Position: Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Industry: Manufacturing

Reporting To: Managing Director / CEO

Location: Mumbai Corporate Office (with frequent travel to manufacturing plants)

Experience: 18-25+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably in the Chemical, Petrochemical, Specialty Chemicals, Manufacturing, Engineering, or Process Industry.

Qualification: MBA / PGDM in Human Resources / Personnel Management from a reputed institute. Additional certifications in Labour Laws, Compensation & Benefits, HR Analytics, OD, or Leadership Development will be an added advantage.

Role Summary:

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) will be responsible for developing and driving the overall Human Resources strategy aligned with the organization's business objectives. The incumbent will lead the Corporate HR function and oversee all HR activities across multiple manufacturing plants located in two states, ensuring a high-performance culture, statutory compliance, employee engagement, talent development, and organizational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic HR Leadership:

- Develop and implement the organization's HR strategy aligned with business objectives.

- Act as a strategic business partner to the Managing Director, CEO, and senior leadership team.

- Lead organizational transformation and change management initiatives.

- Drive succession planning and leadership development.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning:

- Develop manpower planning strategies across corporate and plant locations.

- Build a strong leadership pipeline for critical business functions.

- Oversee recruitment for senior, middle, and plant-level positions.

- Strengthen employer branding and talent retention initiatives.

Employee Engagement & Retention:

- Design and implement employee engagement programs across all locations.

- Foster a positive, inclusive, and performance-driven work culture.

- Drive employee satisfaction, motivation, and retention initiatives.

- Conduct employee feedback surveys and implement action plans.

Compensation & Benefits:

- Design and review Compensation & Benefits policies.

- Benchmark salary structures against industry standards.

- Lead annual compensation reviews, incentive plans, and performance-linked rewards.

- Ensure internal equity and external competitiveness.

Performance Management:

- Lead the Performance Management System (PMS).

- Drive goal setting, performance reviews, and career development initiatives.

- Build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

HR Compliance & Governance:

- Ensure compliance with all applicable Labour Laws and statutory regulations.

- Oversee audits relating to HR, labour compliance, and governance.

- Develop HR policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks.

- Ensure adherence to ethical standards and corporate governance practices.

Industrial Relations & Plant HR:

- Provide strategic guidance on Industrial Relations and Employee Relations.

- Support Plant HR teams in handling workforce issues.

- Maintain cordial relations with employees, unions, and government authorities wherever applicable.

- Oversee HR operations across manufacturing plants located in two states.

HR Digitalization & Transformation:

- Drive digital HR initiatives and automation of HR processes.

- Implement and optimize HRMS, Payroll, Attendance, and Performance Management Systems.

- Leverage HR analytics and dashboards for informed decision-making.

- Promote technology-enabled HR practices across the organization.

Learning & Organizational Development:

- Identify competency gaps and design learning interventions.

- Drive leadership development and capability-building initiatives.

- Implement career development and succession planning frameworks.

Team Leadership:

- Lead, mentor, and develop the Corporate HR and Plant HR teams.

- Build a collaborative, customer-centric HR function.

- Drive a culture of continuous learning and operational excellence.

Key Functional Areas:

- HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Performance Management, Compensation & Benefits, HR Compliance, Labour Laws, Industrial Relations, HR Governance, Organizational Development, Learning & Development, HR Digitalization, HR Analytics, HR Operations, Payroll Oversight, Plant HR Management, Policy Formulation, Succession Planning, Leadership Development.

Desired Candidate Profile:

- Minimum 18 years of relevant HR experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing or process industries.

- Strong experience in handling Corporate HR along with multi-location Plant HR operations.

- Sound knowledge of Indian Labour Laws, statutory compliance, and industrial relations.

- Demonstrated experience in employee engagement, retention strategies, compensation & benefits, and organizational development.

- Exposure to HR digitalization, HRMS implementation, and HR analytics.

- Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.

- Experience managing large HR teams across multiple locations.

Preferred Industry Background:

- FMCG, Food & Beverage, Specialty Chemicals, Chemical Manufacturing, Petrochemicals, Fertilizers, Paints & Coatings, Agrochemicals, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing, Engineering & Industrial Manufacturing.

Key Competencies:

- Strategic Thinking, Business Acumen, Leadership & Team Building, Change Management, Employee Relations, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Decision Making, Communication & Presentation Skills, Stakeholder Management, Data-Driven HR Decision Making, High Integrity & Ethical Standards.