Senior Manager - WSMD Lab (Copper Concentrate)

About Business:

Adani Group: Adani Group is a diversified organisation in India comprising 10 publicly traded companies. It has created a world class logistics and utility infrastructure portfolio that has a pan-India presence. Adani Group is headquartered in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, India. Over the years, Adani Group has positioned itself to be the market leader in its logistics and energy businesses focusing on large scale infrastructure development in India with O & M practices benchmarked to global standards. With four IG rated businesses, it is the only Infrastructure Investment Grade issuer in India.

Job Purpose:

The QA Lab Head in a copper mining and smelting operation ensures the highest standards of quality across all stages of production by overseeing various lab functions. The role involves managing multiple labs, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, optimizing testing processes, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve quality control and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

Lab Operations Planning and Execution:

• Manage daily and shift-wise laboratory testing activities in line with smelter production priorities.
• Ensure timely receipt, preparation, analysis, and reporting of samples from smelting, converting, refining, slag, dust, by-products, and related process streams.
• Coordinate with production, process, and quality teams to prioritize urgent samples and ensure quick analytical feedback for operational decisions.
• Monitor adherence to sample collection, labelling, preservation, testing, and reporting protocols to maintain reliability of results.

Process Optimization and Continuous Improvement:

• Identify improvement opportunities in sample preparation, testing turnaround time, analytical accuracy, and laboratory workflow efficiency.
• Support implementation of standard methods, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives within WSMD laboratory operations.
• Track routine operational bottlenecks and coordinate corrective actions with the Lab Head and concerned departments.
• Assist in adoption of improved analytical practices, automation support, and digital tools for better lab productivity and data reliability.

Quality Assurance and Control:

• Ensure execution of quality control checks, calibration verification, standardization, and validation of analytical results as per defined procedures.
• Maintain compliance with approved laboratory SOPs, test methods, internal quality standards, and applicable statutory or customer requirements.
• Review routine test data for abnormalities, deviations, or inconsistencies and escalate critical issues to the WSMD Lab Head.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for testing errors, repeat analysis, delays, and non-conformities.

Equipment Readiness and Troubleshooting:

• Ensure availability, calibration, routine checks, and proper functioning of laboratory instruments and equipment used for WSMD analysis.
• Coordinate with maintenance, OEMs, and service providers for troubleshooting, breakdown resolution, AMC support, and instrument reliability.
• Maintain equipment logbooks, calibration records, preventive maintenance schedules, and breakdown history for audit readiness.
• Support safe and correct operation of instruments by lab chemists, technicians, and shift personnel.

HSE and Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure strict adherence to HSE requirements, PPE usage, chemical handling procedures, waste disposal norms, and emergency response protocols inside the WSMD Lab.
• Conduct routine safety observations, housekeeping checks, and compliance follow-ups in coordination with the Lab Head and Safety team.
• Support compliance with environmental and statutory requirements related to laboratory chemicals, residues, samples, and waste streams.
• Promote safe work practices among lab team members and ensure timely closure of safety observations and audit points.

Cost Management and Budgeting:

• Monitor consumption of chemicals, reagents, gases, standards, glassware, spares, and other laboratory consumables to support uninterrupted operations.
• Assist the Lab Head in inventory planning, PR follow-up, vendor coordination, and cost control initiatives for routine lab requirements.
• Identify opportunities to reduce wastage, optimize reagent usage, and improve cost efficiency without compromising testing quality.
• Maintain records of consumable usage, stock levels, and critical inventory items for operational planning and audit purposes.

Shift Team Coordination and Capability Building:

• Coordinate daily work allocation for lab chemists, technicians, samplers, and shift personnel as per testing load and operational requirements.
• Guide team members on standard test procedures, safe lab practices, instrument handling, documentation, and quality expectations.
• Support training, skill development, and multi-skilling of laboratory team members to build operational flexibility.
• Ensure continuity of laboratory operations during shifts, peak workload, audits, and absence of senior leadership, while developing readiness to succeed the WSMD Lead role in future.

Reporting and Data Analytics:

• Ensure timely preparation, review, and submission of routine analytical reports, shift reports, quality summaries, deviation reports, and MIS data.
• Maintain accurate documentation of sample records, test results, calibration data, corrective actions, and audit-related information.
• Analyze lab performance trends such as turnaround time, repeat testing, deviations, equipment uptime, and sample load to support improvement actions.
• Escalate critical quality trends, abnormal results, and urgent operational issues to the WSMD Lab Head and concerned stakeholders.

Digitization and Tech Adoption:

• Support use of SAP Lab/LIMS and other digital systems for sample tracking, result entry, report generation, and data traceability.
• Ensure timely and accurate digital updating of test results, equipment records, calibration schedules, and lab MIS.
• Assist in implementation of automation, dashboards, and data-driven reporting practices to improve laboratory efficiency.
• Promote disciplined data entry, record retention, and system compliance among lab team members.

Qualifications

Education Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, or a related science/engineering discipline

Master’s degree in Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred

Work Experience (Range of years):

Over 15 years of experience in Quality Assurance within the Copper Manufacturing industry

Relevant experience in laboratory operations, analytical quality control, or process lab functions, preferably in copper smelting, metals, mining, chemicals, or process industry environment; suitable for Senior Manager level with team coordination, operational ownership, and future leadership readiness

Certifications:

Certification in Quality Management or Quality Assurance

Additional certifications in Laboratory Management or Environmental Compliance preferred