Lead Compliance and Ethics

Corporate - Legal

Gurgaon

About Us

Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India, and it is part of the Bata Shoe Organization.

Incorporated as Bata Shoe Company Private Limited in 1931, the company was set up initially as a small operation in Konnagar (near Calcutta) in 1932. In January 1934, the foundation stone for the first building of Bata's operation - now called the Bata. In the years that followed, the overall site was doubled in area. This township is popularly known as Batanagar. It was also the first manufacturing facility in the Indian shoe industry to receive the ISO: 9001 certification.

The Company went public in 1973 when it changed its name to Bata India Limited. Today, Bata India has established itself as India's largest footwear retailer. Its retail network of over 1375 stores gives it a reach / coverage that no other footwear company can match. The stores are present in good locations and can be found in all the metros, mini-metros and towns.

Bata's smart looking new stores supported by a range of better quality products are aimed at offering a superior shopping experience to its customers.

The Company also operates a large non-retail distribution network through its urban wholesale division and caters to millions of customers through over 30,000 dealers.

Job Description

Job Title: Compliance and Ethics Manager

Department:Legal & Compliance

Job Summary:

The Compliance and Ethics Manager is responsible for ensuring that the organization's retail operations comply with all applicable local, state, and national labor laws, retail-specific regulations, and ethical standards. This role drives compliance across stores, warehouses, and corporate functions, factories, while building a strong culture of ethics and accountability within the workforce.

Key Responsibilities:

Labour & Employment Law Compliance

• Ensure 100% compliance with labor laws, including Shops & Establishments Acts, CLRA, ESI, PF, minimum wages, working hours, contract labor, and occupational health & safety regulations.
• Monitor statutory compliances across all store locations, distribution centers, and offices.
• Conduct regular audits of third-party manpower agencies and ensure proper documentation, contracts, and PF/ESI remittances.
• Partner with HR to implement disciplinary frameworks in line with legal mandates and internal code of conduct.

Retail-Specific Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure adherence to retail trade regulations (FSSAI, Legal Metrology, packaging & labeling, local municipal licenses, trade licenses, fire NOCs).
• Coordinate license renewals and ensure all permits are in place and up to date at each store and warehouse.
• Track compliance with consumer protection regulations, POS rules, and pricing laws.

Ethics & Conduct Management

• Implement the company's Code of Ethics across all employee and vendor levels.
• Manage grievance redressal systems (including whistleblower hotlines) for reporting ethical violations, harassment, or unsafe practices.
• Investigate and document complaints related to labor exploitation, vendor compliance violations, and workplace misconduct.
• Partner with HR to ensure ethical conduct during hiring, onboarding, and exit processes.

Training & Communication

• Drive awareness sessions on labor rights, ethical conduct, prevention of sexual harassment (POSH), anti-bribery, and workplace harassment.
• Provide induction training and periodic refreshers to store and warehouse staff on compliance policies.

Monitoring, Reporting & Auditing

• Conduct periodic compliance audits across retail outlets and logistics hubs.
• Maintain dashboards and reports for senior leadership on compliance health, risk areas, and resolution timelines.
• Work closely with internal audit, HR, legal, and operations teams to close gaps and implement corrective actions.

Stakeholder & Regulatory Interaction

• Serve as point of contact during inspections by labor commissioners, food safety officers, municipal corporations, and other authorities.
• Prepare and submit required statutory returns and documentation as per timelines.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or HR (Master's in Labor Law, LL.B, or MBA preferred).

Certifications:

• Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) or Certification in Labour Law preferred.

Experience:

• 6–10 years of experience in compliance or legal roles within retail, FMCG, logistics, or manufacturing industries.
• Strong exposure to retail labor law compliance across multiple states or regions.
• Experience handling third-party compliance, audits, and government inspections.

Skills & Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of Indian labor law and retail industry regulations.
• Strong documentation, audit, and investigation skills.
• Proficiency in compliance tracking tools and HRMS systems.
• High integrity and a strong sense of ethics.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion and professionalism.
• Fluent in English and local language(s).

Preferred Traits:

• Assertive and resilient in field-level enforcement.
• Comfortable interacting with field teams, store managers, legal authorities, and vendors.
• Process-driven mindset with an eye for operational compliance gaps.