Refrigeration & Freezing Section Head

Role Purpose :

ensure uninterrupted cold chain operations across the facility by maintaining all refrigeration systems, central ammonia plant, IQF/blast freezing tunnels, and Freon cold storage units at peak performance levels. This role aims to safeguard product quality, prevent thermal loss, eliminate ammonia safety hazards, minimize operational downtime, and ensure strict compliance with engineering, HSE, HACCP, and Quality Assurance (QA) standards. This position is vital for achieving temperature stability, energy cost efficiency, process safety, and the technical leadership and development of the refrigeration team

Key Responsibilities :

• Operational Supervision of Refrigeration Systems: Monitoring and managing the central ammonia plant (compressors, evaporative condensers, receivers, liquid separators), IQF/blast freezing tunnels, and Freon condensing units/evaporators for cold storage rooms.
• Ammonia Safety & Process Hazard Management: Overseeing ammonia gas leak detection systems, emergency ventilation, relief valves, and safety shut-off protocols to ensure zero-leak operations and total compliance with industrial safety standards.
• Preventive Maintenance (PM) Management: Planning and directing the execution of Preventive Maintenance schedules for all refrigeration machinery (ammonia compressors, Freon units, tunnel fans, valves, defrost systems), ensuring 100% execution within set timelines to prevent catastrophic failures.
• Temperature & Parameter Control: Continuously monitoring temperatures, suction/discharge pressures, oil levels, and defrost cycles via SCADA/PLC systems to maintain target freezing and storage temperatures across all cold rooms and tunnels.
• Rapid Breakdown & Leak Response: Leading the emergency response team during system trips, technical malfunctions, or potential refrigerant leaks to restore cooling instantly and eliminate risk to personnel and product. Inspection & Documentation: Conducting routine shift inspections of compressors, receivers, pipe networks, and tunnel belts, maintaining precise operational logs and environmental parameter records.
• Freezing Tunnel & Cold Room Handover: Verifying tunnel defrost readiness and sanitation status prior to production, conducting a formal "Cold Chain Release" to guarantee line availability without temperature or safety hazards.
• Refrigerants & Spare Parts Management: Supervising the refrigeration spare parts inventory (valves, mechanical seals, compressor oil, gaskets, belts) and managing inventory levels of Ammonia and Freon refrigerants to avoid operational disruption.
• Cross-Departmental Coordination: Coordinating directly with Production, Quality Assurance (QA), Sanitation, and HSE departments to maintain seamless product freezing rates, hygiene standards, and safety alignment.
• Team Training & Development: Training, qualifying, and mentoring technicians and operators on complex refrigeration troubleshooting, ammonia safety protocols, proper pump/compressor overhauls, and hazard response.
• Daily Refrigeration Inspection: Conducting a comprehensive inspection at the start of each shift, verifying the following: All ammonia compressors, Freon condensing units, and tunnel evaporators are operating within normal parameters.
• Ammonia leak detectors, emergency shut-off valves, and ventilation systems are fully operational and unobstructed.
• Freezing tunnels and Freon cold storage rooms hold target temperatures with clean, foreign-object-free conveyor belts and coils.

Required Skills & Competencies


1. Education & Work Experience Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Power Engineering, or Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineering. Experience: Minimum 7–10 years of hands-on experience in industrial refrigeration, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or supervisory role (Section Head / Supervisor). Specialized Expertise: Proven expertise in managing, operating, and maintaining Central Ammonia Systems, IQF / Blast Freezing Tunnels, and Freon Cold Storage Units. 2. Technical Competencies & Hard Skills Deep Ammonia Systems Knowledge: Full understanding of ammonia refrigeration cycles, overhaul/maintenance of Screw & Reciprocating Compressors, evaporative condensers, liquid separators, and pumps. Ammonia Safety & Hazard Management: Expert knowledge of ammonia safety protocols, gas leak detection systems, emergency shut-off valves, PPE, and disaster response. Freon Systems Proficiency: Solid technical understanding of Freon condensing units, evaporators, expansion valves, and automatic defrost cycles. Automation & Control Systems (SCADA / PLC): Ability to monitor, analyze, and control system parameters (pressures, temperatures, oil levels) through SCADA/PLC interfaces. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) & Troubleshooting: High capability in diagnosing complex mechanical, electrical, and thermal failures quickly to minimize downtime. Safety & Quality Standards: In-depth knowledge of food safety management (HACCP / ISO 22000), OSHA/HSE standards, and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures. 3. Leadership & Soft Skills Team Leadership & Development: Strong ability to lead, schedule shifts, train, and mentor engineers, technicians, and operators. Crisis Management & Fast Response: High adaptability and quick decision-making under high-pressure emergency situations (compressor trips, refrigerant leaks). Cross-Departmental Communication: Excellent communication skills to coordinate seamlessly with Production, Quality Assurance (QA), Sanitation, and HSE teams. Cost & Energy Optimization: Analytical capability to propose energy-saving initiatives, optimize compressor sequencing, and effectively manage spare parts inventories.