Associate Relations Manager

Job Description:

Job Purpose

The Associate Relations (AR) Manager for the Baddi factory will lead the site's AR strategy, serve as the primary contact for Associate relations, and act as a key member of the Plant Management Team to maintain a fair, positive, and inclusive workplace.
The role is responsible for driving labor compliance, managing grievance systems, and providing strategic recommendations on people policies while proactively mitigating business continuity risks in high-stakes situations. Additionally, this position requires expert-level Industrial Relations expertise and sharp business acumen to capture organizational insights, coach people leaders, and guide local leadership in navigating the people issues in a legacy unit in harmony with company culture.

Job Responsibilities

AR Leadership & Relationship management

1. 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 Site Committees, Associates and Line Managers to achieve the goals aligned with the people agenda and business strategy of Baddi unit.

2. Consult and provoke business stakeholders on people insights and external trends related to workplace.

3. Be the pulse of the business and report on associate and organization insights with use of Data and insights

4. Anchor the relationship with Associates and relevant committees in the plant

5. Provide perspective on any demands emanating from shopfloor in context of labour law and organization principles

6. Assess employment and labor trends and initiate progressive employment discussion with stakeholders

Workplace Issue Resolution
1. Ensure associate & business advocacy
2. Lead the grievance redressal process at site to build a fair, trustworthy and inclusive workplace
3. 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
4. Lead and perform associate relations and investigations as appropriate & ensure appropriate tracking / communication / documentation.
5. Lead the disciplinary process in line with Mars guidelines and ensuring Principles of natural justice
6. Review and lead our Involuntary separation process incl approving separations, separation options and transition assistance

Build Capability for Issue Avoidance
1. Ensure associate & business advocacy by building functional capability of line managers
2. 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
3. Provide interpretation & consultation to ensure fair application of welfare, policies, processes to associates and Engagement
4. Own and lead the overall Industrial relations strategy for Baddi in line with overall India framework on IR
5. Collaborate and engage with Associates at site to ensure harmony while protecting the Mars culture and our ways of working, ensuring business continuity and continuous improvement.
6. Proactively raise potential challenges with leadership (incl AR lead, P&O head, Supply head) and mobilize their support
7. Anchor committee meetings and discussions on an ongoing basis to continuously improve our processes and associate experience.
8. 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 labour department, factories department, PF department Culture Pulse & Managing future focused areas
1. Serve as the guardian of the Mars culture and report on the pulse of the business by associate and organization insights
2. Analyze Associate Relations cases and ensure root cause/broader issues are proactively addressed.
3. Identify Industrial relations trends to ensure development of training and tools that address broader AR/IR opportunities.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

• Knowledge / Experience Extensive related HR/IR experience (8+ 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/labour relations environment and providing associate/labour relations expertise (incl.employment/labour 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 and seek support

• Ability to work independently and efficiently, with minimal supervision, in a fast-paced, sensitive environment and at the same time contracting effectively with a complex set of stakeholders

• Ability to handle and maintain confidential and sensitive information

• Strong communication skills, written and interpersonal