Production Manager – ISBL Vegan (U-100/200)

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Production Manager for the ISBL Vegan (U-100/200) unit to lead production operations at Safco Ventures, a sustainable aviation fuel facility converting used cooking oil into renewable aviation fuel. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a next-generation sustainable fuel plant focused on safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible operations.

Key Responsibilities:
- Lead production operations with visible field leadership across all shifts, ensuring clear communication of objectives and accountability at team and individual levels.
- Manage production organization, manpower planning, shift coverage, and workforce readiness to meet operational demands.
- Oversee production readiness activities including system handover, commissioning, start-up, and ramp-up phases.
- Ensure all operating procedures, checklists, operator rounds, shift handovers, logbooks, and alarm/trip response systems are fully prepared and operational.
- Represent production during PSSR, commissioning, and start-up reviews.
- Coordinate closely with Projects, EPC, Licensor, Engineering, and Maintenance teams during start-up, ramp-up, and performance testing.
- Translate approved business and supply plans into actionable daily and short-term operating targets.
- Monitor production performance, unit constraints, product specifications, feedstock availability, and inventory interfaces.
- Optimize throughput, yield, product quality, catalyst and chemical consumption, and maintain operating stability.
- Track and improve consumption of utilities including steam, fuel, power, water, hydrogen, and others.
- Coordinate planned maintenance, inspections, shutdowns, and turnaround activities to minimize downtime.
- Maintain and update SOPs, start-up/shutdown procedures, standing instructions, operating logs, and shift handover standards.
- Manage operational changes through the approved Management of Change (MOC) process.
- Ensure compliance with PTW, isolation/LOTO, confined-space entry, gas testing, safe work practices, environmental controls, and product quality requirements.
- Participate in HAZOP/PHA, LOPA/SIL reviews, incident investigations, audits, PSSR, and emergency drills as required.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, root cause analysis (RCA), and efforts to reduce recurring operational losses.
- Prepare accurate daily, weekly, and monthly production and performance reports.
- Own the production training and competency plan for shift personnel and coordinate licensor/vendor training programs.

Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in refinery, petrochemical, or renewable fuels operations.
- Extensive experience in continuous-process plants and managing shift operations.
- At least 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience with direct accountability for an operating unit or comparable production area.
- Proven expertise in pre-commissioning, commissioning support, start-up, shutdown, troubleshooting, production optimization, and maintaining safe operating discipline.
- Working knowledge of Process Safety Management, PSSR, MOC, HAZOP/PHA, incident investigation, PTW/isolation practices, and emergency response protocols.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits:
- Experience with hydrotreating or hydrogen-rich process units, renewable feedstocks, or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)/renewable diesel technologies is preferred.
- Licensor-specific experience with Vegan technology will be considered an advantage.
- Competitive pay starting from Rs 200,000 per month.
- The position requires in-person attendance at the work location.

This role demands strong leadership, operational expertise, and a commitment to safety and environmental responsibility within a cutting-edge sustainable fuel production environment.