Section Manager

Role: Section Manager - Warehouse Management Location: Hosur Reporting to: Lead - Warehouse Operations, Hosur Team name: Warehouse Management, Manufacturing Operations About the Team and the Role The Warehouse Management team at Ather is responsible for managing end-to-end warehouse operations across key sections including Vehicle Assembly Inbound, Line Feeding, Paint & ACED warehouse, and Battery & Box-Build Assembly Warehouse to ensure world-class standards of safety, quality, and efficiency within Manufacturing Operations. This role is for a Section Manager - Warehouse Management who will drive section-level KPI management, champion continuous improvement culture, maintain robust process governance, and lead a high-performing team to achieve operational excellence. Responsibilities Section KPI & Performance Management: Own the section’s overall performance across 5S, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM), leading daily and weekly reviews to manage variances, implement corrective actions, and cascade goals down to every operator and technician. Strategic Programs & Engagement: Implement granular, zone-wise scorecards for micro-level accountability, execute internal competitions and the "Zone Excellence" program to boost team morale, and facilitate a bottom-up problem-solving culture through Kaizen workshops, 8D, and RCA formats. Governance & Process Audits: Review L0 Layered Process Audits (LPA) adherence daily, conduct L1 LPAs, record and escalate non-conformities, and dedicate daily time for line walks to capture and close operational abnormalities. Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration: Lead the team by example through hands-on coaching, problem-solving support, and maintaining active, cross-functional collaboration with Supply Chain, Production, Quality, Maintenance, and HR departments. Workplace Beautification & Visual Controls: Curate a vibrant, clutter-free, and motivating workspace with an emphasis on visually appealing break areas, while implementing active visual management and Andon controls to display section status at a glance. Productivity & Process Optimization: Utilize Lean Manufacturing tools like Value Stream Mapping and SMED to eliminate bottlenecks, optimize throughput, and re-engineer workflows to reduce non-value-added activities (NVA) for strategic headcount optimization through multi-skilling and automation. Asset & Space Utilization: Refine the physical footprint and execute best-in-class warehouse layouts to effectively utilize all available floor space and consistently hit operational targets. Data-Driven Risk Mitigation: Transition section operations from reactive firefighting to proactive risk management by anticipating process failures, and conduct "Data-First" performance reviews relying on metrics, Paretos, 8D, and systematic root-cause analysis over subjective opinions. Experience and Qualifications Graduation in B.E / <B.Tech> / <B.COM> (MBA preferred) Minimum 8+ years of experience in the warehouse function with a proven history of good team management Must Have Competencies Deep proficiency in SAP WM alongside hands-on capability in utilizing MIS tools for operational reporting. Mastery of Lean Manufacturing tools, specifically Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED), to eliminate process bottlenecks. Expertise in structured, data-driven problem-solving methodologies including Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 8D, and Pareto analysis. Comprehensive knowledge of implementing Layered Process Audits (LPA), 5S governance frameworks, and strict safety standard compliance. Good to Have Competencies Familiarity with the deployment of Automation and Digitization projects for manual, repetitive, or critical warehouse tasks. Understanding of Industry 4.0 and AI-driven applications, such as Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) for line feeding and advanced forecasting models for space planning. Awareness of MHE Traffic Management, route optimization techniques, and the implementation of AR/VR systems for operator training. Basic knowledge of asset tracking technology integrations, including RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) systems. Want to know more? At Ather, we’ve built India’s first intelligent scooter, from scratch. Based on the philosophy of clean design and smart technology, we are transforming the urban commute experience. We are expanding in India, and in the coming years, we look forward to scaling up and launching more products globally. Today, our product offerings include the Ather 450X, 450S, 450 Apex, and Rizta. Beyond the product, we are also setting up an extensive charging network and re-imagining end-to-end ownership experience. To know more, check out our Careers site and our Substack. Be You, With Us The Ather story doesn't write itself - our people do. We believe everyone is equal, but not the same. Diversity is our strength, and building an inclusive and equitable workplace begins with acknowledging and embracing our differences. We are an equal opportunity employer, and our team reflects a wide range of identities, experiences, and perspectives - all united by a shared passion to shape the Ather journey.