Vice President Human Resources

About KnowDis

KnowDis AI is a research-driven startup building cutting-edge solutions in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI. Our AI tools are designed to automate and enhance business processes, including content generation, information retrieval, and document understanding. We work with clients across industries such as e-commerce, fashion, banking, and pharma, helping them unlock value through enterprise-ready AI solutions.

Role overview

We are looking for a strategic, hands-on VP — HR to build and lead People & Talent functions during a high-growth phase. The role combines senior-level HR strategy (culture, org design, leadership advisory, total rewards) with operational ownership of hiring for technical (AI/ML/engineering) and commercial (sales, GTM) teams, ESOP design & implementation, and compensation structuring to attract and retain high-calibre talent. This is a founding-team HR leadership role with exposure to senior management stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Talent acquisition leadership: Design and execute an aggressive hiring plan for AI/ML, data engineering, product, and sales functions; stand up a scalable TA function (sourcing, employer branding, interview frameworks, campus/industry channels).
• Compensation & rewards: Create market-competitive comp bands for tech and sales roles, design variable pay/OTE for sales, align total-comp packages with early-stage equity realities, and introduce performance-linked incentives. Conduct regular benchmarking vs. market.
• People operations & HR systems: Implement HRIS, payroll, onboarding/offboarding, compliance (Indian labour & statutory), employee policies, and HR metrics (time-to-hire, attrition, engagement)
• Leadership partnering & culture: Act as strategic advisor to the CEO and exec team on org design, leadership hiring, change management and retention; shape culture and EVP for a high-performance, research-driven AI org.
• People analytics & governance: Establish people KPIs, run regular HR dashboards for exec/board reviews, and ensure audit-ready HR governance.

Required skills & experience

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with at least 4–6 years in senior HR leadership roles (Head / VP / Director) — ideally with hands-on experience in fast-growing tech or AI product companies.
• Demonstrated success in hiring and scaling AI/ML, data engineering, product, and enterprise/B2B sales teams, with strong understanding of technical role requirements, hiring funnels, and evaluation frameworks
• Strong expertise in compensation and total rewards design, including market benchmarking, compensation banding, performance-linked incentives, and variable/OTE structures for sales organisations.
• Hands-on operator who can balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution (recruiting, policy, HRIS rollout).
• Ability to operate effectively in a founder-led, fast-scaling environment, balancing strategic thinking with operational execution and ambiguity.
• Excellent stakeholder management: ability to work with founders, investors, senior product/engineering and sales leaders. High integrity and confidentiality.
• Familiarity with Indian labour law & statutory compliance, payroll processes and contractors vs. full-time hiring. Experience with remote/hybrid policies a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Psychology, or related field; MBA/PG in HR or equivalent is preferred.

What success looks like (first 6–12 months)

• Built a hire-ready TA process and closed key roles in engineering and sales (defined ramp targets).
• Compensation bands and sales OTE framework implemented with clear benchmarking.
• HRIS and core people processes (onboarding, payroll, compliance) live

Selection Process:

• Interested Candidates are mandatorily required to apply through this listing on Jigya. Only applications received through this posting will be evaluated further.
• Shortlisted candidates may be required to appear in a Screening interview administered by Jigya
• Candidates selected after the Jigya screening rounds will be interviewed by KnowDis