Sagar Vishnu Wavhal

Results-driven human resources professional with nearly 19 years of experience in developing and implementing comprehensive HR strategies for multi-company corporate groups. Demonstrated ability to align people operations with business objectives. Former DGM HR, responsible for formulating HR policies, talent acquisition, and automating HR processes to support strategic growth plans. Expertise in policy implementation ensures regulatory compliance while fostering a transparent and structured work environment. Recognized for building high-performing teams and enhancing employee engagement through targeted training programs and retention initiatives, significantly contributing to organizational success and a positive workplace culture.

• Digital HR Transformation: Deployed HRIS, reducing manual work by 30%
• PeopleFirst HR Excellence Awards 2019
• Excellence in Employee Well-being or Corporate Wellness

• Effective managed HR functions for a workforce of approximately 5500 employees, ensuring effective talent management and employee engagement initiatives.
• Developed and executed an employee engagement strategy that led to a 20% increase in employee satisfaction scores over 2 years, fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Implemented structured performance appraisal system to improve feedback mechanisms and accountability, resulting in a 14% increase in employee performance ratings.
• Successfully reduced the recruitment cycle time by implementing innovative sourcing strategies, resulting in a 40% decrease in time-to-hire metrics.
• Enhanced employee retention rates by developing targeted engagement programs, leading to a 12% reduction in turnover within the first year of implementation.
• Drove development of a talent management framework to align with business objectives for an 11% improvement in employee retention rates and a stronger talent pipeline.
• Conducted training needs assessments that informed the design of targeted learning programs, improving employee skill proficiency by 27% and overall job satisfaction.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Launched DEI initiatives boosting representation.

• Talent Acquisition
• Managed recruitment, ensuring sourcing aligned with requisition requirements and completed within timelines, improving quality of sourcing to reduce rounds per position.
• Streamlined recruitment and mobilization processes to minimize revenue loss due to vacancies or delayed joining.
• Coordinated mobilization of project execution teams, including team leaders, key professionals, sub-professionals, and support staff.
• Developed talent acquisition strategies for leadership, mid-career, and graduate hiring, standardizing recruiting, interviewing, hiring practices to enhance candidate experience.
• Learning & Development / Employee Development
• Conducted competency mapping, assessed training needs based on best international practices, and worked with internal/external SMEs to develop a training calendar.
• Designed and delivered training sessions, gathered feedback, and implemented improvements to enhance learning outcomes.
• Rolled out engagement initiatives fostering an inclusive culture, allowing employees to bring their whole selves to work.
• Ensured adherence to training and engagement activity schedules.
• Attrition Management & Retention
• Developed and executed strategies to reduce year-on-year attrition while ensuring retention of high-performing talent across geographies.
• Conducted exit interviews for voluntary leavers to gather insights for improvement.
• Performance Management
• Established performance frameworks for project teams, including goal setting, feedback, and progress reviews, ensuring timely execution of the performance management cycle.
• Trained employees on performance processes and maintained documentation for those on Performance Improvement Plans (PIP).
• Identified high-potential employees and development plans for succession planning.
• Acted as the first point of escalation for performance-related grievances between appraisees and managers.
• Grievance Management
• Resolved employee grievances promptly, maintaining zero exits due to policy unawareness and updating FAQs for recurring issues.
• Established structured grievance redressal mechanism to prevent escalations beyond HR.
• Employee Engagement & Recognition
• Designed and executed innovative engagement initiatives and administered employee engagement surveys in partnership with Head HR & Admin.
• Collaborated with business leaders to facilitate recognition programs and ensured fair evaluation criteria for awards.
• Ensured adherence to employee engagement activity schedules.
• Internal Audit & Compliance
• Drove internal HR audits to ensure compliance with statutory and organizational policies.
• Supervised payroll management and ensured adherence to all statutory requirements.
• MIS & Reporting: Prepared weekly MIS reports covering recruitment, employee engagement, and performance management to support informed decision-making.