Business Unit Manager - Water, Industrial Flow and Heat Transfer (WIFH)

At Alfa Laval, we always go that extra mile to overcome the toughest challenges. Our driving force is to accelerate success for our customers, people, and planet. You can only achieve that by having dedicated people with a curious mind. Curiosity is the spark behind great ideas. And great ideas drive progress.

As a member of our team, you thrive in a truly diverse and inclusive workplace based on care and empowerment. You are here to make a difference. Constantly building bridges to the future with sustainable solutions that have an impact on our planet’s most urgent problems. Making the world a better place. Every day.

Alfa Laval has been present in India since 1937. It is part of the Alfa Laval Group headquartered out of Lund, Sweden, and sits within the India, Middle East, and Africa cluster. The India Corporate Office is in Pune, Maharashtra.

The factories located in Maharashtra manufacture and supply key components and systems in Separation, Heat Transfer, and Flow technology. It is also a hub for Centrifugal Separators, Decanters, and Flow equipment delivered to the global markets from here.

The company's products and solutions are omnipresent in over 25 multiple Indian industries including food processing, dairy, edible oil processing, sugar production, pharmaceutical & biotechnology, brewery, distillery, starch, pulp and paper, oil & gas, marine and energy. Alfa Laval caters to many national and international clients based across India and neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

We are now looking for a for a Leader to spearhead our Water, Industrial Flow and Heat Transfer (WIFH) Business Unit in India, partnering closely with the business leaders and managers.

Food & Pharma Division (FPD) is a strategic pillar of Alfa Laval India, to achieve our growth ambition for the coming years.

Role Description

This role will lead the WIFH Business Unit within Alfa Laval India, Food & Pharma Division, focusing on the Capital Equipment business. The core mission is to ensure superior customer experience throughout the entire business cycle for the WIFH portfolio.

The position will own the products, applications, and industries served in India and will carry full responsibility for the Business Unit’s P&L and will be based out of Pune.

Key responsibilities include driving order booking and invoicing, leading product and application efforts, shaping marketing and business development strategies, application development, product benchmarking. The role will require steering business growth through regional teams, inside sales, distribution partners, and other relevant channels.

The Business Unit Manager will be accountable for delivering profitable growth for BU WIFH in India. In addition, the position involves leading, developing, and nurturing a high‑performing divisional team in line with Alfa Laval’s culture and values.

This role reports to the Vice President – Food & Pharma Division, India, and will be an integral member of the FPD India leadership team.

The Key elements of this role involve:

• Lead and develop the Business Unit team, strengthening capability in Industry, Products & Applications (IPA), business excellence, and business development.
• Own full BU performance, Own BU P/L including Order Intake, Invoicing, Gross Margin, S&A costs, Operating Income, Operating Working Capital (OWC),
• Prepare and execute the Business Plan, driving market segmentation, opportunity mapping, market intelligence, and marketing strategy.
• Drive commercial growth through regional teams, inside sales, distributors, and other channels, while managing customer solutions, proposals, costing, and pricing.
• Lead forecasting and resource planning, ensuring alignment and collaboration with Central BU and key functions such as Finance, Legal, Operations, and Service.
• Monitor competition and market trends to define strategies and ensure strong product positioning, mix, and promotional activities.
• Strengthen partner and customer experience by supporting channel development, resolving customer claims, and providing troubleshooting guidance across the product lifecycle.

To contribute effectively to our business, you will require these essential skills

Qualification:

Graduation or Postgraduation in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Food Technology from a reputed institute. A management qualification in Business Administration and/or Marketing will be an added advantage

Experience:

• 15–20 years of experience in Capital goods business in Engineering industry, food or processing industry, or similar sectors.
• Proven leadership experience
• Strong background in business management, proposals, systems engineering for capital equipment.
• Extensive customer‑handling and negotiation experience throughout the career.
• Exposure to corporate and work‑related travel across India.

Attitude and culture fit: 

• Strong networking ability—both with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player with a facilitative and training‑oriented mindset.
• Ability to deep‑dive into techno‑commercial details to resolve issues or align deliverables.
• Self‑driven, target‑oriented, and motivated to achieve results through teamwork.

Key Competencies:

• Industry and application Expertise: Strong, proven knowledge of key industries and applications—Water & Wastewater, Ethanol/Biofuels, CBG, Distillery, Starch, Sugar, and broader food processing—along with separation technologies and evaporation/ thermal solutions.
• Strategic Business & Financial Acumen: Ability to interpret market dynamics, pricing, contracts, and commercial levers, supported by sound understanding of P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and value‑driving decisions.
• Customer & Market Leadership: Strong customer relationship and negotiation capability, with the ability to influence stakeholders, shape customer solutions, and steer long‑term market positioning.
• Technical & Solutions Expertise: Strong grounding in systems/solutions engineering, technical assessments, and costing; preferred familiarity with Alfa Laval core technologies, Thermal engineering
• Analytical & Problem‑Solving Capability: Logical, data‑driven thinker who can diagnose challenges, identify opportunities, and drive actionable insights.
• Communication & Collaboration: Effective communicator with the ability to work cross‑functionally, engage teams, and align internal stakeholders.
• Digital & Professional Skills: Proficiency in digital tools required in business

Location: Pune