Lead - Employment Law, India

Job Description Position Title Lead Employment Law India Function/Group Corporate Location Mumbai Shift Timing 11 am to 8 pm Role Reports to Assistant General Counsel, Employment, Employee Relations & Privacy Remote/Hybrid/in-Office Hybrid ABOUT GENERAL MILLS We make foodthe world loves: 100 brands. In 100 countries. Across six continents. With iconic brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, and Hagen-Dazs, we've been serving up food the world loves for 155 years (and counting). Each of our brands has a unique story to tell. How we make our food is as important as the food we make. Our values are baked into our legacy and continue to accelerate us into the future as an innovative force for good. General Mills was founded in 1866 when Cadwallader Washburn boldly bought the largest flour mill west of the Mississippi. That pioneering spirit lives on today through our leadership team who upholds a vision of relentless innovation while being a force for good. For more details check out General Mills India Center (GIC) is our global capability center in Mumbai that works as an extension of our global organization delivering business value, service excellence and growth, while standing for good for our planet and people. With our team of 1800+ professionals, we deliver superior value across the areas of Supply chain (SC) , Digital & Technology (D&T) Innovation, Technology & Quality (ITQ), Consumer and Market Intelligence (CMI), Sales Strategy & Intelligence (SSI) , Global Shared Services (GSS) , Finance Shared Services (FSS) and Human Resources Shared Services (HRSS).For more details check out We advocate for advancing equity and inclusion to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow. JOB OVERVIEW General Mills seeks an employment law attorney to join our legal team in Mumbai to fill a newly created position. The position offers the opportunity to work with some of General Mills and India's most trusted brands. This at torney will partner closely with attorneys and business colleagues in India and the U.S. at all levels, to provide comprehensive legal support on employment-related matters for our General Mills India Center, our India Foods business, and our manufacturing operations. This role will involve day-to-day advisory work and representing the India organisations in employment-related litigation and proceedings. This attorney will be a member of the General Mills Legal and Corporate Affairs Department, reporting to the headquarters based Assistant General Counsel, Employment Law and Employee Relations. The attorney who fills this role will be part of a small, collaborative and supportive team and will play key role in bringing to life the company's commitment to be a force for good and to do the right thing. Beyond employment law, this attorney will assist in spotting other legal issues (e.g. tax, finance, and IP issues) and referring to the appropriate headquarters subject matter expert or centre of excellence, including other members of the Legal and Corporate Affairs team. Job Responsibilities- - Provide timely and practical legal advice on a full spectrum of employment and labour law matters across diverse workforces, including corporate and manufacturing employees. - Support and guide maintenance, implementation, and creation of critical governance and compliance programs relating to our employees in an ever-evolving environment that are both compliant and consistent with company values. - Serve as legal expert and work with limited direction to advise on and help ensure compliance with employment and labour legislations, including relating to recruiting and hiring of employees and contingent workers, employee classification, employee contracts, employee privacy, workplace policies and procedures, payroll, benefits and compensation, disciplinary and grievance processes, employee separations and terminations, workplace safety requirements, and all aspects of industrial and labour relations. - Support Employee Relations, Human Resources, and business teams in employment-related decision-making, including restructurings, investigations, and workforce management. - Draft, review, and negotiate employment contracts, separation/settlement agreements, and workplace policies. - Support development and implementation of training for employees across India on critical topics such as harassment prevention. - Monitor and analyse changes and emerging trends in employment and labour law, providing clear guidance on their implications for business operations, workforce management practices, and compliance obligations. - Represent the company before labour courts, tribunals, and relevant authorities in employment disputes/proceedings. - Manage external counsel engagement and oversee litigation strategy where required. - Participate in internal investigations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies, and provide legal guidance and support throughout grievance and disciplinary processes. - Respond to legal notices, inspections, and inquiries from labour and regulatory authorities. - Recognize and appropriately refer to headquarters subject matter experts or centres of excellence other matters, including those relating to non-employment contracts, intellectual property, privacy, tax, and finance. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Candidate must be qualified to practice law in India, and enrolled with the Bar Council of India. - At least 8 years of post-qualification experience in employment and labour law (advisory and litigation), preferably in a combination of law firm and in-house roles. - Strong knowledge of Indian labour and employment laws applicable to both corporate offices and manufacturing facilities. - Proven track record of representing clients in labour courts and tribunals. - Excellent oral and written communication skills. - Ability to work closely with the Employee Relations Team, Human Resources team, and leadership teams to provide practical, business-oriented solutions. - Team orientation that demonstrates flexibility in role. - Ability to earn the trust of (and influence the decisions of) a wide array of business colleagues at all levels of the organization. - Based in or willing to relocate to Mumbai.