Ethics Lead

Job Summary:

The Ethics Lead will be responsible for overseeing and managing the company's disciplinary process and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) inquiries, in alignment with the organization's Code of Conduct and company policies. The role holder requires the development and implementation of strategies under the guidance of HR Head to mitigate ethics-related issues through educational campaigns and interventions. This individual will be expected to collaborate closely with the Ethics Committee and ensure compliance with Indian Labour Laws and any other pertinent Law. The Ethics Lead will also be responsible for creating and managing a severity matrix for ethical breaches and for drafting legally compliant correspondence related to employee matters.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Disciplinary Process Management:

• Oversee and manage the full disciplinary process within the company, ensuring compliance with company policies, Code of Conduct, and relevant labor laws.
• Handle employee complaints and grievances, particularly related to ethics violations, and ensure timely and fair investigations.
• Ensure that disciplinary actions are consistent, transparent, and aligned with the company's values.

2.PoSH Enquiries:

• Lead the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) inquiry process, ensuring all complaints are handled with confidentiality, sensitivity, and in compliance with legal requirements.
• Conduct PoSH awareness training and create educational resources to mitigate harassment cases.
• Work closely with the PoSH committee to ensure smooth and fair resolution of complaints.

3.Collaboration with Ethics Committee:

• Support the Ethics Committee by offering insights on policy enforcement, reporting, and ethical standards.
• Regularly update the committee on ongoing disciplinary and PoSH cases and assist in decision-making related to ethical violations.

4.Severity Matrix Development:

• Create and maintain a severity matrix for ethical breaches, outlining specific actions and consequences based on the seriousness of the violations.
• Regularly review and update the matrix to ensure it remains relevant to changing company policies and legal standards.
• Review and update the Ethics and PoSH Committee in accordance with the guidelines

5.Employee Education and Campaigns:

• Develop and implement education content and campaigns aimed at preventing ethical violations, including but not limited to harassment, discrimination, and misconduct.
• Deliver regular training programs and awareness sessions for employees to foster an ethical workplace culture.
• Track the effectiveness of educational campaigns and suggest improvements based on employee feedback and case trends.

6.Legal Writing & Employee Correspondence:

• Prepare and review legally compliant communications, including employee disciplinary letters, PoSH-related correspondences, and ethical violation reports.
• Ensure all written communications follow company policy, are legally sound, and are sensitive to the nature of the issue at hand.

7.Compliance and Legal Expertise:

• Stay updated on Indian Labour Law and other relevant local to ensure all actions comply with the law.
• Ensure the company maintains a high standard of legal and ethical compliance in all aspects of employment.

Ensure that a legal agreement and renewal are in place with the external agency for the independent consultant who will preside over the PoSH Committee and conduct awareness sessions.

8.Reporting and Record Keeping:

• Maintain accurate and confidential records of all disciplinary and PoSH cases.
• Provide regular reports to the senior management team, statutory body, audits pertaining to trends, ongoing investigations, and corrective actions taken.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Education: MSW, MA in HR or law degree (LLB) with specialization in labor law, corporate law, or equivalent field.
• Experience:
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in managing ethics, disciplinary processes, or compliance-related roles in large organizations.
• Prior experience with Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) handling and employee relations is highly desirable.

Legal Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of Indian Labour Law, Mercantile Law, and other legal requirements related to workplace ethics & PoSH.
• Expertise in legal writing for employee correspondence and investigations.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to manage sensitive situations effectively.
• Proficiency in designing and delivering training programs on ethics, compliance and PoSH topics.
• Ability to develop policies and frameworks (such as a severity matrix) based on ethical and legal standards.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Experience working with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Personal Attributes:

• Integrity, empathy, and strong judgment and analytical skills.
• Ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization.
• Proactive in addressing potential issues and creating solutions.

Desired Skills:

• Experience working with senior leadership, cross-functional teams and networked set up (similar to Trainers & Centre Managers).
• Familiarity with HR management tools and systems; MS Office, Google Suites.
• Certification in Ethics Management or related fields will be an advantage.