactions.
• Exposure to LIMS, SAP Lab, digital reporting systems, and laboratory automation initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications & Certifications

• Master's Degree in Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry preferred.
• Certification in Quality Management or Quality Assurance.
• Certifications in Laboratory Management, ISO Systems, or Environmental Compliance will be an added advantage.