About the Role:

Connections has been mandated to hire a Head - HR for a leading restaurant chain - a multi-location, high-growth organization.

We are looking for an experienced Head - Human Resources to lead and build the HR function for a fast-growing, multi-location organization.

This is not a conventional HR Generalist role. The mandate is to build a professionally governed, scalable, compliant and IPO-ready HR function, while continuing to drive the broader people agenda.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and institutionalize the HR strategy, policies and governance framework

- Build a comprehensive HR Policy Manual and ensure effective implementation

- Own labour law and statutory compliance across locations

- Establish HR audit, risk, control and compliance frameworks

- Lead HR IPO Readiness, including HR due diligence and data-room preparation

- Identify and close historical HR / labour compliance gaps

- Standardize employment contracts, employee records, HR processes and documentation

- Work closely with Finance, Legal, Company Secretarial, Internal Audit, auditors and IPO advisors

- Build robust HR MIS, dashboards and management reporting

- Drive organization design, manpower planning and workforce productivity

- Establish structured performance management, compensation and grading frameworks

- Strengthen talent acquisition, leadership hiring and succession planning

- Drive employee relations, engagement, culture and learning & development

- Digitize and strengthen HR systems / HRMS and employee data governance

Ideal Candidate:

- 15 - 20+ years of progressive HR experience with significant leadership responsibility

- Experience in multi-location retail / hospitality / restaurant / consumer-facing businesses preferred

- Strong experience in HR governance, policy development, labour compliance and HR audits

- Prior exposure to pre-IPO / IPO readiness, due diligence or professionally governed organizations will be a strong advantage

- Strong understanding of Indian labour and employment laws

- Experience working with senior leadership, Finance, Legal, Secretarial and external advisors

- Strong process orientation with the ability to build systems from the ground up

- Strategic thinker who is also comfortable being hands-on

What We Are Looking For:

Someone who can transition the organization from people-dependent HR practices to a structured, process-driven, compliant, auditable and governance-led HR function.

Key Mandate:

Strategic HR - Policy & Governance - Labour Compliance - HR Controls - Audit Readiness - IPO Readiness - Talent & Organization Development

Location:

Mumbai

Experience:

15 - 20+ years

Qualification:

MBA/PGDM - HR preferred