Description: Job Description: Head - HR & IR (Manufacturing).

Position Title: Head - Human Resources & Industrial Relations.

Industry: Manufacturing.

Workforce Size: 300 - 400 employees (workmen + staff).

Location: Pondicherry.

Reporting To: Chief Financial Officer.

Employment Type: Full-time.

Role Overview:

The Head - HR & IR will be responsible for leading the Human Resources, Industrial Relations, and Administration functions for a manufacturing unit employing around 300 -400 workers.

The role requires hands-on factory HR experience, strong union/worker management capabilities, and the ability to ensure compliance, productivity, and workforce harmony.

Key Responsibilities:

HR Leadership & Operations:

- Lead all HR activities including manpower planning, recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, and retention.

- Implement and monitor HR policies, procedures, and HRMS systems.

- Drive Performance Management System (PMS) and support departmental heads in goal-setting and reviews.

- Implement training, upskilling programs, and competency development for staff and workers.

- Manage payroll, attendance, leave administration, and time office operations.

- Ensure smooth HR operations across all 3 shifts.

Industrial Relations (Critical Responsibility):

- Maintain stable and healthy relations with workmen, unions and contract labour.

- Handle disciplinary actions, domestic enquiries, grievance redressal, and dispute resolution.

- Lead collective bargaining discussions, long-term settlements, and union negotiations.

- Monitor adherence to standing orders and ensure proper communication with workers.

- Build rapport with shop-floor teams through regular rounds, counselling, and interaction.

Statutory Compliance:

- Ensure 100% compliance under Factories Act, Labour Codes, Contract Labour Act, ESI, PF, Bonus, Gratuity, and other labour regulations.

- Manage statutory registers, monthly/annual returns, inspections, and liaison with government authorities.

- Ensure licence renewals and audits are completed on time.

- Coordinate with the Safety Team for compliance with health, safety, and welfare standards.

Contract Labour Management:

- Monitor daily deployment of contract labour through contractors.

- Verify contractor statutory complianceESI, PF, wage slips, bonus, leave, etc.

- Conduct periodic audits of contractor records and worker well-being.

Administration:

- Handle factory administration including canteen, security, transport, housekeeping, and infrastructure.

- Support implementation of safety and welfare initiatives.

- Ensure proper working conditions and employee amenities for all shifts.

Desired Candidate Profile:

- Education: MSW / MBA (HR) / MLW / MHRM or equivalent.

- Experience: 10-15 years in plant HR & IR with minimum 5 years in a leadership/plant HR head role.

- Strong expertise in labour laws and practical hands-on IR exposure.

- Experience dealing with ~200500 workforce preferred.

- Proven ability to manage union dynamics, negotiations, and dispute prevention.

- Good communication skills in local language (Tamil) and English.

- Must be grounded, approachable, and capable of commanding respect on the shop floor.

Key Competencies:

- Worker relationship management.

- IR negotiation skills.

- Statutory compliance expertise.

- Leadership and people management.

- Decision-making & problem-solving.

- Conflict resolution.

- Confidentiality and ethical conduct.

- Ability to work under pressure (shutdowns, production peaks, disputes).

Compensation:

Competitive, based on experience and industry norms for manufacturing units of similar scale.