Chief Human Resources Officer - Manufacturing Industry

CHRO (Manufacturing Industry)

Position Overview :

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) will be responsible for driving the overall people strategy and organizational effectiveness agenda for a rapidly growing Defence & Aerospace manufacturing organization. The role requires a strategic HR leader with deep experience in manufacturing environments, workforce planning, leadership development, industrial relations, talent acquisition, and building high-performance cultures. The CHRO will partner closely with the Managing Director, Board, and business leadership team to align human capital initiatives with business growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities :

1. HR Strategy & Organizational Development :

- Develop and execute the organization's human capital strategy aligned with business objectives and long-term growth plans.

- Drive organization design, workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership capability development.

- Build a scalable HR framework to support manufacturing expansion, new facilities, and business diversification.

- Lead culture transformation initiatives focused on innovation, accountability, operational excellence, and employee engagement.

2. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning :

- Design talent acquisition strategies for engineering, manufacturing, R&D, quality, supply chain, and corporate functions.

- Build strong talent pipelines for specialized aerospace, defence, precision engineering, and advanced manufacturing roles.

- Ensure timely recruitment and onboarding of critical leadership and technical talent.

- Partner with academic institutions and industry bodies to create future talent pools.

3. Leadership Development & Succession Planning :

- Establish robust leadership assessment and development programs.

- Drive succession planning for key leadership and technical positions.

- Develop learning and development frameworks for both white-collar and shop-floor employees.

- Build leadership competencies aligned with the organization's growth strategy.

4. Performance Management & Rewards :

- Design and implement performance management systems linked to business outcomes.

- Lead compensation and benefits strategy to ensure market competitiveness and retention.

- Establish productivity-linked incentive programs for manufacturing operations.

- Drive performance culture through goal setting, talent reviews, and capability-building initiatives.

5. Employee Relations & Industrial Relations :

- Lead employee engagement and workforce communication initiatives across plants and offices.

- Manage industrial relations, union interactions, grievance handling, and dispute resolution.

- Ensure harmonious labour relations while maintaining operational efficiency.

- Develop policies and practices that foster a positive employee experience.

6. Compliance, Governance & Risk Management :

- Ensure compliance with all labour laws, factory regulations, employment legislation, and statutory requirements.

- Oversee HR governance, audits, and policy implementation.

- Support defence industry compliance requirements related to workforce security and background verification.

- Mitigate people-related risks through proactive HR interventions.

7. Diversity, Inclusion & Culture :

- Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

- Lead initiatives that strengthen employer branding and employee value proposition.

- Enhance employee engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness metrics.

8. HR Operations & Digital Transformation :

- Drive HR digitization and implementation of HR technology platforms.

- Establish HR analytics and dashboards to support strategic decision-making.

- Improve HR processes, productivity, and employee service delivery through automation and process optimization.

Candidate Profile :

- MBA/PGDM in Human Resources from a reputed institution.

- 18-25 years of progressive HR experience, with significant leadership experience in manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, defence, automotive, heavy engineering, or industrial organizations.

- Proven experience managing large manufacturing workforces and multi-location operations.

- Strong expertise in organization development, talent management, industrial relations, compensation & benefits, and HR transformation.

- Experience working with promoters, boards, investors, and senior leadership teams.

- Demonstrated success in supporting high-growth and transformation environments.