Associate Director- HR Operations

About the Role: MobiKwik is looking for an Associate Director – HR Operations to own and scale the entire HR operations backbone of the organization – from policy and systems to compliance, rewards, analytics and Board-level people reporting. This is a high-visibility role for a builder who can bring structure, automation and rigour to end-to-end HR processes across a listed, fast-moving fintech, while partnering closely with senior leadership. Key Responsibilities HR Policies & Process Governance • Own the design, review and periodic refresh of HR policies across the employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment with business needs, statutory requirements and industry best practice. • Drive consistent policy interpretation and application across functions; act as the escalation point for complex policy matters. HRMS • Own the HRMS (Darwinbox) roadmap – configuration, workflow automation, integrations and adoption across the employee lifecycle. • Partner with IT/vendors to continuously improve system capability, data integrity and user experience for employees and managers. HR Compliance • Own HR compliance including POSH (Internal Committee governance, case management and closures), Maternity Benefit Act and other applicable HR-related statutory and policy compliances. • Own the BGV framework – vendor management, turnaround times, adverse-finding protocols and audit trail. Audits • Lead internal and external HR audits (statutory and regulatory audits, process and compliance audits); own audit readiness, documentation and closure of findings. • Institutionalize controls and checklists to keep the function perpetually audit-ready. Employee Lifecycle – Preboarding to Exit • Own end-to-end process design and execution across preboarding, onboarding, transfers, performance cycles, grievance handling, and exit/offboarding. • Drive process efficiency, TAT reduction and employee experience improvements at every lifecycle touchpoint. Employer Value Proposition (EVP) • Shape and operationalise MobiKwik’s EVP in partnership with TA, marketing and leadership; ensure it is embedded consistently across policies, benefits and employee communication. Total Rewards • Own People AOP – headcount planning and increment budgets, cost budgeting and tracking against plan. • Lead the annual appraisal and performance-linked pay cycle end-to-end, in partnership with HRBP and CHRO • Own compensation benchmarking across roles and levels; recommend pay structures and interventions to remain market-competitive. • Manage the ESOP program – grant, vesting, exercise and employee communication – in coordination with finance, legal and platforms (Qapita). Payroll • Own accurate and timely payroll processing for both on-roll and off-roll (contractual/gig) workforce, in partnership with finance and payroll vendors. • Ensure payroll compliance, reconciliation and query resolution with zero statutory or audit exceptions. MIS & People Analytics • Build and maintain org mapping and organisation design documentation across functions. • Design and maintain leadership dashboards covering key people metrics for leadership and Board reviews. AI Transformation • Identify and lead AI-led automation opportunities across HR, HRMS workflows, analytics and employee servicing to improve efficiency and decision quality. • Champion adoption of AI tools within the HR function and build the roadmap for an AI-first HR operating model. Board & NRC Management • Prepare and manage people-related agenda, data and documentation for Board and Nomination & Remuneration Committee (NRC) meetings. • Partner with the CHRO and company secretarial function on governance matters relating to compensation, succession and people policy. Candidate Requirements • 12–15 years of progressive HR experience with strong exposure to HR Operations, Compliance, Total Rewards and People Analytics; fintech/BFSI or listed-company experience preferred. • MBA/PGDM in HR. • Hands-on experience with HRMS platforms (Darwinbox or equivalent) and a strong orientation toward process automation and AI-led HR transformation. • Proven experience managing HR compliance (POSH, Maternity Benefit Act and related policies), audits and BGV frameworks. • Experience running compensation benchmarking, appraisal cycles and ESOP administration. • Exposure to Board/NRC-level reporting and governance processes is a strong plus. • Strong stakeholder management, analytical rigour and the ability to operate both strategically and hands-on.