Head - Human Resources - FMCG

Position: Head of Human Resources (FMCG) (including Corporate HR, Sales HR & Factory HR)

Work Mode: Work from Office (WFO)

Company: Leading and one of the largest FMCG companies in India

Location: Kolkata

Role Overview:

A Head of HR job description covers overall human resources strategy while directing specialized sub-functions like Corporate HR, Sales HR (managing field forces, trade marketing, and regional distribution) and Factory HR (managing manufacturing plants, labor laws, blue-collar unions, and shift operations).

Job Title: Head of Human Resources (FMCG)

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer / Board of Directors

Direct Reports: Sales HR Lead, Factory HR Leads / Plant HR Managers, Corporate HR / Talent Acquisition Lead, Compensation & Benefits Manager

Location: Corporate Office (with frequent travel to manufacturing plants and regional sales hubs)

Role Overview:

The Head of HR acts as a strategic business partner to leadership, driving the complete people agenda across corporate, manufacturing, and commercial/sales footprints. The role balances high-level organization design, culture building, and leadership development with hands-on oversight of industrial relations at factories and high-churn incentive management for sales teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic HR & Leadership:

- Align HR strategy with the company's business growth, volume targets, and expansion plans.

- Partner with the C-suite and executive committee on organization design, workforce planning, and succession mapping.

- Drive a high-performance, values-driven culture across plants, regional offices, and headquarters.

2. Sales HR (Commercial & Field Force Operations):

- Own end-to-end HR management for frontline regional sales teams, trade marketing, and distribution networks.

- Drive rapid talent acquisition, onboarding, and territory manpower planning for high-attrition field roles.

- Design and manage sales incentive structures, variable pay, commissions, and field compensation benchmarks in partnership with commercial finance.

- Manage field sales performance management, career progression, employee engagement, and retention programs.

3. Factory & Manufacturing HR (Plant Operations):

- Oversee human resources and industrial relations (IR) across manufacturing units, plants, and warehouses.

- Manage blue-collar and contract workforce planning, shift rosters, contractor compliance, and third-party payroll.

- Handle plant-level employee relations, union negotiations, grievance handling, and disciplinary actions.

- Ensure strict adherence to factory statutory compliances, labor laws, safety (HSE) training, and audits.

4. Talent Acquisition, L&D & Rewards:

- Oversee corporate and leadership hiring alongside specialized plant and commercial roles.

- Build capability-building frameworks, shop-floor skill training, and sales capability programs.

- Oversee annual performance appraisals, merit cycles, grading structures, and total rewards philosophy.

Required Candidate Profile:

Education: MBA / Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management (XLRI, TISS, MDI, Symbiosis, or equivalent reputed institute).

Experience: 12 - 18+ years of progressive HR experience in the FMCG, Consumer Goods, or Manufacturing/Retail sector.

Mandatory Exposure:

- Demonstrated hands-on or supervisory experience handling Sales HR (field force, incentives, regional sales structure).

- Demonstrated exposure to Factory HR / Industrial Relations (plant operations, labor unions, contract labor compliance).

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Strong business acumen and stakeholder management across plant floor and board room.

- Deep knowledge of Indian labor laws, factory acts, and statutory compliance.

- Crisis management, negotiation, and high-energy leadership.