Senior Manager - HR

Role & responsibilities

About BrandIdea Analytics

BrandIdea Analytics is a market intelligence and strategy consultancy transitioning from a project-based services model to a SaaS/platform licensing model. As the organization scales its delivery capabilities and formalizes internal processes to support this shift, we are looking for a Senior Manager HR to build and lead the people function.

Role Summary

The Senior Manager HR will own the end-to-end HR charter for the organization — from talent acquisition and onboarding to performance management, compensation structuring, employee engagement, and compliance. This is a hands-on, build-from-the-ground-up role suited to someone comfortable operating in a lean, fast-evolving consultancy environment that is professionalizing its systems as it grows.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Own hiring for research, consulting, and delivery roles across FMCG/e-commerce vertical teams and the emerging SaaS/product function
• Build a scalable recruitment process (JD standardization, interview panels, offer management) appropriate for a growing analytics/consulting firm
• Forecast headcount needs in line with revenue pipeline and client delivery commitments

HR Operations & Compliance

• Establish and maintain HR policies, employee handbooks, and statutory compliance (PF, ESI, gratuity, labour law adherence)
• Manage payroll coordination, leave and attendance systems, and HRMS implementation/administration
• Ensure documentation and process discipline suitable for investor and audit scrutiny

Performance Management & Compensation

• Design and roll out a performance appraisal framework tied to client delivery quality and business outcomes
• Support compensation benchmarking and structuring, including any transition-linked incentive design as the company shifts toward SaaS revenue
• Advise leadership on cost-to-company structuring given organizational financial constraints

Culture, Engagement & Retention

• Drive engagement initiatives suited to a consulting-intensity work culture (high travel/deadline pressure, project-based teams)
• Own internal communication, onboarding experience, and retention strategy for high-value research and consulting talent
• Act as a trusted point of contact for employee concerns and conflict resolution

Organizational Development

• Partner with leadership on org design as the company evolves from a pure-services structure to a hybrid services + platform organization
• Support change management associated with the SaaS transition, including any role redefinition or reskilling needs

Candidate Profile

• 8–12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership/managerial capacity
• Prior experience in a consulting, professional services, agency, or analytics environment strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build HR systems from scratch in a lean/mid-sized organization (not just administer an existing large-company framework)
• Strong grasp of Indian labour law and statutory compliance
• Comfortable working closely with founders/leadership in a company still formalizing its processes
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

What Success Looks Like in the First Year

• A documented, functioning HR policy and compliance framework
• A repeatable hiring process with measurable time-to-fill improvement
• A performance management cycle completed at least once
• Reduced attrition among core delivery/research talent

Pr

eferred candidate profile