Director HR India

Job title – Director, HR India

Location – Mumbai, India

The Country HR Leader is responsible to create a consistent "one dsm-firmenich" employee experience at every moment that matters, by bringing to life country Business Unit strategies, Group HR plans and processes, dsm-firmenich Values & Behaviors and integrated HR solutions to the local levels, to build business growth and engaged teams.

At dsm-firmenich, people are at the heart of the company. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and value diversity in the workplace.

Your Key Responsibilities

- Key driver of the One dsm-firmenich initiative, deploying global and regional HR priorities consistently across India
- Provide efficient, aligned, and lean HR solutions that balance business needs with employee experience
- Foster a culture of growth, collaboration, and performance within a matrix environment and global company environment
- Build and maintain strong HR partnerships across all levels, promoting a high-performance and employee-oriented culture that emphasizes empowerment, safety, quality, productivity, and workforce development
- Drive talent development strategies, including strategic staffing, succession planning, and building strong talent pipelines for Business Units plant operations, commercial functions and the GES (Global Enterprise Services) organisation
- Accountable for managing labor relations and unions across all sites, fostering constructive dialogue while safeguarding business continuity. Ensure legal and social compliance with country legislation and company code of conduct
- Lead and coach the country HR team, build a locally anchored and globally connected HR team with broad capabilities and selected expert knowledge
- Part of India’s country leadership team, work closely with the India President to drive the country agenda through a people perspective, leading change and transformation
- Reports to the Senior Director, Regional HR, IMAT (India Middle East Africa Turkey) region, and is a member of the IMAT HR Leadership Team

We offer

- Unique career paths across health, nutrition and beauty - explore what drives you and get the support to make it happen
- A chance to impact millions of consumers every day – sustainability embedded in all that we do
- A science led company , cutting edge research and creativity everywhere – from biotech breakthroughs to sustainability game-changers, you’ll work on what’s next
- Growth that keeps up with you – you join an industry leader that will develop your expertise and leadership
- A culture that lifts you up – an eagerness to be one team where we learn from each other to bring progress to life, create a better future and have fun together whilst delivering to our best capabilities
- A flexible work environment that empowers people to take accountability for their work and own the outcome

You bring

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
- 12-15 years of progressive HR leadership experience with strong business acumen, including experience in a manufacturing environment with both blue- and white-collar employees
- Proven track record in leading HR at country or multi-site level, preferably in a multinational organization. Organizational and cultural awareness/ sensitivity.
- Experience driving talent management, succession planning, and organizational development initiatives
- Demonstrated success in balancing strategic HR leadership with hands-on operational delivery
- Strategic and analytical mindset with outstanding stakeholder management and communication, influencing and change management skills on all hierarchical levels
- High-level understanding of country employer practices, labor relations and union management

About dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them. Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Our application process

Interested in this position? Please apply on-line by uploading your resume in English via our career portal (www. dsm-firmenich.com/careers).

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.