Head - Human Resources - Hotels/Restaurants

About the Role: Connections has been mandated to hire a Head - HR for a leading restaurant chain - a multi-location, high-growth organization. We are looking for an experienced Head - Human Resources to lead and build the HR function for a fast-growing, multi-location organization. This is not a conventional HR Generalist role. The mandate is to build a professionally governed, scalable, compliant and IPO-ready HR function, while continuing to drive the broader people agenda. Key Responsibilities: - Develop and institutionalize the HR strategy, policies and governance framework - Build a comprehensive HR Policy Manual and ensure effective implementation - Own labour law and statutory compliance across locations - Establish HR audit, risk, control and compliance frameworks - Lead HR IPO Readiness, including HR due diligence and data-room preparation - Identify and close historical HR / labour compliance gaps - Standardize employment contracts, employee records, HR processes and documentation - Work closely with Finance, Legal, Company Secretarial, Internal Audit, auditors and IPO advisors - Build robust HR MIS, dashboards and management reporting - Drive organization design, manpower planning and workforce productivity - Establish structured performance management, compensation and grading frameworks - Strengthen talent acquisition, leadership hiring and succession planning - Drive employee relations, engagement, culture and learning & development - Digitize and strengthen HR systems / HRMS and employee data governance Ideal Candidate: - 15 - 20+ years of progressive HR experience with significant leadership responsibility - Experience in multi-location retail / hospitality / restaurant / consumer-facing businesses preferred - Strong experience in HR governance, policy development, labour compliance and HR audits - Prior exposure to pre-IPO / IPO readiness, due diligence or professionally governed organizations will be a strong advantage - Strong understanding of Indian labour and employment laws - Experience working with senior leadership, Finance, Legal, Secretarial and external advisors - Strong process orientation with the ability to build systems from the ground up - Strategic thinker who is also comfortable being hands-on What We Are Looking For: Someone who can transition the organization from people-dependent HR practices to a structured, process-driven, compliant, auditable and governance-led HR function. Key Mandate: Strategic HR - Policy & Governance - Labour Compliance - HR Controls - Audit Readiness - IPO Readiness - Talent & Organization Development Location: Mumbai Experience: 15 - 20+ years Qualification: MBA/PGDM - HR preferred