Account Manager- South

Lead the safe, reliable, compliant and cost-effective operation and maintenance of multiple industrial water and wastewater treatment sites. The role has end-to-end accountability for plant performance, contractual KPIs, customer satisfaction, workforce capability, maintenance systems, budgets, vendors, statutory compliance and continuous improvement across the assigned portfolio.The successful candidate will provide strong technical and operational leadership to site managers and multidisciplinary teams, standardize O&M practices across locations, and ensure timely resolution of critical operational and customer issues.2. Scope of ResponsibilityOversee multiple O&M contracts and treatment facilities operating on a continuous shift basis.Provide governance and technical direction for WTP, ETP, STP, RO and ZLD facilities, including associated pumping, clarification, filtration, sludge handling, evaporation and drying systems.Manage mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, automation and process performance through site teams and specialist support functions.Own service delivery in line with contract terms, agreed budgets, customer specifications, environmental requirements and internal standards.3. Key ResponsibilitiesA. Multi-Site Operations & PerformanceTake overall ownership of day-to-day O&M performance across all assigned sites and ensure uninterrupted availability of critical water systems.Review plant operating parameters, water quality, throughput, recovery, uptime and consumption trends; initiate corrective action for deviations.Conduct structured site reviews and risk-based visits, with focused support for underperforming or critical facilities.Coordinate rapid technical support for breakdowns, chronic problems and process upsets to minimize downtime and customer production impact.Drive process optimization, debottlenecking, reliability improvement and operating-cost reduction without compromising safety, quality or compliance.Ensure effective shift deployment, escalation protocols and management coverage across sites.B. Treatment Process & Technical OversightProvide technical governance for raw-water treatment, clarification, filtration, cooling-water systems, ETP, STP, RO, UF/NF where applicable, MEE, ATFD, filter press, clarifier, thickener, oil skimmer and complete ZLD systems.Monitor influent and effluent quality, RO recovery and rejection, membrane performance, chemical dosing, sludge generation, evaporation efficiency and final discharge or reuse quality.Guide root-cause analysis and sustainable resolution of process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and automation issues.Ensure calibration and documentation of instruments, gauges and measuring devices as per schedule and audit requirements.Maintain current technical knowledge and promote adoption of proven operating and maintenance practices.C. Maintenance & ReliabilityEstablish and govern preventive, predictive, condition-based, time-based and breakdown maintenance programs.Ensure maintenance planning, work-order discipline, shutdown planning, spares management and equipment-history records are effective at every site.Review critical equipment health for pumps, motors, blowers, compressors, agitators, dosing systems, dewatering equipment, membranes, evaporators, dryers, MCCs, VFDs, PLC/SCADA and field instruments.Lead failure investigations, root-cause analysis and closure of corrective and preventive actions.Drive equipment reliability, reduced repeat failures and optimized maintenance cost.D. Safety, Environment & ComplianceBe accountable for a goal-zero safety culture across the assigned sites.Ensure compliance with HSE/EHS requirements, permit-to-work systems, SOPs, risk assessments, PPE, chemical handling, lockout/tagout and emergency preparedness.Ensure incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and environmental events are reported, investigated and closed with effective corrective actions.Conduct and monitor safety audits, toolbox talks, hazard-register reviews and statutory inspections.Maintain environmental, legal and customer compliance records in audit-ready condition.E. Contract, KPI & Customer ManagementEstablish and review site KPIs in line with contract requirements, including plant availability, water quality, throughput, recovery, downtime, consumption, cost, safety and customer satisfaction.Prepare consolidated monthly MIS, performance dashboards, variance analysis and recovery plans for management and customer reviews.Lead customer meetings, technical discussions and escalation management; ensure timely closure of observations and commitments.Protect contractual performance and billing by ensuring KPI evidence, service records, approvals and monthly documentation are complete and timely.Identify contract risks, scope gaps and change requirements, and escalate them with clear technical and commercial justification.F. Budget, Cost & Commercial ControlPrepare and manage annual and monthly O&M budgets for the assigned portfolio.Monitor actual expenditure against budget and control manpower, chemicals, energy, spares, maintenance and subcontracting costs.Develop savings initiatives through process optimization, chemical and energy reduction, improved reliability and resource productivity.Plan critical spares, consumables, annual maintenance and shutdown requirements based on operational risk and contract obligations.Support timely customer billing, certification and resolution of performance-linked deductions or commercial issues.G. Team Leadership & Capability BuildingLead site managers, engineers, supervisors, technicians, operators and support teams across locations.Define accountability, review staffing and shift structures, and ensure deployment matches plant criticality and skill needs.Recruit, onboard, coach, train and develop site teams; maintain skill matrices and succession plans for critical roles.Set clear performance expectations and conduct structured reviews, while promoting discipline, ownership and collaboration.Ensure technically competent manpower is available to troubleshoot critical equipment and process issues.H. Systems, Standardization & Continuous ImprovementStandardize SOPs, checklists, log sheets, maintenance practices, reporting formats and escalation mechanisms across sites.Ensure critical work instructions are practical, pictorial and available in a language understood by the workforce where required.Use performance data to identify systemic issues, benchmark sites and replicate best practices.Coordinate effectively with Process, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Procurement, HR, Finance and corporate support functions.Promote digital tools such as CMMS/SAP, dashboards and MS Office applications for planning, documentation and performance control.4. Key Performance IndicatorsKPI AreaMeasuresSafety & ComplianceZero injuries; closure of audit findings; statutory and environmental compliancePlant PerformanceAvailability, uptime, throughput, treated-water quality and adherence to operating targetsProcess EfficiencyRecovery, chemical consumption, energy consumption, water reuse and sludge or reject managementReliabilityBreakdown frequency, repeat failures, preventive-maintenance compliance and downtimeCommercialBudget adherence, cost savings, billing documentation and reduction of performance deductionsCustomerSatisfaction, escalation closure, review effectiveness and completion of commitmentsPeopleManpower productivity, training completion, skill coverage and retention of critical capability5. Qualification & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Environmental or a related engineering discipline. A relevant postgraduate qualification is desirable.Minimum 10 years of relevant O&M experience, preferably in industrial water and wastewater treatment, utilities, heavy industry, metals, chemicals or similar process industries.Proven experience managing multiple sites, large contracts or a geographically distributed O&M portfolio.Demonstrated hands-on exposure to water and wastewater treatment and ZLD operations, together with multidisciplinary maintenance management.Experience in customer-facing roles, budgeting, vendor management, workforce leadership, KPI governance and management reporting.6. Required Technical KnowledgeWater treatment processes: clarification, filtration, disinfection, demineralization and membrane systems.Wastewater and reuse systems: ETP, STP, RO, sludge handling and ZLD, including MEE and ATFD where applicable.Mechanical systems: pumps, motors, blowers, compressors, agitators, valves, piping and rotating equipment.Electrical and instrumentation: HT/LT interfaces, MCC/PCC, VFDs, PLC/SCADA, transmitters, analyzers, control valves, interlocks and calibration.Maintenance systems: preventive, predictive, condition-based and breakdown maintenance; root-cause analysis; spares planning.HSE, environmental compliance, statutory requirements, quality systems and audit documentation.Working knowledge of CMMS/SAP, MS Office and data-based reporting tools.7. Leadership CompetenciesOwnership and accountability across multiple operating locations.Strong planning, prioritization and decision-making under operational pressure.Customer orientation with confident technical and commercial communication.Analytical problem-solving and disciplined closure of corrective actions.Ability to coach teams, build trust and create a safety-focused performance culture.Effective cross-functional coordination, negotiation and stakeholder management.High integrity, adaptability and willingness to travel frequently.8. Decision-Making AuthorityOperational decisions required to protect safety, compliance, equipment and continuity of service.Deployment of manpower and resources within the approved organization structure and budget.Prioritization of maintenance, spares and technical support based on plant criticality.Vendor and service-provider recommendations in accordance with company procedures.Escalation of contractual, commercial, safety and compliance risks to appropriate management.9. Candidate ProfileA hands-on, results-oriented O&M leader who can manage a diverse portfolio of water and wastewater treatment plants, strengthen site leadership, build reliable operating systems and maintain strong customer confidence. The candidate should combine process knowledge with maintenance discipline, commercial awareness, people leadership and an uncompromising approach to safety and compliance.