Associate Director People Operations

Job Description

Job Title: Associate Director – People Operations

Location: Bangalore. Hybrid, 4 days/week WFO.

Experience: 15+ Years

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Associate Director – People Operations to lead and scale the HR Operations, Admin, and Employee Experience functions in India. This role is both strategic and hands-on, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership while also driving operational excellence and people-first initiatives on the ground.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership & Business Alignment

• Act as a strategic partner to key executives and function heads to align HR operations and people initiatives with broader business goals.

• Develop a deep understanding of business and functional strategies to proactively support talent, operations

• Identify workforce trends and provide solutions that enhance performance, engagement, and productivity.

HR Operations & Process Improvement

• Lead end-to-end HR operations across the employee lifecycle including onboarding, exits, HR systems, compliance, and policy governance.

• Champion process improvements to optimize workflows, reduce friction, and scale HR services effectively.

• Manage the implementation and long-term success of Workday HRMS in India.

• Track key metrics including operational efficiency and Quality of Hire, and act on feedback from hiring managers and employees.

Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory compliance across India (e.g., labor laws, Shops & Establishment Acts, POSH, PF etc.).
• Liaise with external consultants and legal advisors on audits, inspections, and government reporting.
• Own compliance dashboards, risk mitigation plans, and periodic policy reviews

Payroll & Benefits:

• Lead monthly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with finance and tax requirements.
• Oversee employee benefits administration (health insurance, gratuity, provident fund, etc.)
• Work closely with finance and external vendors to ensure year-end processes (form 16, tax declarations, etc.) are smooth and error-free.

Policy Development & Compliance

• Develop and enforce company policies that are compliant, scalable, and aligned with company culture and goals.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Indian labor laws and manage compliance audits.

• Conduct training and communication to promote awareness and policy adoption.

Employee Engagement

• Lead the planning and execution of employee engagement programs including milestone celebrations, cultural events

• Use surveys and feedback loops to continuously evolve engagement initiatives and employee experiences.

Administration, Travel & Infrastructure

• Lead the Admin and Travel functions, managing vendor relationships, cost control, and service quality.

• Oversee office expansion and workplace readiness projects, ensuring alignment with headcount and growth plans.

• Ensure safety, compliance, and operational excellence across all facilities.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team across HR Operations and Administration.

• Foster a culture of accountability, service excellence, and development.

• Engage effectively with stakeholders across HR, Legal, Finance, and Business to align on priorities and resolve escalations.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in HR Operations, Admin, or People Programs with progressive leadership responsibility.

• Proven experience as a strategic HR partner to leadership teams.

• Strong background in policy creation, compliance, payroll, and process optimization.

• Hands-on experience in implementing and managing HRMS platforms (preferably Workday).

• Strong people management and vendor management capabilities.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

Preferred Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a proactive, can-do attitude.

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

• Ability to roll up your sleeves while leading large-scale programs.

• Creative problem-solver with a bias toward action and out-of-the-box thinking.

• High ownership mindset with advancement capabilities and a drive to continuously improve.