HR Business Partner - Pharma/API Manufacturing

Location: Pondicherry & Bangalore (managing Ambernath + Mangalore)

Function: Human Resources - Business HR

Grade: Senior Manager

Reporting To: CHRO

Work Schedule: 6 days per week

Employee Base: ~800 employees (site dependent)

Role Purpose

Partner with site leadership to deliver a compliant, capable, and engaged workforce that supports safe and efficient Pharma/API manufacturing operations. This is a hands-on business partner role focused on workforce planning, productivity, and shop-floor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

- Strategic partnering: Forecast manpower needs, manage workforce costs, and implement productivity measures with Production, Quality, and Operations.

- Floor engagement: Lead Gemba walks, 5S, and employee committee activities to strengthen shop-floor connections.

- Talent & performance: Manage appraisal cycles, identify high performers, support succession planning, and drive functional training.

- Employee relations & compliance: Ensure compliance with labour laws and contract labour rules, manage grievances, and maintain industrial peace.

- Culture & engagement: Implement targeted engagement, recognition, and climate-improvement initiatives.

- Stakeholder management: Coordinate with plant heads, corporate functions, regulators, and industry bodies.

- Business solutions: Support shutdown planning, workforce optimization, and other people-related business challenges.

Role Requirements

- Experience: 10-15 years in HR, with exposure to industrial relations, workforce planning, and employee engagement in Pharma or manufacturing.

- Qualification: MSW / MBA / PGD in HR or equivalent.

- Languages: Pondicherry - Tamil (mandatory); Bangalore - Kannada (mandatory), Tulu (advantage).

Skills: Strong interpersonal, negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.

Additional Notes

- Individual contributor position.

- Hiring is time-sensitive; immediate availability preferred.

Opportunity

Site-focused HR business partner role in a Pharma/API manufacturing environment. The role requires practical IR handling, workforce planning, and direct shop-floor engagement to improve operational outcomes.