Head – Central Kitchen Projects & Infrastructure – Compass Group

? Role Overview

Compass Group is seeking a strategic and execution-focused leader to conceptualize, develop, and operationalize its central kitchen ecosystem across India. This role will drive end-to-end ownership of central kitchen and café infrastructure projects—from greenfield site identification and feasibility analysis to design, construction, commissioning, and operational handover.

The successful candidate will play a key role in building and scaling one of India’s most advanced commercial kitchen infrastructures while ensuring operational excellence, compliance, sustainability, and long-term business scalability.

? Key Objective

Deliver central kitchen and café infrastructure projects that:

- Drive operational and cost efficiencies
- Enable smooth downstream operations
- Support 25%+ year-on-year business growth

? Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic Planning & Business Development

- Develop and execute a multi-year Central Kitchen Infrastructure Roadmap aligned with business growth plans
- Conduct market research and feasibility studies to identify ideal project locations
- Build investment and ROI models for kitchen infrastructure projects
- Partner with finance, sales, and operations teams for capacity planning
- Establish relationships with technology providers, OEMs, and contractors

B. Site Identification & Acquisition

- Lead site selection based on logistics, utilities, labour access, and regulatory requirements
- Manage land lease/purchase negotiations and statutory approvals
- Coordinate with government and regulatory authorities




- Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, and infrastructure regulations

C. Design & Engineering

- Develop detailed design briefs covering:
- Production capacity
- Equipment specifications
- Utility requirements
- Workflow optimization

- Collaborate with architects, consultants, and engineering teams
- Drive automation and process optimization across facilities
- Integrate sustainability initiatives including:

- Renewable energy
- Water recycling
- Waste management systems

D. Project Management & Construction

- Oversee end-to-end project execution including:
- Tendering
- Contractor management
- Construction supervision
- Quality assurance

- Manage civil, MEP, equipment, and commissioning teams
- Ensure projects are delivered within timelines and budgets
- Implement strong governance, risk management, and reporting structures

E. Commissioning & Operations Handover

- Lead commissioning activities including:
- Equipment calibration
- Trial production runs
- HACCP validations

- Secure all regulatory licenses and certifications
- Develop SOPs, maintenance schedules, and operational manuals
- Train operations teams on systems, safety, and compliance




- Provide post-handover support and optimization

F. Team Leadership & Innovation

- Build and mentor high-performing cross-functional teams
- Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
- Drive adoption of new technologies, automation, and operational best practices

? Eligibility & Experience

- B.Tech / B.E. in:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Food Technology

- Minimum 10+ years of experience in:

- Commercial kitchen infrastructure
- Food processing facilities
- Hospitality or large-scale catering environments

- Robust expertise in:

- Project management
- Kitchen layouts and workflows
- Food safety systems and compliance

? Key Skills

- Strategic planning and execution
- Project and stakeholder management
- Budget forecasting and resource allocation
- Data-driven decision making
- Negotiation and vendor management
- Crisis management and problem-solving

⭐ Preferred Certifications

- PMP
- Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt)
- HACCP Lead Auditor
- Equivalent project or food safety certifications

? Key Stakeholders

- Business & Sector Leads
- Regional Heads / Directors
- Sales & Solutioning Teams
- Culinary & Innovation Teams
- HSEQ Teams
- External Consultants & Vendors

? Why Join Compass Group?

- Opportunity to build large-scale food infrastructure projects across India
- Exposure to high-impact strategic transformation initiatives
- Work with cross-functional business, culinary, and operational leaders
- Drive innovation, automation, and sustainability in food services infrastructure

📌 Compass Group (Onboarding Flow) (India)
🏢 Compass Group
📍 India