CHRO | Retail - FMCG | Chennai

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established, family-driven food & retail enterprise with a strong brand legacy in South India. Recently backed by private equity investment, the organization is transitioning into a structured, high-growth, professionally governed business.

Job Description

The incumbent will work closely with the MD, CFO, and Board, and will be accountable for:

1. HR Function Build (0 → 1)

• Establish the HR operating model, org structure, and governance frameworks
• Build and scale an in-house HR team across corporate and field operations
• Set up scalable processes for a high-volume, distributed workforce

1. Systems, Process & Compliance

• Implement HRMS, payroll, compliance, and workforce management systems
• Ensure robust statutory compliance across manufacturing units and retail outlets
• Standardize policies, documentation, and labor frameworks (especially for blue-collar workforce)

1. Workforce Strategy (Blue-Collar Heavy)

• Design HR strategies for a workforce that is ~95% blue-collar
• Drive hiring, deployment, productivity, and retention across stores and production units
• Create scalable models for high-volume retail hiring and workforce planning

1. Performance & Culture

• Build a performance management system (currently absent)
• Introduce structured employee engagement and retention programs
• Drive a shift from an informal setup to a high-accountability, performance-driven culture

1. Learning & Capability Building

• Establish L&D frameworks, especially for store staff and frontline workforce
• Drive capability building for store operations, production staff, and supervisors

1. Expansion Readiness

• Partner with business leaders to support multi-city expansion (Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Kochi, etc.)
• Ensure HR readiness for rapid store/unit scale-up

1. Board & Leadership Interface

• Present HR strategy, metrics, and transformation roadmap to the Board & PE stakeholders
• Act as a trusted advisor to promoters during professionalization of the organization

The Successful Applicant

• 12-18 years of experience in HR, with strong exposure to retail / QSR / FMCG / manufacturing-led organizations
• Proven experience in building HR functions from scratch or scaling HR in high-growth environments
• Deep expertise in managing large blue-collar / frontline workforce
• Strong understanding of labor laws, compliance, and payroll systems
• Experience in multi-location operations and high-volume hiring
• Based in Chennai (or willing to relocate immediately)
• Fluency in Tamil (highly preferred, given workforce mix)

• Competitive salary package commensurate with industry standards.
• Opportunity to lead HR initiatives within a large organization in the food FMCG sector.
• A professional and collaborative working environment in Coimbatore.
• Access to resources for personal and professional growth.

If you are an experienced HR professional looking to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply for this exciting CHRO role in the FMCG industry.