JOB DESCRIPTION:
- Assistant General Manager.
- India Branch Office - Surat, Gujarat, India.
- Location: Surat, Gujarat, India.
- Department: India Branch Operations.
- Reports To: General Manager, India (with dotted-line reporting to North Carolina HQ leadership).
- Employment Type: Full-Time.
- Travel: Regular travel to mills and supplier locations across India.
Company Overview:
Headquartered in North Carolina, USA, VenTara Corp/Hi-Tech Fabrics is a trusted supplier of fabrics from across the globe. Our India Branch Office, based in Surat, plays a central role in our supply chain. The team in India performs quality control inspections, negotiates pricing with mills, develops new fabrics in partnership with our customers, and coordinates shipping and logistics from India to our customers worldwide. We are growing, and we are looking for a strong operational leader to help drive that growth.
Position Summary:
The Assistant General Manager (AGM) is responsible for the overall success of the India Branch Office. Working alongside the General Manager (GM), the AGM helps lead, manage, and develop all India-based employees and oversees every functional area of the office - quality control, sourcing and price negotiation, fabric development, shipping and logistics, vendor relationships, and administration. The AGM is the GM’s second-in-command and is expected to act as the senior leader in country whenever the GM is unavailable. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires strong people skills, deep knowledge of the Indian textile industry, sharp commercial judgment, and the ability to represent the company professionally to mills, vendors, customers, and our headquarters team in North Carolina.
Key Responsibilities:
Office Leadership and Team Management:
- Assist the General Manager in leading the day-to-day operations of the Surat office and ensuring the branch meets its operational, quality, and financial goals.
- Help manage, mentor, and develop all India-based employees, including QC inspectors, sourcing staff, fabric development specialists, and logistics coordinators.
- Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and identify training and development opportunities for the team.
- Help build a culture of accountability, integrity, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Step in as the most senior leader on the ground when the General Manager is traveling or otherwise unavailable.
Quality Control Oversight:
- Oversee the QC team to ensure that all fabric inspections meet company and customer standards before shipment.
- Review QC reports, audit inspection practices, and travel to mills as needed to verify quality firsthand.
- Drive resolution of quality issues with mills, including reinspection, rework, claims, and corrective action plans.
- Continuously improve QC processes, checklists, and reporting to reduce defects and customer complaints.
Sourcing, Negotiation, and Mill Relationships:
- Support the team in negotiating fabric pricing, payment terms, and lead times with mills to protect margins and on-time delivery.
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing mills and identify new mill partners as needed to support growth.
- Monitor raw material trends, currency movements, and market conditions in the Indian textile sector and advise leadership accordingly.
Fabric Development:
- Partner with the fabric development team to deliver new fabric programs for customers - from initial concept and sampling through commercial production.
- Coordinate with mills on construction, finishing, and testing requirements to ensure new developments meet customer specifications.
- Help manage development timelines so customer deadlines are consistently met.
Shipping, Logistics, and Documentation:
- Oversee booking, container loading, export documentation, and on-time shipment of orders from India to North Carolina and other destinations.
- Ensure full compliance with Indian export regulations, customs requirements, and applicable trade documentation.
- Work with freight forwarders and shipping lines to control logistics costs and resolve delays.
Financial and Administrative Oversight:
- Help manage the India office budget, track expenses, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Review key vendor invoices, mill payments, and statutory filings to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
- Ensure the branch operates in compliance with all applicable Indian laws and regulations, including labor, tax, and corporate requirements.
Headquarters Coordination:
- Serve as a primary point of contact for the North Carolina headquarters on India-related matters.
- Provide regular operational, quality, and commercial reporting to HQ leadership.
- Support sales, customer service, and merchandising teams in the U.S. with responsive, accurate information about orders, mills, and fabrics.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Business Administration, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus.
- Minimum of 6–12 years of progressive experience in the Indian textile industry, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or management role.
- Strong working knowledge of woven and/or knitted fabrics, mill operations, and quality control standards used by U.S. and international buyers.
- Proven experience negotiating with mills on price, terms, and delivery.
- Solid understanding of export documentation, Indian customs, and international shipping from India.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; working knowledge of Hindi and/or Gujarati strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop teams.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically to mills as needed.
Preferred:
- Prior experience working with U.S. or European buying offices, importers, or brands.
- Familiarity with fabric testing standards (AATCC, ASTM, ISO) and common third-party testing labs.
- Comfort using ERP systems, Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Teams), and modern collaboration tools.
Core Competencies:
- Leadership: Inspires the team, leads by example, and develops talent.
- Commercial Acumen: Strong negotiator with sound judgment on pricing, margin, and risk.
- Quality Mindset: Holds the team and mills to a high quality standard with no shortcuts.
- Ownership: Takes responsibility for outcomes and drives issues to resolution.
- Communication: Clear, professional, and culturally aware in dealings with mills, customers, and the U.S. team.
- Integrity: Uncompromising ethics in vendor relationships, financial matters, and people management.
- Adaptability: Comfortable balancing multiple priorities across time zones and business functions.
What We Offer:
- A senior leadership role in a growing, international textile company with a strong U.S. customer base.
- Direct partnership with the General Manager and exposure to the headquarters leadership team in North Carolina.
- Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience.
How to Apply:
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a current resume and a brief cover letter outlining relevant experience and salary expectations. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Our company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, gender, caste, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.