Manager of HR Operations, India

Position Summary

This role is responsible for leading the entire India HR operations team, from employee life cycle, payroll, time absence and benefits administration to compliance and HRIS management. Also have the potential to extend the operational scope to other APAC countries.

The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who can design efficient processes, leverage data for insights, ensure 100% compliance with Indian labor laws, and champion the employee experience. This individual will play a critical role in scaling our operations to support our growing team in India and APAC.

Key Responsibilities

1. HR Operations & Process Excellence:

• Own and manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle operations for India, including onboarding, transfers, promotions, and separations.
• Lead and continuously improve core HR processes (e.g., payroll, benefits, leave management, background verification) for efficiency, accuracy, and a superior employee experience.
• Manage relationships with key vendors (e.g., payroll providers, insurance brokers, background check companies) to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Develop and maintain the India HR Operations playbook, documenting all processes and policies.

2. Payroll & Benefits Administration:

• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of monthly payroll for all employees in India, in collaboration with the finance team and external payroll provider.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related queries.
• Administer employee benefits programs (e.g., health insurance, gratuity, PF, NPS) and lead the annual benefits renewal process.
• Drive benefits communication to enhance employee understanding and utilization.

3. Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure 100% adherence to all federal, state, and local labor laws and statutory requirements in India
• Prepare and submit all statutory filings and returns within stipulated timelines.
• Manage internal and external audits related to HR operations.
• Keep abreast of changing labor legislation and proactively advise the leadership team on implications and required actions.

4. HR Technology & Data Integrity:

• Act as the super-user and primary administrator for the HR Information System (HRIS - e.g., Workday, PaySal) for India.
• Ensure data integrity and security within the HRIS; generate regular and ad-hoc reports and dashboards for HR and business leadership.
• Leverage HR analytics to provide insights on key metrics like headcount, attrition, diversity, and operational efficiency.

5. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of HR Operations specialists and experts
• Partner closely with the India HRBP team and global COE to deliver integrated HR solutions.
• Serve as a key point of contact for employee queries, demonstrating a strong customer-service orientation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Masters degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in HR Operations, with at least 3 years in a managerial role specifically handling the India portfolio.
• Must have in-depth, hands-on knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing and Indian labor laws & statutory compliance.
• Proven experience in managing and scaling HR operations for a medium to large-sized organization (500+ employees) in India.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Expertise in Indian Labor Laws: Deep knowledge of statutory compliances (PF, ESI, Gratuity, Bonus, etc.).
• HRIS Proficiency: Strong hands-on experience with a major HRIS platform (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, etc.).
• Analytical Mindset: Advanced skills in MS Excel/Google Sheets; ability to analyze data, create dashboards, and derive actionable insights.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• High Integrity: Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion and professionalism.