About this role
Utility Operations
Manage day-to-day operation of critical and non-critical utility systems.
Ensure uninterrupted supply of utilities to production, laboratory, warehouse, and other plant areas.
Monitor utility parameters, consumption, equipment performance, and system availability.
Coordinate with Production, QA, QC, EHS, and other departments for utility requirements.
Utility Systems
Responsible for operation and maintenance of systems such as:
HVAC and AHUs
Chilled water / cooling water systems
Boiler and steam systems
Compressed air
Nitrogen generation/distribution
Vacuum systems
DM/RO/soft water systems
Purified water systems, where applicable
Effluent treatment / wastewater systems
Cooling towers
DG sets and electrical utilities, where applicable
Refrigeration systems
Process gases and utility distribution systems
Maintenance & Reliability
Plan and execute preventive, predictive, and breakdown maintenance.
Develop maintenance schedules, checklists, SOPs, and equipment history records.
Identify recurring failures and implement root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
Maintain critical utility equipment availability and reliability.
Coordinate with contractors and OEMs for specialized maintenance activities.
Maintain adequate critical spares and consumables.
GMP & Compliance
Ensure utility systems comply with cGMP, data integrity, safety, and environmental requirements.
Support qualification/validation activities such as DQ, IQ, OQ, and PQ where applicable.
Prepare and review SOPs, protocols, reports, logbooks, and maintenance records.
Participate in internal, customer, regulatory, and GMP audits.
Manage deviations, CAPA, change controls, and investigations related to utility systems.
Ensure proper calibration of utility-related instruments.
Energy & Cost Optimization
Monitor electricity, steam, water, compressed air, chilled water, and other utility consumption.
Identify opportunities for energy conservation and utility-cost reduction.
Implement projects for improving equipment efficiency and reducing wastage.
Track utility KPIs and prepare periodic performance reports.
Team Management
Lead and supervise utility engineers, technicians, operators, and contract personnel.
Allocate manpower and shifts according to operational requirements.
Train team members on SOPs, safety, GMP, and equipment operation.
Evaluate team performance and identify training requirements.
Key Performance Indicators
Utility availability and uptime
Breakdown frequency and MTBF
Preventive maintenance compliance
MTTR reduction
Utility consumption per unit of production
Energy-cost reduction
GMP/audit compliance
Safety performance
CAPA and deviation closure
Equipment reliability
Qualification
B.E./B.Tech./Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline.
Additional qualification in pharmaceutical engineering/utilities is advantageous.
Experience
Engineer: Typically 3–7 years of relevant experience.
Manager: Typically 8–15 years of experience in pharmaceutical/API/chemical manufacturing utilities.
Experience with GMP-regulated manufacturing facilities is preferred.
Required Skills
Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical/API utility systems.
Preventive and breakdown maintenance.
HVAC and cleanroom utility concepts.
Water and steam systems.
Compressed air, nitrogen, vacuum, and refrigeration systems.
Utility qualification and validation.
GMP documentation and audit handling.
Root-cause analysis and troubleshooting.
Energy management and cost optimization.
Team and contractor management.
SAP/CMMS knowledge is an advantage.
Preferred Knowledge
cGMP requirements
HVAC qualification
Purified Water systems
Clean utilities
ASME/API-related engineering practices where applicable
EHS requirements
Validation and qualification practices
ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 systems
Key Competencies
Technical troubleshooting
Leadership and people management
Planning and execution
Problem solving
Documentation
Cross-functional coordination
Safety consciousness