Manager, People Operations

Room To Read; New Delhi; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Room To Read is seeking a senior People Operations leader to coordinate learning and development, performance management, HRIS data, payroll and compliance, recruitment, and employee lifecycle activities across India. You will oversee field operations, ensure timely action, and support the Director People Operations.

The role requires a Masters in HR, 10+ years of generalist HR experience, strong Excel skills, and willingness to travel.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources, including supervisory/managerial roles.
• Broad generalist People Operations experience across learning and development, performance management, HRIS data, recruitment, payroll coordination, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Experience coordinating learning programs, performance management cycles, HRMS data, and reporting.
• Experience supporting recruitment for senior, critical, sensitive, or specialized positions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate learning and development activities across the country and states.
• Manage annual training calendar, logistics, attendance, and budget monitoring.
• Oversee performance management cycle, goal setting, reviews, and documentation.
• Maintain HRMS data accuracy and generate standard reports and dashboards.
• Support payroll coordination, benefits administration, and compliance.
• Coordinate recruitment for senior roles with hiring managers.
• Oversee onboarding, transfers, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Provide guidance to People Operations team and monitor field-based activities.

Skills

HRMS proficiency

Excel & reporting

English communication

Analytical ability

Team leadership

Education

Master's in HR

Tools

HRMS systems

Excel

Reporting tools

Databases

Job description

Role & responsibilities:

A. Learning and Development

• Coordinate the implementation of approved learning and development activities across the Country Office and operational states.
• Consolidate training needs and support the preparation and monitoring of the annual training calendar.
• Coordinate training logistics, communication, nominations, attendance, feedback, records, and follow-up actions.
• Monitor training delivery, participation, outcomes, and budget utilization.
• Review learning reports and identify gaps or recurring development needs.
• Support the team in resolving implementation challenges and ensure timely completion of agreed actions.

B. Performance Management and Employee Relations

• Coordinate the annual performance management cycle, including communications, timelines, documentation, and tracking.
• Follow up with managers and employees on goal setting, reviews, feedback discussions, and incomplete activities.
• Provide process support on performance documentation and performance improvement plans.
• Maintain performance management records and prepare completion reports.
• Coordinate the documentation and initial review of employee concerns, grievances, complaints, and disciplinary matters.
• Ensure that employee relations matters are handled fairly and confidentially, escalating complex or sensitive issues as appropriate.

C. HRMIS, Data Management, and Reporting

• Coordinate the timely updating and maintenance of People Operations data in the HRMS and related systems.
• Monitor employee records and trackers relating to staffing, recruitment, payroll, performance, learning, compliance, and employee movements.
• Review data for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and confidentiality.
• Prepare and review routine reports and dashboards on key People Operations metrics.
• Consolidate data from state offices and identify discrepancies, delays, trends, and follow-up requirements.
• Coordinate improvements to HRMIS processes, data-quality checks, reporting formats, and documentation.

D. Payroll, Compensation, Benefits, and Compliance

• Coordinate the collection, review, and timely submission of payroll inputs.
• Liaise with the Payroll team to resolve discrepancies and routine employee queries.
• Support the administration of compensation, benefits, insurance, retirement, and other employee-related programs.
• Monitor documentation relating to salary revisions, pay schedules, benefits, and employee changes.
• Track statutory compliance activities, audits, reviews, records, and action points.
• Support the implementation of the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct, and Prevention of Sexual Harassment processes.
• Escalate legal, regulatory, safeguarding, and high-risk matters through the appropriate channels.

E. Recruitment and Selection

• Support recruitment for senior, critical, sensitive, and specialized positions in collaboration with the recruitment team and hiring managers.
• Coordinate with hiring managers on job descriptions, selection criteria, recruitment timelines, and candidate requirements.
• Participate in selected interviews and support candidate assessment and selection documentation.
• Provide support on reference checks, offer coordination, and recruitment-related discussions.
• Monitor recruitment plans, candidate pipelines, time-to-fill, approvals, risks, and pending actions.
• Support the recruitment team member on complex searches and ensure that recruitment practices are fair, consistent, and compliant.

F. Employee Lifecycle and Field Engagement

• Coordinate onboarding, transfers, promotions, contract renewals, changes in employment status, and exit processes.
• Monitor probation, contract expiry, employee movement, and exit-related activities.
• Ensure that employee records, contracts, personnel documents, and lifecycle documentation are complete and properly maintained.
• Respond to routine employee queries and ensure timely allocation and resolution of requests.
• Undertake regular field visits to understand employee and operational needs and provide on-site People Operations support.
• Facilitate the participation of relevant People Operations team members in field visits and monitor follow-up on field-level issues.
• Share significant field observations, risks, and unresolved matters with the Director People Operations.

G. Team Coordination and Support

• Coordinate the day-to-day work of the People Operations team and support the allocation of responsibilities.
• Translate approved priorities into work plans, timelines, deliverables, and follow-up actions.
• Monitor delivery across recruitment, learning, performance management, HRMIS, payroll, compliance, and employee administration.
• Review team outputs for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and adherence to established procedures.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and feedback to team members and support the resolution of operational challenges.
• Identify delays, gaps, duplication, or quality concerns and coordinate corrective action.
• Prepare regular updates for the Director People Operations on progress, risks, pending actions, and support required.
• Support India Country Office-wide People Operations projects and undertake other responsibilities assigned by the Director People Operations.

Preferred candidate profile

Required:

• Masters degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in Human Resources, including at least two years in a supervisory, team-lead, or managerial role.
• Broad generalist People Operations experience covering learning and development, performance management, HRMIS, recruitment, payroll coordination, employee relations, compliance, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Experience coordinating learning programs, performance management cycles, HRMIS data, People Operations reporting, and recruitment activities.
• Experience supporting recruitment for senior, critical, sensitive, or specialized positions.
• Experience coordinating or supervising the work of People Operations team members.
• Strong proficiency in HRMS, recruitment tracking systems, Microsoft Excel, spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.
• Working knowledge of applicable employment laws, statutory requirements, Child Protection requirements, and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment framework.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong organizational, analytical, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability and willingness to undertake regular travel to operational states within India and, where required, outside India.

Preferred:

• Experience working in the development, nonprofit, education, or social sector.
• Experience supporting People Operations across multiple states or geographically dispersed locations.
• Experience with HR dashboards, people analytics, performance management modules, or learning management systems.
• Experience coordinating field-based employee engagement or People Operations activities.
• Experience working with multicultural teams and diverse stakeholders.