The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead large-scale multi-factory apparel manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence, productivity, cost leadership, and sustainable growth across the organization.

The role demands a proven manufacturing leader with deep expertise in production, industrial engineering, lean operations, and multi-site factory management, capable of steering operations with 2,000–3,500+ employees while aligning with global multinational standards.

The COO will partner closely with the CEO and Board to shape operational strategy, enhance competitiveness, and build world-class manufacturing capability.

Key Responsibilities

1. Multi-Factory Operational Leadership

• Lead end-to-end manufacturing operations across multiple apparel factories simultaneously.
• Manage large workforces (2,000–3,500+ employees) with strong productivity and quality outcomes.
• Drive production planning, capacity optimization, on-time delivery, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure global compliance standards across quality, safety, sustainability, and ethical manufacturing.

2. Lean Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

• Implement Lean, Six Sigma, and Industrial Engineering methodologies to improve productivity and reduce waste.
• Drive continuous improvement programs across factories.
• Improve efficiency KPIs such as SMV, line balancing, utilization, rejection rates, and throughput.
• Lead automation, digitization, and process improvement initiatives.

3. Strategic Operations & Growth Planning

• Develop 3–5 year operational strategy aligned with business growth plans.
• Forecast production capacity, workforce planning, and capex investments.
• Identify new factory expansion opportunities and process innovations.
• Align operations with customer demand, product complexity, and global market shifts.

4. Leadership & People Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop factory GMs, Production Heads, IE teams, and Operations leaders.
• Build strong leadership pipelines and succession planning across operations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives across large factory environments.

5. Commercial & Financial Discipline

• Own operational P&L performance, cost optimization, and productivity improvement.
• Manage budgets, costing, margins, and efficiency targets.
• Partner with merchandising and supply chain teams to optimize profitability.

6. Customer & Stakeholder Alignment

• Work closely with global buyers and multinational clients to meet delivery and quality expectations.
• Represent operations in customer audits and strategic discussions.
• Strengthen relationships with suppliers, compliance bodies, and strategic partners.

Leadership Expectations

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic Thinking & Analytical Drive – Ability to forecast growth and plan capacity effectively.
• Operational Excellence Mindset – Proven Lean manufacturing leadership.
• People Leadership Strength – Ability to manage large teams across multiple factories.
• Execution Discipline – Deliver results through structured processes.
• Global Mindset – Experience working with multinational buyers and standards.

Candidate Profile

• 12–15+ years of experience in apparel manufacturing or related industries.
• Minimum 5–8 years in senior leadership roles such as Factory Head, Cluster Head, VP Operations, or COO.
• Managed multi-factory operations with 2,000–3,500+ workforce.
• Strong background in Production, Industrial Engineering, or Operations Management.
• Proven Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma exposure.
• Experience working with multinational apparel clients.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Textile Engineering, Manufacturing, or related discipline.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification – Preferred / Strong Advantage.