Head – Human Resources

Job Summary

The Head of Human Resources will be responsible for building and leading the people function for a FMCG brand. This role is pivotal in shaping HR strategies, systems, and processes to support rapid growth, including new manufacturing facilities, expansion into new markets, and the development of a professional leadership team. The incumbent will directly influence talent acquisition, organizational design, performance management, HR operations, and culture, ensuring the company’s growth is sustainable and aligned with its core values.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategic Hiring: Own end-to-end hiring for senior management and critical roles, including briefings, sourcing, assessment, negotiation, and closure. Manage search firms and build talent pipelines for future leadership needs.
• Talent Acquisition (Stores, Factory, Corporate): Design and implement recruitment strategies across retail, manufacturing, and support functions. Improve interview frameworks, track recruitment metrics, and ensure timely hiring.
• Organization Design & HR Strategy: Collaborate with leadership on organizational structure, manpower planning, and capability gaps. Develop HR policies, processes, and systems suitable for a multi-location, fast-growing business.
• Performance Management: Introduce structured KRAs, KPIs, and performance evaluation cycles. Identify high performers, address performance gaps, and link outcomes to rewards.
• Compensation, HR Operations & Compliance: Review and optimize salary structures, incentives, and benefits. Oversee attendance, payroll, leave management, and ensure compliance with applicable labour laws and statutory requirements (PF, ESIC, Factories Act, Shops & Establishments, contract labour).
• Culture, Engagement & Employee Relations: Foster a positive, performance-driven organizational culture. Implement engagement and retention initiatives, handle sensitive employee matters confidentially, and act as a bridge between management and employees.

Qualifications

• Educational Qualification: MBA / PGDM in HR or equivalent preferred.
• Experience: 6–15+ years in HR, including at least 3 years leading the HR function at a senior level (Head HR / Sr. HRBP).
• Technical Skills:
  • Hands-on experience closing senior/leadership hires, including offer negotiation.
  • Managing a distributed workforce comprising retail stores and manufacturing units.
  • Strong knowledge of Indian labour laws and statutory compliance (PF, ESIC, Factories Act, Shops & Establishments, contract labour).
  • Experience implementing HRMS/payroll systems and running performance management cycles.
  • Building HR systems from scratch in promoter-led or fast-growing companies.
• Soft Skills:
  • Strong leadership and strategic thinking.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Discretion, maturity, and confidentiality handling employee matters.
  • Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Skills

• Background in FMCG, Food & Beverage, Retail, QSR, Hospitality, or Consumer Products.
• Fluency in Gujarati language.
• Experience with compensation benchmarking and incentive design for retail and sales teams.
• Willingness to relocate to Vadodara, Gujarat.
• Ability to work directly with promoters, CEOs, and senior leadership.

Experience

• 6 to 15+ years of HR experience, with a proven track record in senior leadership roles.
• Experience managing both white-collar and blue-collar workforces, especially in retail and manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success in building HR systems, policies, and processes in a high-growth, promoter-led organization.