Senior Manager Plant HR

Job Description Senior Manager – Plant HR

Position: Senior Manager – Plant HR
Department: Human Resources
Location: Plant Location
Reporting To:Plant Head/CHRO
Experience: 10–20 Years
Industry Preference: Manufacturing / Footwear / FMCG / Consumer Goods / Engineering / Automobile

Job Purpose

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Senior Manager – Plant HR to lead the complete HR function at the plant. The role will be responsible for managing the employee lifecycle, industrial relations, manpower planning, statutory compliance, performance management, employee engagement, and HR operations while ensuring a productive and positive work environment.

The ideal candidate should have strong exposure to plant HR, blue-collar workforce management, industrial relations, labour laws, compliance, and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant HR Operations

• Manage end-to-end HR operations for the plant.
• Drive HR policies, processes, and systems in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Manage employee lifecycle including manpower planning, recruitment, onboarding, transfers, promotions, disciplinary actions, and separation.
• Ensure effective implementation of HR policies and procedures at the plant.
• Act as a strategic HR partner to Plant Head and business leadership.

2. Manpower Planning & Recruitment

• Prepare and manage plant manpower budgets and manpower plans.
• Ensure timely hiring of permanent, contractual, and temporary workforce.
• Coordinate with recruitment teams for timely closure of critical positions.
• Monitor manpower productivity, absenteeism, attrition, and overtime.
• Develop manpower optimization initiatives.

3. Industrial Relations

• Manage day-to-day industrial relations at the plant.
• Handle employee grievances, disciplinary matters, misconduct cases, and conflict resolution.
• Maintain healthy relations with workmen and employee representatives.
• Manage interactions with unions/workmen representatives, wherever applicable.
• Support management during negotiations and industrial relations matters.
• Proactively identify and resolve potential employee relations issues.

4. Labour Law & Statutory Compliance

• Ensure complete compliance with applicable labour laws and statutory requirements.
• Manage compliance related to PF, ESIC, Bonus, Gratuity, Minimum Wages, Contract Labour, Payment of Wages, Working Hours, Leave, and other applicable regulations.
• Ensure proper maintenance of statutory registers, records, licenses, and returns.
• Coordinate and support labour department inspections and audits.
• Ensure compliance by contractors and manpower agencies.

5. Contract Labour Management

• Manage contractual workforce and manpower agencies.
• Ensure compliance with contractual labour requirements.
• Monitor contractor attendance, wages, statutory compliance, and documentation.
• Conduct periodic audits of contractors and manpower vendors.

6. Employee Engagement & Welfare

• Drive employee engagement initiatives at the plant.
• Plan and execute employee welfare activities, celebrations, communication forums, and engagement programs.
• Conduct employee connect initiatives and address employee concerns.
• Improve employee satisfaction, retention, and workplace culture.

7. Performance Management & Talent Development

• Drive performance management processes for plant employees.
• Identify training and development requirements.
• Coordinate skill development and technical/behavioural training programs.
• Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Develop and implement competency-based development plans.

8. Attendance, Payroll & HR MIS

• Ensure accurate attendance and payroll inputs for plant employees.
• Monitor absenteeism, overtime, leave, and shift management.
• Ensure timely submission of payroll-related inputs.
• Prepare and analyze HR MIS covering manpower, attrition, absenteeism, overtime, productivity, hiring, and other HR metrics.
• Present periodic HR dashboards to senior management.

9. HR Policy & Process Improvement

• Ensure effective implementation of corporate HR policies at the plant.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes and employee experience.
• Drive automation and digitization of plant HR processes.
• Establish effective HR systems, controls, and documentation.

10. Safety & Workplace Culture

• Work closely with the EHS/Safety team to promote a safe working environment.
• Support safety awareness and employee welfare initiatives.
• Ensure HR support for workplace discipline and compliance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of Plant HR & Industrial Relations
• Excellent understanding of Labour Laws & Statutory Compliance
• Strong experience in blue-collar/workmen workforce management
• Manpower planning and productivity management
• Employee grievance handling
• Disciplinary proceedings and domestic enquiry exposure
• Contract labour management
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• HR MIS & analytical skills
• Employee engagement and retention
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management

Qualification

• MBA / PGDM in Human Resources / Personnel Management
• Bachelor's degree in any relevant discipline
• Additional qualification in Labour Laws / IR will be an advantage.

Experience

10–15 years of relevant HR experience, with significant exposure to plant HR / manufacturing HR / industrial relations.

Candidates with experience managing a large blue-collar workforce and handling IR, labour compliance, contractor management, and plant HR operations will be preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Manpower cost and productivity
• Employee attrition
• Absenteeism
• Recruitment TAT
• Labour law compliance
• Contractor compliance
• Employee engagement
• Grievance resolution TAT
• Overtime management
• Training effectiveness
• Industrial relations stability
• HR process compliance

Preferred Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should be a strong Plant HR professional who can independently manage the complete HR function of a manufacturing unit, partner with the Plant Head and business leadership, and effectively manage both people and industrial relations.