Jindal Stainless launches HR competency development programme with XLRI

Jindal Stainless has launched a nine-month HR competency development programme in partnership with Xavier School of Management (XLRI), as the stainless steel maker seeks to strengthen strategic HR capabilities across its organisation.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with XLRI to design and deliver the programme, which will train 25 HR professionals drawn from its corporate office and manufacturing locations. The initiative aims to align HR leadership capabilities with the company’s expanding operations and evolving workforce needs.

The programme combines academic insight with real-world business context and will be delivered through a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, according to a statement issued by the company.

Focus on building strategic HR capability

The initiative is designed to strengthen core HR competencies and support the development of a more strategic HR function within the company.

Participants will go through a structured curriculum covering eight core competencies, including business acumen, stakeholder management, culture building, strategic thinking, data analytics, design thinking, problem-solving and critical thinking, and change management.

The programme will include 19 interactive sessions lasting three hours each, internal implementation projects and five in-person learning modules.

Jindal Stainless said the initiative reflects its broader effort to build a future-ready workforce and strengthen internal leadership capability as the business scales.

HR leadership tied to business growth

Managing Director Abhyuday Jindal said the programme is part of the company’s strategy to build leadership capacity as it expands production and operations.

“Any organisation is only as strong as its people, and enabling policies and processes play a critical role in ensuring their long-term success,” Jindal said in the company statement.

“As Jindal Stainless continues to scale its production to serve a growing customer base, it becomes increasingly important to build a future-ready leadership pipeline,” he added, noting that the partnership with XLRI aims to equip HR teams with the capabilities required to lead organisational change and support the company’s next phase of growth.

Strengthening HR as a strategic partner

Chief Human Resources Officer Sushil Baveja said the HR function has evolved significantly and now requires deeper business understanding and analytical capability.

“The HR function today extends far beyond conventional roles and responsibilities,” Baveja said. “It requires stronger business understanding, analytical capabilities and the ability to navigate complex organisational dynamics.”

He said the programme aims to enable HR teams to act as strategic partners to the business while improving HR processes and strengthening organisational capability.

Supporting a growing global business

Jindal Stainless is one of India’s largest stainless steel manufacturers, reporting annual revenue of ₹40,182 crore ($4.75 billion) in FY25. The company is expanding its manufacturing capacity and aims to reach 4.2 million tonnes of annual melt capacity by FY27.

It operates 16 stainless steel manufacturing and processing facilities in India and overseas, including in Spain and Indonesia, and maintains a global presence across 12 countries.

The HR learning initiative comes as the company prepares its workforce for continued expansion, where leadership capability and organisational alignment are expected to play a key role.

Through partnerships such as the XLRI programme, Jindal Stainless is seeking to strengthen internal talent pipelines and build leadership capacity capable of supporting the company’s long-term growth and operational scale.