Position: Associate Director - Human Resources

Organization: J-PAL SA

Location: Mumbai

Apply: https://apply.povertyactionlab.org/

Role Overview: The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) SA, is hiring a full-time “Associate Director of Human Resources”to contribute to its mission of reducing poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence.

This is a leadership role that will work closely with the management team including Associate Directors, Directors and the Executive Director to passionately execute, support, collaborate and advise on Human Resource management & development, strengthen and improve people management practices and protocols across the organization.

The position reports to Director Finance & Operations (South Asia)

 A broad overview of the strategic nature of the role can be garnered from the high-level outline of the primary responsibilities shared below.

Strategic role:

• Lead the creation and execution of annual HR vertical planning goals and budgets, and organizational HR goals, monitor and report for increased efficiency, accountability and continuous improvements for effective HR support across all verticals and projects.
• Encourage collaborative behaviour across verticals to achieve common organizational HR goals, and improve coordination and communication among verticals towards the same.
• Encourage constant focus on solutions and results, active learning, sharing of knowledge and innovation for cost efficient, effective and sustainable alternatives, set clear quality and accountability standards and support transparency in decision making processes.
• Develop organization strategies by identifying and researching human resources issues; contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to organization strategic thinking and direction; establishing human resources objectives in line with organizational objectives.
• Establish performance metrics, drive strategy for performance management through OKRs, KPI and other robust models. 
• Implement human resources strategies by establishing vertical accountabilities and managing interdependencies.

Functional role:

• Design and execute high impact talent acquisition strategies, standards & processes for recruiting qualified talent in India and abroad, including manpower planning, forecasting and contracting.
• Lead the human resource operations to ensure support excellence and smooth program implementation across projects including statutory compliances, employment processing for domestic & foreign staff, employee relations and labour relations as per need.
• Ensure appropriate grading, salary structures and compensation are in place to recruit, retain, motivate & reward staff congruent with industry trends, maintain and review periodically; execute reward & recognition systems;
• Develops human resources operations’ financial plan & strategies for optimum impact.
• Support management by providing human resources advice, counsel, and decisions; analysing information and applications.
• Guide management and employee actions by researching, developing, writing, and updating policies, contracts, procedures, methods, and guidelines; communicating and enforcing organization values.
• Collaborate and lead HR initiatives for enhancing J-PAL’s mission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion;
• Champion and leader for staff health, safety and well-being;
• Design & execute effective talent management practices including performance management, learning and development, engagement, on boarding, retention, succession planning, competency development and more;
• Lead and support on OD initiatives as per need;
• Lead the HR Data and knowledge management activities, including but not limited, to Dashboard, MIS, internal informational channels and platforms;
• Comply with central, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation for domestic and international workers; anticipating legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions, liaising with internal & external key stakeholders; Lead all communication and compliances towards PoSH and all other laws as applicable, at J-PAL South Asia;
• Stay up-to date and collaborate on J-PAL world-wide HR initiatives, as needed;
• Update job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; and participating in professional organizations.

People Management:

• Mentor, guide and coach the HR team across all HR initiatives & services. Guide and support the HR team for effective performance in meeting organizations’ strategic and tactical objectives.
• Foster a healthy work culture across teams, aligned to J-PAL SA’s values and mission.
• Periodically review and restructure roles and responsibilities and expected results of HR vertical. Strategically plan for future resources and allocation of the same.
• Innovate new systems and practices that aid continuous improvement in our work in the field; and enable their easy adoption across verticals.
• Establish a collaborative relationship with all other verticals within the organization; Support the Global teams on specific HR initiatives, when required.

Leadership:

• Advise all J-PAL South Asia Directors and Vertical Heads on people matters.
• Proactively identify and execute additional activities to advance the organization's success and sustainability.
• Provide strategic inputs, contribute to decision-making and enable execution of key decisions, collaborate and drive key leadership initiatives, as required, at an organizational level as a key member of the Senior Management Team at J-PAL SA.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Management, Business, Organizational Psychology or related disciplines (full-time).

Minimum Professional Experience:

• Fifteen plus (15+) years of professional HR experience, with atleast 7+ years in senior positions which include handling the strategic HR domain of learning, organizational development and management advisory on technical aspects.
• Experience working in the social impact sector will be preferred.

Required Competencies:

• Proven previous experience in people management and people practices - ideally within the social impact sector;
• Strong technical competence in HR, OD, L&D, Rewards and HR Policies.
• Strategic thinking; ability to develop and implement transformational initiatives;
• Exceptional Communication skills – written and oral;
• High Integrity and perseverance;
• Strong management ability: a clear focus on results, sets goals, plans and prioritizes effectively, monitors quality and progress of work against plans;
• Proven ability to design and produce high-quality presentations and reports;
• Experience to support data analysis and visualization in HR;
• Experience in engaging with business leaders, influencers and diverse workforce;
• Excellent people management skills,
• Ability to inspire teams to go over & beyond the minimum requirements;
• Entrepreneurial skills;
• Ability and flexibility for frequent travel across India and abroad;

Compensation: J-PAL South Asia offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits.