Head - HR & Administration - INRO Region - Shipping/GCC/Shared Services

Designation: Head - HR & Administration (INRO)

Experience : 20-25 Years (Minimum 5 years in a leadership role)

Location: Chennai

Industry Preference : Shipping / GCC / Shared Services

Position Overview :

- We are looking for a senior Head - HR & Admin to lead and drive the Human Resources and Administration function for the INRO region. This is a strategic leadership role requiring strong regional HR experience, deep understanding of labour laws, people strategy, and the ability to partner closely with business leadership and global HR stakeholders.

- The role combines strategic HR leadership, operational excellence, change management, and people leadership, supporting organizational growth across multiple countries within the region.

Roles & Responsibilities :

1. Core HR & Regional Leadership Responsibilities:

- Partner with the Regional Head to define, drive, and implement HR strategies aligned with business goals and people plans for the INRO region.

- Act as a strategic HR advisor, providing guidance on human capital implications of business decisions.

- Lead regional talent acquisition, ensuring timely hiring of the right talent for critical roles.

- Drive talent management, development, and retention, including succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

- Build and maintain a strong talent pipeline for key and critical positions across the region.

- Collaborate with Global HR and Compensation teams to ensure compensation and benefits strategies align with global and regional frameworks.

- Lead annual performance management, calibration, and salary review cycles at the regional level.

- Manage employee relations, ensuring compliance with local labour laws, statutory requirements, and group HR policies.

- Lead HR aspects of organizational change initiatives, supporting leaders through change management.

- Develop and strengthen HR capabilities within the INRO region to meet current and future business needs.

- Drive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives aligned to regional cultural and legal contexts.

- Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work culture across multiple countries in the region.

- Lead HR risk management, including labour relations, employee safety, and data privacy.

- Act as a key liaison between regional HR teams and Global HR, ensuring policy and strategy alignment.

- Oversee and be responsible for the Regional Administration function.

2. Leadership Responsibilities:

- Strategic Vision: Define and communicate a clear HR vision aligned with long-term business objectives for INRO.

- Stakeholder Management: Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders including executives, department heads, HQ, and global HR leadership.

- Organization Growth & Culture: Partner with regional leadership to build a high-performing, engaged employee culture.

- People Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the regional HR team.

- Decision Making: Make informed HR decisions in response to evolving labour laws, compliance requirements, and workforce trends.

- Change Leadership: Effectively drive and manage organizational change initiatives.

- Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimization and implement best practices aligned with global HR standards.

Qualifying Criteria:

Personality Traits:

- High adaptability to navigate ambiguity and changing environments.

- Strong resilience with the ability to remain composed under pressure.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for senior stakeholder engagement.

- Highly collaborative approach with regional and global teams.

- Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate risks and opportunities.

Qualification & Experience (Required):

- Degree / Diploma in HR, Business Administration, or related discipline.

- Minimum 15+ years of relevant regional HR experience in a global organization.

- Proven leadership and people management experience.

- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

- Ability to work at both strategic and operational levels.

- Strong understanding of employment laws and statutory compliance.

- Demonstrated track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments.

- Meticulous, independent, resourceful, and resilient professional.

Professional Skill Sets (Good to Have):

- Exposure to multi-country HR operations.

- Experience in shared services or matrix organizations.

Barriers to Success: Not Applicable

Performance Criteria:

- Strong business acumen with the ability to translate business needs into people strategy.

- Ability to build credibility, trust, and influence at senior levels.

- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work under pressure.

- Proven capability to lead and develop country and regional HR teams.

Key Interactions:

- Regional Head

- Agencies Head

- Country HR Teams

- Global HR Leadership

Reporting Structure:

Reports to:

- Regional Head (Business)

- Head of International HR (Function)