Human Resource Manager

HR Manager International School

Experience: 8–12 years
Industry: International / K–12 Education
Location: Hyderabad

Key Roles & Responsibilities-

HR Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Develop and implement HR policies and practices aligned with the school's vision, values, and educational objectives.
• Prepare manpower plans for academic, administrative, support, and leadership positions.
• Work closely with the Principal, School Leadership, and Management on HR-related matters.
• Monitor staffing requirements and ensure optimum manpower deployment.

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Manage end-to-end recruitment for teaching, non-teaching, administrative, managerial, and support staff.
• Develop effective sourcing strategies through job portals, referrals, agencies, social media, and professional networks.
• Screen candidates and coordinate interviews, assessments, reference checks, and selection.
• Ensure timely closure of critical academic and leadership positions.
• Manage offer letters, appointment letters, joining formalities, and onboarding.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Act as a point of contact for employee grievances, concerns, and workplace issues.
• Maintain positive employee relations and promote a professional, respectful work culture.
• Conduct employee engagement initiatives, feedback sessions, and staff activities.
• Handle disciplinary matters in accordance with school policies and applicable laws.

Performance Management

• Implement and monitor the school's performance appraisal system.
• Coordinate annual performance reviews for teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Support the leadership team in setting KPIs, goals, and performance expectations.
• Identify performance gaps and coordinate improvement plans where required.

Learning & Development

• Identify training and development requirements for academic and non-academic employees.
• Coordinate induction, orientation, professional development, and staff training programs.
• Maintain training records and evaluate training effectiveness.

HR Operations & Documentation

• Maintain accurate employee records, personnel files, attendance, leave, and HR documentation.
• Ensure smooth joining, confirmation, transfer, promotion, and separation processes.
• Monitor employee attendance, leave, late-coming, and other HR-related matters.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee and school information.

Payroll & Statutory Compliance

• Coordinate monthly payroll processing with Finance/Accounts.
• Ensure accurate salary inputs relating to attendance, leave, increments, deductions, and benefits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable labour laws, PF, ESI, gratuity, professional tax, POSH, and other statutory requirements.
• Coordinate statutory audits and maintain required HR records.

Employee Policies & Compliance

• Develop, review, and update HR policies, employee handbooks, SOPs, and staff guidelines.
• Ensure implementation of policies across departments.
• Maintain compliance with employment laws and applicable education-sector requirements.
• Support implementation of POSH, safeguarding, child protection, Health & Safety, and other school-specific policies.

School Safeguarding & Background Verification

• Ensure appropriate background/reference verification for employees, particularly those working directly with children.
• Maintain required employee verification and compliance records.
• Work closely with school leadership to ensure safeguarding-related HR procedures are followed.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Manage the complete employee lifecycle from recruitment to exit.
• Handle confirmation, probation reviews, promotions, transfers, salary revisions, and disciplinary actions.
• Conduct exit interviews and analyse employee attrition.
• Ensure proper clearance, handover, and final settlement processes.

HR MIS & Reporting

• Prepare monthly and annual HR reports covering:

• Headcount

• Recruitment status

• Attrition

• Attendance and absenteeism

• Leave

• Payroll

• Performance

• Employee movement

• Analyse HR data and provide recommendations to management.

International School Culture & Stakeholder Management

• Promote a diverse, inclusive, professional, and multicultural working environment.
• Work effectively with international staff, expatriates, teachers, school leadership, and support teams.
• Ensure HR practices support the school's international curriculum and institutional standards.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 8–12 years of HR experience, preferably with substantial experience in an International School / K–12 / CBSE / ICSE / IB / Cambridge school environment.
• Strong experience in Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Performance Management, HR Operations, Payroll and Compliance.
• Experience handling both academic and non-academic employees.
• Strong knowledge of Indian labour laws and statutory compliance.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and partner effectively with the Principal, School Leadership, and Management.
• Strong HRIS/MS Office skills; experience with HRMS/ATS platforms is preferred.
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, and integrity.

For a senior International School HR Manager, I would particularly emphasize: Talent Acquisition + employee relations + safeguarding/child-protection compliance + performance management + HR policy + statutory compliance + leadership stakeholder management.