Chief Community Officer

Vedanta is committed to creating shared value for its stakeholders by building trust-based relationships with the communities surrounding its operations. The Chief Community Officer (CCO) will be the primary interface between Vedanta and its host communities. The CCO will ensure that community concerns and aspirations are heard, addressed, and transformed into long-term partnerships that foster social acceptance, inclusivity, and prosperity.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Community Engagement

• Design and implement an Enterprise-wide Community Engagement & Partnership Strategy aligned with Vedanta’s business goals, ICMM and VPSHR standards, and global best practices.
• Collaborate with CSR to develop CSR Plans into visible, measurable outcomes that reduce differences, build trust, and enhance Vedanta’s social license to operate. Develop a Community Engagement Plan for proactive engagement.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure community issues are integrated into business decisions.
• Partner with Business leaders and HR to enhance local employment, skill development, and women/youth engagement initiatives.
• Align with External Relations Department to maintain constructive ties with elected local government executives, district administration, and political stakeholders.

External Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for communities, local influencers, and elected local representatives.
• Build community advisory/partnership councils at site and district levels for ongoing dialogue, grievance redressal, and collaboration.
• Strengthen Vedanta’s reputation as a community partner by ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and inclusive development.

Conflict Prevention & Resolution

• Establish an early warning system to detect and diffuse potential unrest before escalation.
• Facilitate and build a bridge between management and community representatives to ensure swift resolution of grievances.
• Reduce incidents of conflict and agitations through trust-based engagement and participatory problem-solving.

Impact Measurement & Reporting

• Define KPIs such as reduction in protests, agitations, and disruptions.
• Improvement in community perception index and MAS social performance scores.
• % of local community employed/skilled through Vedanta CSR programs.
• Grievances resolved within defined timelines.
• Report periodically to the Community Management Body on community relations health and recommend corrective actions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Postgraduate in Social Sciences, Public Policy, Rural Development, CSR, or related fields.

• 20 years plus of experience

  in community relations, stakeholder engagement, CSR, or public affairs, preferably in mining, manufacturing, or infrastructure sectors especially in North India
• Proven track record of resolving community concerns and building sustainable partnerships.
• Strong networks with government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations.

Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Deep understanding of socio-political dynamics in rural and semi-urban India, especially in

  North India/Rajasthan.

• Ability to work in high-pressure, conflict-prone environments with empathy and diplomacy.
• Strong communication skills in English, Hindi, and regional languages.
• Data-driven mindset to measure impact and improve strategies continuously.

Success Profile

• Reduction in frequency and intensity of agitation and disruptions.
• Communities perceive Vedanta as a partner in progress, not just an industrial operator.
• Improved stakeholder trust leading to business continuity and growth.
• Creation of a replicable engagement model across all Vedanta business units.