Senior HR Manager - People Operations & Rewards

This role is for one of our clients

This position is designed to introduce operational discipline and risk management within HR operations and compensation — without compromising speed or company culture.

1. This is not an HR role focused heavily on policies.
2. This role demands ownership, sound judgment, and proactive thinking.

Role Mandate

Take full ownership of HR Operations, Payroll, and Compensation processes across the organization, ensuring precision, compliance, and equitable treatment — all within a low-bureaucracy, high-trust setting.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Payroll & Compliance (Exclusive Ownership)

1. Take full responsibility for end-to-end monthly payroll (vendor managed but internally accountable)
2. Guarantee payroll outcomes with no surprises
3. Manage statutory compliance including PF, ESI, TDS, Form 16, gratuity, and labour law filings
4. Ensure all documentation is audit-ready
5. Serve as the sole escalation point

Compensation & Rewards Maintenance

1. Oversee offer structuring and CTC formulation
2. Maintain internal pay parity logic
3. Support appraisal processes including calculations, execution, and governance
4. Collaborate on increments, role transitions, and PIPs, focusing on process improvement
5. Identify and communicate compensation risks promptly

HR Operations & Lifecycle Governance

1. Manage operational standards from onboarding through exit
2. Develop streamlined systems that suit a decentralized culture
3. Detect risk patterns prior to escalation
4. Minimize vendor reliance by fostering internal clarity

Founder & Finance Collaboration

1. Partner closely with Finance to ensure payroll accuracy and provide budgeting input
2. Interpret leadership directives into practical guidelines
3. Respectfully challenge decisions when potential risks arise

What This Role Is NOT

● Not a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) role

● Not focused on rewriting policies

● Not a role for simply executing instructions without autonomy

Indicators of Success

● Absence of recurring payroll or compliance issues

● Leadership trust in the integrity of compensation and payroll processes

● Transparent visibility into compensation risks without cumbersome procedures

● Employees confidence that HR operations function seamlessly

Ideal Candidate Profile

● At least 7 years of experience in HR Operations, Compensation, or Payroll

● Previous experience in growth-stage Indian startups

● Direct ownership of payroll and compliance, beyond coordination

● Deep knowledge of Indian labour laws and tax regulations

● Comfortable working in ambiguous and decentralized settings

● Ability to respectfully push back with founders, finance teams, and vendors

● Demonstrates high judgment, low ego, and a strong sense of ownership

● No sense of entitlement—ready to undertake any necessary basic tasks

Our Core Values

● Prioritizing judgment over rigid checklists

● Emphasizing ownership rather than escalating issues

● Valuing anticipation over reaction

● Advocating simplicity instead of bureaucracy

Must-have skills

Payroll Management, HR Policies, HR Operations, Compensation & Benefits, Employment Law