Job Description – HR Manager Position: HR Manager Industry: Food Processing / Gherkin Manufacturing & Export Experience: 7–8 years, preferably in Manufacturing / Food Processing / Agro-Processing Location: Hassan, Karnataka Reporting To: Corporate HR/ Plant Manager Employment Type: Full-time About the Role We are looking for an experienced and hands-on HR Manager to manage the complete HR and employee-relations function for our gherkin manufacturing and export processing facility. The ideal candidate should have 7–8 years of relevant HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment and should be comfortable working in a factory setting with a large workforce, multiple shifts, contract labour, seasonal manpower requirements and production-driven operations. The HR Manager will be responsible for ensuring smooth manpower availability, strong employee relations, statutory compliance, discipline, attendance and payroll coordination, recruitment, and implementation of HR systems and policies at the plant. Key Responsibilities 1. Plant HR & Manpower Management
Manage day-to-day HR operations at the manufacturing/processing plant.
Plan and ensure adequate manpower availability in line with production requirements.
Handle manpower planning for permanent, temporary, seasonal, and contract workers.
Coordinate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Stores, and other departments for manpower requirements.
Monitor absenteeism, attrition, overtime, shift deployment and manpower productivity.
Develop effective systems for workforce deployment and utilization.
2. Recruitment & Workforce Planning
Manage end-to-end recruitment for plant positions, from worker-level manpower to supervisory and managerial roles.
Build and maintain local recruitment sources for factory workers.
Manage seasonal manpower requirements during peak gherkin procurement and production periods.
Coordinate with manpower contractors where required.
Ensure timely onboarding and proper documentation of new employees.
3. Attendance, Payroll & Leave Administration
Oversee daily attendance, shift records, leave, overtime and manpower deployment.
Ensure proper maintenance of employee and worker records.
Resolve attendance, salary, leave and other employee-related queries.
4. Labour Law & Statutory Compliance
Ensure compliance with applicable labour laws and statutory requirements relating to the factory.
Manage statutory registers, records, notices, returns, licences, and documentation.
Coordinate compliance related to PF, ESIC, Professional Tax, Bonus, Gratuity, Minimum Wages, Contract Labour, Factory-related requirements, and other applicable regulations.
Coordinate with labour authorities, inspectors, consultants, and other statutory bodies when required.
Ensure compliance by contractors/service providers engaged at the plant.
Conduct periodic compliance audits and close identified gaps.
5. Contract Labour Management
Manage and monitor contract labour engaged in production, housekeeping, security, loading/unloading, and other activities.
Ensure contractors comply with statutory and company requirements.
Verify contractor manpower records, attendance, wages, statutory contributions, and documentation.
Maintain proper records and documentation relating to contract workers.
6. Employee Relations & Grievance Handling
Act as the primary HR point of contact for factory employees and workers.
Handle employee grievances, disciplinary matters, absenteeism, misconduct, and workplace conflicts.
Maintain positive employee relations and a productive work environment.
Conduct worker interactions and periodic employee engagement meetings.
Support management in disciplinary proceedings and ensure proper documentation.
Identify potential employee-relations issues and proactively address them.
7. HR Policies & Processes
Implement company HR policies and procedures at the plant.
Establish and improve HR systems related to attendance, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, leave, discipline, and employee records.
Ensure employees understand company policies, code of conduct, and workplace rules.
Maintain proper HR documentation and records.
8. Training & Employee Development
Coordinate induction and orientation programs for new employees.
Identify training requirements in consultation with department heads.
Organize training on workplace discipline, safety awareness, hygiene, food safety awareness and other relevant areas.
Maintain training records and monitor completion.
9. BuyerAudit & Documentation Adeptness
The HR Manager should be well-versed in audit requirements and documentation practices, with the ability to maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date HR, labour, statutory, and employee records. The role will involve preparing and organizing documentation for internal, customer, social compliance, statutory, and export-related audits, ensuring records are readily available, properly maintained, and compliant with applicable standards and company requirements. The candidate should be detail-oriented and capable of identifying documentation gaps and ensuring timely corrective actions.
10. HR MIS & Management Reporting
Prepare regular HR reports and dashboards for management.
Track and report:
Headcount
Manpower deployment
Absenteeism
Attrition
Overtime
Recruitment status
Contract labour
Labour costs
Leave status
Training
Employee grievances
Statutory compliance
Provide data-driven recommendations to management for improving workforce efficiency.
Candidate Profile Essential Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Labour Relations, or a related field.
MBA/PGDM in HR or equivalent qualification preferred.
7–8 years of overall HR experience, with significant experience in a manufacturing/plant environment.
Preferred Experience Candidates from the following industries will be preferred:
Food Processing
Agro Processing
FMCG Manufacturing
Gherkin / Pickle / Vegetable Processing
Export Manufacturing
Packaged Food Manufacturing
Dairy / Beverage Processing
Other labour-intensive manufacturing industries
Key Skills
Strong knowledge of plant HR operations
Labour law and statutory compliance
Contract labour management
Recruitment and manpower planning
Employee relations and grievance handling
Attendance and payroll coordination
Disciplinary procedures
HR MIS and reporting
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently at a factory location
Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability
Good Excel/MS Office skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment
Preferred Personal Attributes
Hands-on and approachable HR professional
Strong understanding of shop-floor workforce dynamics
Firm but fair approach to employee relations
High integrity and confidentiality
Strong follow-up and execution skills
Good coordination with plant management and department heads
Comfortable handling a large and diverse workforce
Ability to work extended hours during peak production/seasonal periods when required
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The HR Manager will be evaluated on:
Manpower availability against production requirements
Reduction in absenteeism and attrition
Timely closure of recruitment requirements
Statutory and labour-law compliance
Accuracy of attendance and payroll inputs
Effective contract labour management
Employee grievance resolution
Reduction in disciplinary/employee-relations issues
Training and induction completion
Employee engagement and retention
Quality and timeliness of HR MIS
Overall effectiveness of plant HR operations
Why Join Us? This is an opportunity for an experienced Plant HR professional to take ownership of the complete HR function in a growing gherkin export manufacturing operation, working closely with plant leadership and management and playing a key role in building a disciplined, efficient and engaged workforce. Candidates with strong hands-on manufacturing HR experience will be given preference.
