Associate Manager - Plant Utilities

About the job
Position Summary:

The Associate Manager Utility (Clean & Black Utilities) is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, compliant, and uninterrupted operation of all utility systems supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging, warehouse, laboratory, and support operations. The role oversees the operation, maintenance, qualification, and continuous improvement of critical utility systems including Purified Water (PW), Water for Injection (WFI), Pure Steam, Nitrogen, Compressed Air, Reverse Osmosis (RO), Boilers, Raw Water, Soft Water, and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) systems. The position is accountable for maintaining utility systems in a validated and inspection-ready state, ensuring full compliance with cGMP, EHS, regulatory, and quality requirements while achieving maximum equipment reliability and availability through effective preventive, predictive, corrective, and breakdown maintenance programs. The role also drives operational excellence through energy optimization, cost efficiency, asset lifecycle management, contractor and vendor management, capital project execution, and continuous improvement initiatives. The incumbent collaborates closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Validation, and EHS functions to ensure uninterrupted utility support for business operations, successful audit outcomes, and sustainable utility performance. The position is responsible for delivering key performance targets including 100% utility availability, 100% preventive maintenance compliance through SAP, zero critical utility-related production interruptions, and regulatory compliance across all utility systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Focus on long-term reliability, compliance, optimization, and business support.
Develop utility strategies to ensure sustainable, reliable, and compliant operations.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives for equipment reliability, energy efficiency, water conservation, and cost optimization.
Plan and execute utility-related capital projects, upgrades, expansions, and modernization programs.
Ensure utility systems remain qualified, validated, and audit-ready in compliance with cGMP and regulatory requirements.
Lead risk assessments, deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and data integrity initiatives related to utility systems.
Establish performance KPIs and achieve targets for utility availability, maintenance compliance, and operational excellence.
Manage budgets, contracts, vendors, and service providers to optimize operational effectiveness and costs.
Support business continuity through capacity planning, resource planning, and utility infrastructure development.
Lead utility functions during regulatory, customer, corporate, and internal audits.
Focus on day-to-day execution, maintenance, and uninterrupted utility supply.
Operate and maintain PW, WFI, Pure Steam, Nitrogen, Compressed Air, RO, Boilers, Raw Water, Soft Water, and ETP systems.
Ensure uninterrupted utility supply to manufacturing, packaging, warehouse, laboratory, and support areas.
Execute preventive, predictive, corrective, and breakdown maintenance activities through SAP.
Monitor utility system performance and promptly address operational issues and equipment failures.
Ensure timely completion and closure of SAP work orders, notifications, and maintenance records.
Maintain SOPs, logbooks, calibration records, maintenance documentation, and GDP compliance.
Conduct troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.
Maintain critical spare parts inventory and availability of operational resources.
Coordinate raw water procurement, tanker unloading, storage monitoring, consumption tracking, and bill verification.
Supervise contractors and vendors during maintenance and operational activities while ensuring EHS and GMP compliance.

Required Qualification, Knowledge and Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
8-12 years of experience in utilities operation and maintenance, preferably in the pharmaceutical industry.
Hands-on experience with PW, WFI, Pure Steam, Compressed Air, Nitrogen, RO, Boilers, Water Treatment Systems, and ETP.
Experience with SAP PM/CMMS, maintenance planning, and asset reliability management.
Proven experience in cGMP compliance, audits, deviations, CAPA, change control, and utility system validation/qualification.
Experience in managing utility projects, contractors, vendors, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to lead utility and maintenance operations effectively.
Excellent technical troubleshooting, problem-solving, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) capabilities.
Proven ability to plan, organize, and manage maintenance activities, resources, contractors, and vendors.
Proficiency in SAP PM and CMMS for maintenance planning, work-order management, and performance monitoring.
Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, risk assessment, safety requirements, and audit management.
Effective communication, reporting, project execution, and continuous improvement skills with a focus on operational excellence and cost optimization.