Job Description

Role : Associate Relations & Industrial Relations Lead - Pune

Location : Pune

Key Responsibilities

AR & IR Leadership & Relationship management

• Partner and build sustainable relationships with Leadership teams incl Plant Manager, Supply head, P&O business partner and P&O head legal, AR head, and Union and Line Managers to achieve the goals aligned with the people agenda and business strategy of PUN unit.
• Consult and provoke business stakeholders on people insights and external trends related to workplace..
• Be the pulse of the business and report on associate and organization insights with use of Data and insights
• Anchor the relationship with Unions and other committees in the plant
• Lead collective bargaining agreements within the Indian legal framework
• Assess employment and labor trends and initiate progressive employment discussion with stakeholders

Workplace issue resolution

• Ensure associate & business advocacy
• Lead the grievance redressal process at site to build a fair, trustworthy and inclusive workplace
• Take escalation from Line Managers, plant leadership in complex, high risk associate relations issues and provide coaching to LMs, associates to mutually resolve issues
• Ensure legal counsel is engaged as appropriate and partner with legal counsel on matters requiring legal guidance
• Lead and perform associate relations and investigations as appropriate & ensure appropriate tracking / communication / documentation.
• Lead the disciplinary process in line with Mars guidelines and ensuring Principles of natural justice
• Review and lead our Involuntary separation process incl approving separations, separation options and transition assistance.

Build capability for issue avoidance

• Ensure associate & business advocacy by building functional capability of line managers
• Provide coaching, counselling, and training to line managers and P&O partners in areas related to employment law, grievance management and performance management to build performance capabilities in the Mars way
• Provide interpretation & consultation to ensure fair application of welfare, policies, processes to associates

Union Management and Engagement

• Own and lead the overall Industrial relations and union strategy for PUN and India
• Collaborate and engage with union at site to ensure harmony while protecting the Mars culture and our ways of working, ensuring business continuity and continuous improvement.
• Proactively raise potential challenges with leadership (incl AR lead, P&O head, Supply head) and mobilize their support proactively
• Anchor union meetings and discussions on an ongoing basis to continuously improve our processes and associate experience.
• Lead the negotiation and long-term settlement process for the site
• Provide guidance and coaching to P&O/AR members on Industrial relations matter in India

External relationship

• In partnership with Corp and external affairs, build strong working relationship with key external stakeholders like DLC, ALC

Culture Pulse & Managing future focused areas

• Serve as the guardian of the Mars culture and report on the pulse of the business by associate and organization insights
• Analyze Associate Relations cases and ensure root cause/broader issues are proactively addressed.
• Identify Industrial relations trends to ensure development of training and tools that address broader AR/IR opportunities.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Master degree in Human Resources, labor/industrial relations; Combination of education and experience preferred

Knowledge / Experience

• Extensive related HR/IR experience (12+ years) in HR functions, with minimum 4-5 years’ experience of leading IR for a factory or group of factories
• Ideally experience working in an associate relations/labor relations environment and providing associate/labor relations expertise (incl. employment/labor regulations knowledge)
• Ability to interact and develop relationships with all levels of associates, including senior management, to influence desired outcomes
• Ability to rapidly mobilize and manage teams
• Ability to work independently and efficiently, with minimal supervision, in a fast-paced, sensitive environment
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential and sensitive information
• Strong communication skills, written and interpersonal
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Exceptional conflict management skills