Purpose of the Role
The VP – Corporate Affairs is a state-level leadership role responsible for managing the Group's entire ecosystem of government, political, and law enforcement relationships within Odisha. The primary mandate is to ensure uninterrupted, smooth operations across all Group units by building and sustaining strong working relationships with local MLAs, MPs, District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, and key state government officials. The role demands a person who is well-connected, credible, and respected across political, administrative, and law enforcement circles in Odisha.
Job Responsibilities (KRA)
A. Political Liaison — MLAs, MPs & Elected Representatives [PRIMARY]
• Serve as the Group's primary interface with local MLAs and MPs in all constituencies where the Group has operating units or planned projects.
• Build and maintain strong, sustained personal relationships with elected representatives — ensure they are regularly briefed on the Group's operations, employment contribution, and community investments.
• Facilitate site visits, review meetings, and appropriate engagements for MLAs and MPs; ensure their concerns and representations are addressed promptly and professionally.
• Anticipate politically sensitive situations — labour unrest, land disputes, community grievances — and engage elected representatives early to defuse issues before they escalate.
• Coordinate with the Group's senior leadership on political engagements, representations to the state government through elected representatives, and participation in constituency-level events.
• Manage relationships with the ruling party, opposition, and independent representatives with equal professionalism and without political bias.
B. District Administration — Collector & Revenue Officials [PRIMARY]
• Maintain active and trusted relationships with District Collectors, Additional Collectors, Sub-Collectors, and SDMs across all districts of Group operations.
• Coordinate with Collector's offices for permissions, NOCs, site-level administrative clearances, and resolution of operational bottlenecks on a day-to-day basis.
• Manage land-related administrative matters — mutations, conversions, boundary issues, encroachment complaints — in coordination with the internal land and legal teams.
• Represent the Group at district-level industry-government interface meetings, District Development Councils, and Collector-convened forums.
• Ensure any show-cause notices, administrative complaints, or inspection visits by district authorities are managed proactively and resolved swiftly.
• Track district administration changes (transfers, postings) and ensure timely introductions and relationship continuity.
C. Law & Order — Superintendent of Police & Law Enforcement [PRIMARY]
• Serve as the designated liaison between the Group and the Superintendent of Police (SP) / Deputy SP at all operating locations.
• Ensure the Group maintains a transparent, cooperative, and professional relationship with district police administration at all times.
• Coordinate on security arrangements for plant sites, senior leadership visits, and high-profile Group events.
• Manage law and order situations at plant level — labour agitations, gateblockades, community protests — by working closely with police and administration for peaceful resolution.
• Provide the Group's management with timely intelligence on local law and order developments that could impact plant operations or employee safety.
• Liaise with Home Department, district police, and if required, CRPF / State Armed Police deployed in project areas, for coordinated security and operational continuity.
• Ensure all Group facilities are compliant with police licensing requirements — arms licences, security agency regulations, and factory safety norms under police jurisdiction.
D. State Government — Secretariat & Key Departments
• Maintain working relationships with Principal Secretaries and senior IAS officers in the Departments of Industries, Revenue, Energy, Mines, Home, and Forest & Environment.
• Follow up on pending clearances, approvals, and government orders at the Secretariat level that are critical to project execution and operations.
• Represent the Group at state-level investment forums, industry summits, and government-convened stakeholder meetings.
• Coordinate with IDCO, IPICOL, and the Industries Department on investment commitments, MoU compliance, and project facilitation support.
• Monitor state government policy developments — budget announcements, new regulations, departmental orders — and brief the management on implications for Group operations.
E. Regulatory & Statutory Bodies — State Level
• Liaise with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), Directorate of Mines, and other state-level statutory bodies.
• Coordinate with inspection authorities — Factory Inspectorate, Labour Department, Weights & Measures — for routine inspections and compliance management.
• Ensure all state-level licences, renewals, and compliance submissions are tracked and completed on time in coordination with legal and compliance teams.
• Handle representations before state regulatory authorities professionally; escalate to senior management or legal counsel as required.
F. Community & Stakeholder Management
• Manage relationships with village heads, gram panchayats, and community leaders in areas adjacent to Group facilities.
• Work with the CSR team to ensure community programmes are visible, credible, and politically well-positioned.
• Act as the first point of escalation for community-level grievances before they reach district administration or elected representatives.
• Represent the Group at local industry bodies — Odisha Chamber of Commerce, district industry associations — and maintain the Group's standing as a responsible corporate citizen.
G. Crisis & Issue Management
• Lead the Group's on-ground response to any operational disruption — agitations, protests, enforcement actions, or political pressure — with speed and composure.
• Provide accurate, timely updates to the MD / Chairman on all government, political, and law & order developments affecting Group operations.
• Manage media situations arising from operational or community issues in coordination with the Group Communications team.
• Maintain a strong early-warning system — know about issues before they arrive at the gate.
Job Requirements (KPI)
• Well-established personal network with MLAs, MPs, District Collectors, and SPs across Odisha's key industrial districts — non-negotiable.
• Deep understanding of Odisha's political landscape, district administration structure, and ground-level power dynamics.
• Proven ability to manage politically sensitive situations — agitations, community issues, labour disputes — with calm and effectiveness.
• Strong relationship management skills — trusted and respected by government, police, and political circles equally.
• Ability to operate at ground level and at the Secretariat level with equal ease.
• High integrity — capable of building institutional relationships; not transactional in approach.
• Fluency in Odia (mandatory); working knowledge of Hindi and English.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Odisha — this is a field-heavy role, not a desk role.