Director - Industrial Relations & Employee Relations

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader for the role of Director - Industrial Relations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of industrial relations across the organisation's all-India network. This includes managing the unionised, blue-collared staff, ensuring compliance with labour laws, fostering positive employee relations, managing disputes, and driving initiatives to enhance the overall work environment.

Key Responsibilities

Industrial Relations Management

- Develop and implement strategies to maintain harmonious industrial relations across all locations.

- Engage with the Unions representing the blue-collared staff and addressing their issues, including negotiating and finalising Long Term Settlements.

- Build ground-level relationships and intelligence to preempt and resolve IR issues proactively

- Ensure compliance with labour laws and regulations at national and regional levels.

- Proactively identify and address potential employee relations issues.

Dispute Resolution

- Lead and manage the resolution of industrial disputes in collaboration with legal and HR teams. This includes liaising with Police and other Government departments as per business needs.

- Implement conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent and address workplace issues.

Policy Development

- Contribute to the development and enhancement of HR policies related to industrial relations.

- Regularly review and update policies to align with evolving legal and organizational requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including HR, legal, and senior leadership, to drive a unified approach to industrial relations.

- Build positive relationships with external stakeholders, including labour unions and government authorities.

Employee Communication

- Develop and execute effective communication strategies to keep employees informed about company policies, changes, and initiatives.

- Foster a culture of open communication and transparency.

- Extensive experience (22+ years) in industrial relations with a focus on large, multi-location organisations with a large number of unionised blue-collared workmen.

Required skills and competencies

- Problem-solving aptitude with strong action orientation, must have proven ability to resolve IR issues independently within hours.

- Thorough knowledge of Indian labour laws and regulations.

- Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

- Outstanding organizational and leadership skills

- Multi-lingual - must be fluent in English and Hindi. Knowledge of Marathi will be an advantage.