HR Head

Position: Head of Human Resources

Sector: Food Manufacturing Unit

Location: Cuttack, Odisha

Reporting: Director

Working: 6 days/week

Job Description:

As the Head of Human Resources, you shall be responsible for designing and executing the overall HR strategy and operational framework for the organization. You shall act as a key business partner to the Executive Leadership team, ensuring that HR initiatives- spanning talent acquisition, industrial relations, performance management, compliance, and culture - are directly aligned with production, market growth, and innovation targets of the company. As the HR Head you'd be directly accountable for creating a high-performance, safe, and legally compliant work environment across all operational sites.

Key Responsibilities (Summary):

• Strategic HR & Business Alignment: Act as a strategic partner, aligning HR strategies with core business objectives (production, R&D, sales).
• Talent Management: Oversee the complete talent lifecycle, including workforce planning, blue-collar and corporate recruitment, and robust succession planning for critical roles.
• Performance & Development: Design and manage the Performance Management System (PMS) and lead Learning & Development (L&D) programs to close skill gaps, focusing on technical and leadership skills.
• Industrial Relations (IR) & Compliance: Lead all IR activities, including union negotiations and grievance handling. Ensure meticulous compliance with the Factory Act, labor laws, and Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) standards.
• Compensation & Benefits (C&B): Develop and implement a competitive Total Rewards strategy, including salary benchmarking and performance-linked incentive (PLI) schemes.
• Culture & Engagement: Champion the company culture, drive employee engagement initiatives, and ensure robust employee well-being programs.
• HRIS & Budget Management: Manage the HR departmental budget and drive the digital transformation of HR processes through effective HRIS implementation.

Roles & Responsibilities:

I. Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Business Alignment : Act as a strategic partner to the CEO/Plant Head and Executive Committee, aligning HR strategy with the overall business goals, including production targets, market expansion, and R&D innovation.
• Workforce Planning : Develop and execute mid-to-long-term workforce planning strategies to ensure the right talent pipeline for all functions (Factory/Production, Supply Chain, Sales & Distribution, R&D, Corporate).
• Budget Management : Prepare and manage the HR departmental budget, ensuring cost-effective execution of programs (e.g., training, recruitment, benefits).
• Succession Planning : Implement robust succession planning for critical leadership and technical roles, especially within specialized food manufacturing and quality control.
• Digital Transformation : Lead the selection and implementation of HRIS systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and digital tools to enhance efficiency in all HR processes.

II. Talent Acquisition & Management:

• Recruitment : Oversee the end-to-end recruitment process for all levels, from blue-collar labor on the factory floor to senior management and specialized food scientists.
• Employer Branding : Build and maintain a strong employer brand to attract top talent in competitive areas like Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and food technology.
• Onboarding : Design and execute comprehensive onboarding programs that integrate new hires into the company culture, safety protocols, and operational standards.
• Performance Management : Design, implement, and manage a fair and objective Performance Management System (PMS) linked to business outcomes and employee development.
• Training & Development : Identify organizational skill gaps and manage the implementation of Learning & Development (L&D) programs, focusing on technical skills, leadership development, and quality/safety compliance.

III. Employee Relations & Compliance:

• Industrial Relations (IR) : Manage all Industrial Relations activities, including negotiating with labor unions (where applicable), handling grievances, and maintaining a harmonious work environment in the factory setting.
• Legal Compliance : Ensure 100% compliance with all applicable labor laws, factory acts, health and safety standards (HSE), and local regulations across all operational sites.
• Policy Development : Develop, communicate, and enforce all HR policies and procedures (e.g., code of conduct, disciplinary action, diversity and inclusion).
• Dispute Resolution : Lead and manage the resolution of complex employee disputes, disciplinary cases, and termination processes.

IV. Compensation & Benefits (C&B):

• Total Rewards Strategy : Develop and manage a competitive Total Rewards strategy that includes salary, incentives, and benefits to attract and retain high-performing employees.
• Salary Benchmarking : Conduct regular compensation and benefits surveys/benchmarking against industry peers (FMCG, Food Sector) to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness.
• Incentive Schemes : Design and implement performance-linked incentive (PLI) and bonus schemes for different employee groups (e.g., production efficiency bonuses, sales incentives).
• Payroll Oversight : Oversee the accuracy and timeliness of the payroll process and ensure adherence to statutory requirements like PF, ESI, and taxes.

V. Culture, Engagement & Safety:

• Culture Building : Champion the company's values and culture, promoting a safe, inclusive, high-performance, and ethical work environment.
• Employee Engagement : Design and execute employee engagement initiatives (e.g., surveys, town halls, recognition programs) to boost morale, retention, and productivity across the unit.
• Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) : Collaborate closely with the EHS/Factory teams to implement and monitor safety training and protocols in a manufacturing environment to minimize accidents and ensure employee well-being.
• Well-being Initiatives : Lead initiatives focused on employee well-being, including mental health support, health check-ups, and work-life balance programs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the HR Head:

• Employee Attrition Rate: Overall and for key talent/functions.
• Time-to-Hire: For critical roles (e.g., R&D, Quality Control, Plant Managers).
• Employee Engagement Score: Based on annual or pulse surveys.
• Training Effectiveness Score: Measured by impact on performance/productivity.
• IR/Legal Compliance Incidents: Number of labor disputes or legal non-compliance issues.
• Absenteeism Rate: Especially in the factory/production unit.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Education : Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration (HR specialization), or equivalent.
• Experience : Minimum 10-15 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, preferably within the FMCG or Food/Process Manufacturing sector.
• Technical Skills : Expertise in Industrial Relations (IR), Labor Law compliance, Talent Management, and Compensation & Benefits structures for manufacturing setups.
• Leadership : Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing HR team and influence senior stakeholders.
• Core Competencies : Strategic thinking, exceptional negotiation and conflict resolution skills, strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
• Age : Below 50 years
• Team Size : 500 +
• Reporting : CEO/ Director/ Managing Director
• Language : Odia, Hindi & English

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From ₹33,597.13 per month

Work Location: In person