COO - Pharma

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗥𝘀 𝟴𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬 - 𝗥𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬 (𝗶𝗲 𝗜𝗡𝗥 𝟴𝟬-𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗟𝗣𝗔)

Experience: 18+ yrs

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Job Type: Full-time

We are looking for an experienced and commercially astute Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Pharma to lead and scale operations across a multi-site pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The role will have end-to-end responsibility for operational excellence, manufacturing performance, quality, supply chain, cost management, and execution across multiple plants and clusters.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in API manufacturing, multi-site operations, plant leadership, and cluster-level management. The role requires a strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory expectations, operational transformation, and business performance.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end pharmaceutical manufacturing operations across multiple API manufacturing sites and clusters.

• Develop and execute the overall operations strategy in alignment with business growth and profitability objectives.

• Drive operational excellence across manufacturing, quality, engineering, maintenance, EHS, supply chain, and plant support functions.

• Establish consistent operating standards, performance metrics, governance mechanisms, and best practices across multiple sites.

• Improve plant productivity, capacity utilisation, yield, throughput, cost efficiency, and overall equipment effectiveness.

• Ensure manufacturing operations comply with applicable GMP, regulatory, quality, safety, and environmental requirements.

• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to maintain inspection readiness and strengthen quality systems.

• Lead initiatives focused on cost optimisation, process improvement, productivity enhancement, and operational transformation.

• Review manufacturing capacity, demand, production planning, inventory, and supply-chain performance across sites.

• Identify operational bottlenecks, risks, and improvement opportunities and ensure timely corrective actions.

• Lead capital expenditure planning for plant expansion, modernisation, technology upgrades, and capacity enhancement.

• Oversee operational integration and performance management across different plants within the assigned cluster.

• Develop and mentor Plant Heads and senior operations leaders while building a strong succession pipeline.

• Establish regular operational reviews covering production, quality, safety, cost, delivery, productivity, and financial performance.

• Support new product introductions, technology transfers, manufacturing scale-up, and capacity expansion initiatives.

• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic investments, acquisitions, site development, and long-term operational planning.

• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational discipline, and performance excellence.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 18+ years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, operations, plant leadership, or a closely related field.

• Extensive experience in API manufacturing and pharmaceutical production environments.

• Proven experience managing multiple manufacturing sites, plants, or operational clusters.

• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical GMP, quality systems, regulatory compliance, EHS, and manufacturing controls.

• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale manufacturing operations with responsibility for productivity, cost, quality, and delivery.

• Strong experience in operational excellence, lean manufacturing, process optimisation, and continuous improvement.

• Experience managing Plant Heads, senior functional leaders, and cross-functional operational teams.

• Strong financial and commercial understanding, including budgets, CAPEX, operational costs, and profitability drivers.

• Experience leading plant expansions, capacity enhancement, technology transfers, or major operational transformation programs.

• Strong strategic thinking combined with the ability to drive execution at plant and shop-floor levels.

• Excellent stakeholder-management, leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven approach to operational management.

• Ability to manage complex multi-site and cluster operations in a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment.

• A degree in Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred; advanced management qualifications would be an advantage.