Head – Talent Acquisition (Steel Manufacturing)

Qualification: Full-time MBA in Human Resources (Regular Program Tier I / Tier II Institute Preferred)
Reporting To: Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / Director HR, PermanentRole Purpose:The Head of Talent Acquisition will play a critical leadership role in building the company's human capital across all levels from blue-collar factory workforce to senior corporate leadership roles. This position demands deep industry knowledge, hands-on recruitment experience in manufacturing-driven businesses, and the ability to align hiring strategies with business growth objectives.Key Responsibilities:1. Talent Acquisition Strategy & Planning:Design and implement talent acquisition strategies for high-volume, niche technical, and leadership hiring across multiple business units (Manufacturing, Operations, Engineering, R&D, Commercial, and Corporate Functions).Lead workforce planning discussions with Business Heads, CHRO, and Plant HR Heads to forecast short-term and long-term hiring needs.Develop a robust manpower plan aligned with production schedules, project expansions, and business growth.2. Leadership & Critical Role Hiring:Directly drive and close senior leadership positions including Plant Heads, General Managers, Departmental Heads, and CXO-1 level roles.Engage in succession planning and talent mapping exercises for leadership pipeline development.Manage end-to-end CXO-level hiring in collaboration with executive search firms.3. Blue Collar & Mass Hiring:Implement large-scale blue-collar and skilled workforce hiring plans for plant locations.Build partnerships with ITIs, Polytechnics, training institutes, and contract labor agencies.Oversee deployment of bulk hiring strategies ensuring cost-effectiveness, compliance, and quality of hires.4. Campus Recruitment & Employer Branding:Lead and drive campus hiring programs from Tier I and Tier II engineering and management institutes for GETs, MTs, and internship programs.Position the organization as an Employer of Choice in the Manufacturing Sector.Organize and participate in career fairs, industry conclaves, and technical symposiums.5. Recruitment Operations & Process Excellence:Define and monitor TATs (Turnaround Times), cost per hire, source mix, and other key recruitment KPIs.Implement and optimize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruitment analytics dashboards.Drive continuous improvement in recruitment processes focusing on candidate experience and internal stakeholder satisfaction.6. Vendor & Partner Management:Build and manage a network of recruitment agencies, headhunters, and contract staffing partners.Negotiate and finalize commercial terms, SLAs, and performance metrics for external hiring partners.Conduct quarterly vendor reviews for quality, responsiveness, and delivery.7. Digital Recruitment & Technology Enablement:Leverage digital sourcing tools, LinkedIn Recruiter, Naukri RMS, job boards, and social media for proactive sourcing.Implement AI-driven screening tools and pre-hire assessments for improving hiring quality and reducing cycle time.8. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI):Drive diversity hiring initiatives, especially at mid and senior management levels.Collaborate with internal stakeholders to design and implement programs for gender diversity, local hiring, and differently-abled talent inclusion.Desired Candidate Profile:Minimum 15 years of experience in Talent Acquisition within Steel, Cement, Building Materials, Heavy Earth Moving Equipment, or Manufacturing Industries.Demonstrated expertise in leadership hiring, plant recruitment, and blue-collar mass hiring.Proven experience in managing a large TA team across multiple locations.Strong business partnering, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.Exposure to campus recruitment, bulk hiring, and executive search.High proficiency in ATS, HRMS systems, recruitment analytics, and social recruiting tools.Strong understanding of labor laws and statutory compliances related to hiring in the manufacturing sector.Excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills.MBA in HR (Full-time Regular Program) from a reputed institute is mandatory.Preferred Competencies:Strategic Thinking with Execution ExcellenceHigh Energy and People LeadershipData-Driven Decision MakingProcess OrientationChange Management in Growth EnvironmentsInfluencing and Negotiation