Employee & Labor Relations Leader, India

Antler; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson is seeking an Employee & Labour Relations Leader, India, to guide ERLR strategy and build a high-performing organization across India. You will partner with business leaders, HR colleagues, and employee representatives to address complex workplace matters and drive aligned outcomes.

You will lead initiatives across employee lifecycle, governance, and regulatory changes, shaping a culture of trust, inclusion, and performance while keeping safety and ethics at the forefront.

Qualifications

• Post Graduate degree in HR, Industrial Relations, Employment Law, or related fields.
• Significant experience in HR, Employee Relations, Labour Relations or Employment Law.
• Experience leading teams in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Solid knowledge of employee relations practices and employment legislation.
• Ability to balance employee needs, business priorities, and legal considerations.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver Employee & Labour Relations strategy across India.
• Guide ERLR strategy and support business transformation with leadership.
• Partner with leaders to address workplace matters and build capability.
• Lead labour relations for India and oversee CBAs and union relations.
• Ensure governance, compliance with laws and company values, and data-driven improvements.

Skills

Employee relations

Labour relations

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

People management

Decision making

Education

Postgraduate degree in HR/IR/Employment Law

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function

Human Resources

Job Sub Function

Employee & Labor Relations

Job Category

Professional

All Job Posting Locations:

Mumbai, India

Job Description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength comes from the people who bring our purpose to life every day. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

We are seeking an Employee & Labor Relations Leader, India to help us build a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment across India. In this leadership role, we will rely on your expertise to guide employee and labour relations strategy, support business transformation, and foster strong relationships across our workforce.

Working closely with business leaders, HR partners, managers, employees, and employee representatives, we will partner to address sophisticated workplace matters, strengthen organizational capability, and ensure our people practices reflect both our values and business priorities.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence people strategy at a national level, lead a team, and make a lasting impact on employee experience, organizational effectiveness, and business success.

What You'll Do

As Head of ERLR, India, you will help shape and deliver our Employee Relations (ER) and Labour Relations (LR) strategy while supporting a culture of trust, accountability, fairness, and inclusion.

You will partner with leaders and HR teams to proactively find opportunities and challenges across the employee lifecycle, providing guidance that supports both employees and strategic objectives.

Key Areas Of Responsibility Include

Employee Relations

• Guide the resolution of sophisticated employee relations matters, including grievances, investigations, disciplinary issues, and workplace concerns.
• Partner with leaders and HR teams to ensure consistent, fair, and respectful approaches to employee relations matters.
• Build confidence and capability among managers through coaching, training, and practical guidance.
• Help creates a positive employee experience by fostering open communication, trust, and constructive workplace relationships.

Labour Relations

• Lead labour relations strategy and provide oversight for unionized employee populations across India.
• Support the preparation, negotiation, and implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
• Foster constructive relationships with union representatives and employee groups.
• Provide guidance on labour relations implications related to business transformation activities, including restructuring, acquisitions, divestitures, outsourcing, and workforce changes.

Strategy, Governance & Compliance

• Partner with stakeholders to create and implement an Employee & Labour Relations strategy aligned with regional and global priorities.
• Assess employment and labour legislation trends, helping the organization adapt to a changing regulatory environment.
• Support governance activities and ensure workplace practices align with legal requirements, company values, and employee expectations.
• Use insights and data to identify trends, address risks, and improve workplace outcomes.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Find opportunities to improve processes, policies, and service delivery models.
• Champion innovative ways of working that improve employee experience and operational effectiveness.
• Support organizational change initiatives that help our workforce and business succeed in a vibrant environment.

What We're Looking For

We welcome candidates who bring a combination of employee relations expertise, business partnership, leadership capability, and a passion for creating positive workplace experiences.

Qualifications & Experience

• Post Graduate degree required; Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Employment Law, Legal Studies, or related fields preferred.
• Significant experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations, Labour Relations, Industrial Relations, or Employment Law.
• Experience leading and developing teams in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Solid knowledge of employee relations practices, labour relations frameworks, and employment legislation.
• Experience managing complex workplace matters, organizational change initiatives, and workforce transformation activities.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance employee needs, business priorities, and legal considerations while driving fair and sustainable outcomes.
• Proven track record to navigate ambiguity, tackle sophisticated problems, and make sound decisions.

AI & Future Ways of Working

We recognize the growing role of technology in the workplace and value leaders who are curious, adaptable, and open to new ways of working. Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools, understanding responsible AI practices, and using effective prompting techniques to improve productivity, decision-making, and collaboration will be an advantage.

Key Capabilities

We are particularly interested in leaders who:

• Build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Connect with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
• Foster inclusive, respectful, and collaborative workplaces.
• Use data and insights to support decision-making.
• Embrace innovation and continuous improvement.

Johnson & Johnson is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Preferred Skills:

• Coaching, Consulting, Cultural Competence, Developing Others, Diplomacy, Employee Relations, HR Strategic Management, Human Resources Consulting, Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Labor and Employment Law, Leadership, Leading Change, People Centricity, People Performance Management, Strategic Thinking, Talent Management, Union Relationships