Director - Human Resource

Brainware University; Barasat; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Brainware University, Barasat, Kolkata area, seeks an experienced Director – HR to lead and shape the HR function for a rapidly growing private university. The role requires mentoring the HR team, driving recruitment and performance management, and ensuring compliance with UGC norms.

The leader will implement HR strategies, build systems, and promote a culture of ownership and professionalism while leveraging AI tools for HR operations.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leadership experience with ownership of the HR function.
• Experience leading HR teams and managing both strategic and operational HR responsibilities.
• Strong exposure to recruitment, employee relations, performance management, HR policies and organisational development.
• University/higher-education HR experience will be strongly preferred.
• Understanding of UGC norms relating to faculty recruitment will be an advantage.
• Candidates from other sectors with excellent HR leadership credentials are welcome to apply.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to regulatory requirements of higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen the University's HR function in line with institutional goals.
• Develop and implement HR strategies, policies, systems and processes for a growing university.
• Ensure recruitment processes align with UGC norms and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee manpower planning and organizational development in collaboration with academic leadership.
• Build performance management, appraisal and employee development systems.
• Strengthen employee engagement, retention, and internal communication.
• Mentor the HR team and ensure accountability and execution.
• Leverage AI and HR technology to improve recruitment and HR decision-making.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

HR team leadership

Recruitment experience

HR policies

Organisational development

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

AI in HR

Tools

AI in HR platforms

HR analytics

Job description

Location: Barasat, Kolkata | On-site

About Brainware University :

Brainware University is a large and rapidly growing private university in West Bengal, with approximately 19,000 students, 700 faculty members and 70+ academic programmes. As the University continues to expand, we are strengthening our HR leadership and systems to support the next phase of institutional growth.

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on HR leader who can build, strengthen and lead the HR organisation required for a growing higher-education institution.

The Role :

This is not an armchair advisory position. We are looking for a leader who believes in leading from the front—working alongside the HR team, solving problems personally when required, mentoring colleagues, taking ownership and following through until the job is done.

The Director – HR will play a strategic and operational leadership role across talent acquisition, employee engagement, HR systems, performance management, compliance, policy development and organisational capability building.

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead and strengthen the University's overall HR function in alignment with institutional goals.
• Develop and implement HR strategies, policies, systems and processes suitable for a rapidly growing university.
• Ensure recruitment processes are aligned with applicable UGC norms and higher-education regulatory requirements for academic and non-academic recruitment, workforce planning and talent acquisition initiatives.
• Develop a strong understanding of faculty eligibility, recruitment and documentation requirements under applicable UGC regulations.
• Partner with academic and administrative leadership on manpower planning and organisational development.
• Build effective performance management, appraisal and employee-development systems.
• Strengthen employee engagement, retention and internal communication.
• Mentor, guide and develop the HR team while maintaining high standards of accountability and execution.
• Establish efficient HR processes, documentation standards, HR analytics and reporting mechanisms.
• Identify operational gaps and implement practical solutions rather than merely recommending them.
• Support senior management in organisational restructuring, workforce planning and strategic people decisions.
• Ensure effective implementation of HR policies across departments.
• Handle sensitive employee matters with maturity, confidentiality and sound judgement.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, ownership, discipline and continuous improvement.
• Leverage AI and HR technology to improve recruitment, employee management, reporting, documentation and HR decision-making.

A Critical Requirement: Understanding of UGC Norms

A substantial part of university recruitment is governed by UGC and other applicable regulatory norms.

Therefore, candidates with prior experience in the higher-education sector and a strong understanding of UGC requirements relating to faculty qualifications, recruitment and academic staffing will have a significant advantage.

However, we do not want to exclude an outstanding senior HR professional simply because they come from another industry.

If you are an accomplished HR leader from another sector and are confident about adapting quickly to the higher-education environment, you are encouraged to apply.

The selected candidate should be prepared to learn and understand the relevant UGC norms and recruitment requirements within the first seven days of joining.

Brainware University already has an AI-based internal support system that can assist the HR team in navigating questions related to these requirements.

What We Are Looking For :

• Several years of senior HR leadership experience with demonstrated ownership of the HR function.
• Experience leading HR teams and managing both strategic and operational HR responsibilities.
• Strong exposure to recruitment, employee relations, performance management, HR policies and organisational development.
• University / higher-education HR experience will be strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of UGC norms relating to faculty recruitment will be an advantage.
• Candidates from other sectors with excellent HR leadership credentials are welcome to apply.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, growing institutional environment.
• High level of ownership, integrity, confidentiality and professionalism.
• Strong technology orientation and willingness to use AI tools for HR operations and decision-making.

The Leadership We Expect :

We are looking for someone who:

Leads from the front - Works alongside the team and does not hesitate to get involved in difficult situations.

Takes ownership - Does not pass problems from one desk to another and follows through until the work is completed.

Builds people - Mentors younger HR professionals and creates a stronger HR team.

Thinks strategically but executes operationally - Can develop systems and policies while also getting into the details when required.

Is willing to learn - Especially when adapting to the regulatory and operational requirements of higher education.

In fact, we expect the Director – HR to be one of the hardest-working members of the HR team.

Candidates relocating from outside Kolkata should preferably consider living in Barasat or within convenient commuting distance.