Job Description

The GM - HR (South India) will be responsible for leading the full HR charter across the region, particularly Kerala, which includes 200+ retail units and ~1,800-1,900 employees. The role demands a blend of strategic HR leadership, hands-on execution, and strong stakeholder management.
1. Regional HR Leadership

• Lead the HR function across South India, ensuring alignment with business strategy and organisational goals.
• Drive HR transformation initiatives to support scale, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Provide strategic input to the Group Head - HR and business leadership on people priorities.

2. Industrial Relations & Compliance

• Manage IR matters proactively across Kerala and South India.
• Ensure statutory compliance, risk mitigation, and strong union/employee relations.
• Build IR capability within regional HR teams.

3. HR Operations & Execution

• Oversee employee life-cycle management, HR operations, and people processes across 200+ locations.
• Strengthen systems, SOPs, and governance to support a high-velocity operational environment.
• Drive improvements in productivity, policy adherence, and service delivery.

4. Talent & Engagement

• Partner with business to drive talent planning, capability building, and workforce optimisation.
• Implement engagement, retention, and culture programs that support frontline and corporate teams.
• Lead succession planning and development initiatives for high-potential talent.

5. Stakeholder & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor to regional leaders, cluster heads, and operations teams.
• Drive people decisions through strong influence, data-backed insights, and commercial understanding.
• Build strong relationships across geographies and diverse business units.

6. Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of 17-18 HR members across HRBP, HR Ops, and field HR roles.
• Build a high-performance, business-aligned HR team with strong execution capability.

Opportunity to lead HR for a large volume of businessHigh Ownership role
Preferred Candidate Profile

• Female candidates strongly preferred as part of the organisation's diversity charter.
• 8-10+ years of experience in HR, with exposure to high-velocity, heavy-operations environments.
• Background from sectors such as retail, hospitals, sales-heavy organisations, dealerships, FMCG, logistics/warehousing, or similar multi-site businesses.
• Strong IR experience, especially within Kerala, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate complex field environments.
• High energy, strategic mindset, and ability to drive change in a fast-growing business.
• Willingness to travel extensively across South India.

Our client is a fast-growing, multi-location retail chain with a deep presence across South India. With strong business momentum and continuous expansion, they are looking to hire a dynamic senior HR leader to drive people strategy, employee relations, and operational excellence across their South India footprint.
This is a diversity-focused leadership mandate.
Opportunity to work for a growing organisation

Skills Required