Head External Affairs

Vedanta Resources Limited; Kalahandi; On-site; INR 6,000,000 - 12,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Vedanta Resources Limited in Odisha seeks a Head External Affairs, Land Matters & Rehabilitation & Resettlement for VAML Lanjigarh. You will act as the nodal interface with authorities to secure approvals, manage land processes, and lead R&R programs, ensuring 100% compliance and timely delivery to project-affected families.

With 20+ years in external affairs and stakeholder management, you will navigate regulatory frameworks, tribal contexts, and complex operations to drive strategic advocacy,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline from a reputed institute.
• 20+ years in External Affairs, Land, Corporate Affairs, Government Relations or related fields.
• Experience with large industrial, mining, metals, manufacturing, energy, or infrastructure operations.
• Exposure to Odisha and tribal environments preferred.
• Strong regulatory and socio-political insight in Odisha and India.
• Proven track record in managing complex stakeholder ecosystems and securing key approvals.

Responsibilities

• Act as nodal interface with authorities to secure approvals, licenses, and policy support.
• Lead land acquisition, title verification, mutation, compensation, and dispute resolution.
• Drive implementation of R&R commitments ensuring obligations to PAFs are fulfilled.
• Build relationships with tribal communities and key stakeholders via proactive engagement.
• Identify and mitigate socio-political, land, regulatory, and community risks with zero major gaps.
• Represent Vedanta with government bodies and industry associations to influence policy outcomes.
• Lead the External Affairs function with governance, reporting, and high operational effectiveness.

Skills

Government relations

Community engagement

Regulatory understanding

Strategic leadership

Risk & compliance

Policy advocacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Job description

Role: Head External Affairs, Land Matters & Rehabilitation& Resettlement (R&R), VAML Lanjigarh, Odisha

Grade: M4

KeyResponsibilities:

• ExternalAffairs & Government Relations: Actas the nodal interface with Central, State, District, and Local authorities tosecure approvals, clearances, licenses, and policy support, ensuring 100%compliance and timely regulatory approvals.
• LandAcquisition & Management: Leadland acquisition, title verification, mutation, compensation, disputeresolution, and land record management to achieve project land requirementswithin agreed timelines.
• Rehabilitation& Resettlement (R&R): Driveimplementation of R&R commitments, compensation, rehabilitation, andlivelihood restoration programs, ensuring 100% fulfilment of obligations toProject Affected Families (PAFs).
• Community& Tribal Engagement: Build strongrelationships with tribal communities, local leaders, and key stakeholdersthrough proactive engagement, grievance redressal, and trust-buildinginitiatives, minimizing disruptions to operations.
• RiskManagement & Compliance: Identifyand mitigate socio-political, land, regulatory, and community risks whileensuring adherence to LARR Act, Odisha land laws, and all applicable statutoryrequirements with zero major compliance gaps.
• StrategicAdvocacy & Stakeholder Management: RepresentVedanta with government departments, industry associations, and external forumsto strengthen stakeholder relationships, influence policy outcomes, and enhancebusiness continuity.
• TeamLeadership & Governance: Leadthe External Affairs function, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement,governance, reporting, and execution of business-critical priorities with highoperational effectiveness.

EducationalQualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor in related disciplines from a reputedinstitute (Graduate Mandatory).
• 20+years of work experience in External Affairs, Land, Corporate Affairs,Government Relations, Public Policy, Stakeholder Management, or relatedfunctions.
• Experiencehandling large industrial, mining, metals, manufacturing, energy, orinfrastructure operations preferred.
• Exposureto Odisha and tribal environments preferred.
• Strongunderstanding of regulatory frameworks, government processes, andsocio-political dynamics in Odisha and India.
• Proventrack record of managing complex stakeholder environments and securingbusiness-critical approvals.

FunctionalSkills:

• Stronggovernment and community relationship index.
• Highcredibility with external stakeholders.
• Abilityto manage sensitive and complex situations with discretion.
• Strategicthinker with strong execution capability.
• Strong leadership skills coupled with a change management outlook todrive change across the organization.
• Ability to balance business objectives withstakeholder expectations and community interests.