| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Human Resources |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | HR Head |
| Direct reports | HR Executive, Recruitment Executive, Payroll Executive |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in HR, including 2 or more years handling the full HR cycle for a unit or company |
HR Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: HR Manager
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: HR Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An HR Manager runs the HR function for a company of a few hundred people or for one unit of a larger company. The role covers hiring, onboarding, attendance and leave rules, payroll inputs, the appraisal cycle, statutory compliance, grievances and exits, usually with a small team of executives. It reports to the HR Head or, in smaller companies, directly to the MD. A good HR Manager keeps the monthly routine on time and gives managers clear, consistent answers on policy.
Key responsibilities
- Plan hiring with department heads each quarter, write job descriptions and recruit through job portals, referrals and consultants.
- Run onboarding, including offer and appointment letters, document collection, induction and a 30-day check-in with every new joiner.
- Set attendance, leave and holiday rules with management approval, and decide exceptions raised by managers and employees.
- Close monthly attendance, leave and overtime data, and hand accurate inputs to payroll before the cut-off date.
- Run the yearly appraisal cycle: KRA setting, a mid-year check, final ratings and increment recommendations for the HR Head.
- Handle grievances and disciplinary matters, carry out fact-finding, issue warning letters and keep complete case records.
- Keep PF, ESI, professional tax and labour welfare fund payments on track with the payroll team or compliance consultant.
- Track probation end dates, collect manager feedback and complete confirmations or extensions on time.
- Manage resignations and exits, covering notice period, handover, exit interviews and the full and final settlement.
- Maintain the HR policy manual and employee records, and prepare a monthly HR MIS on headcount, hiring and attrition.
Requirements
- Postgraduate degree in HR such as an MBA, PGDM, MSW or MPM
- Graduate in any discipline
- A labour law diploma or an HR analytics course is an advantage
- 6 to 10 years in HR, including 2 or more years handling the full HR cycle for a unit or company
KRAs and KPIs for a HR Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Hiring | Approved positions filled within 45 days on average |
| Onboarding | Appointment letter issued and induction completed in the first week for every joiner |
| Payroll inputs | Attendance, leave and overtime inputs handed over by the cut-off with no corrections afterwards |
| Appraisal cycle | Ratings and increment recommendations submitted by the deadline for all eligible employees |
| Statutory payments | PF, ESI and professional tax paid on time every month with zero interest or penalty |
| Attrition and exits | Voluntary attrition within the yearly target, with an exit interview recorded for every leaver |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: HRMS, MS Excel, Naukri and LinkedIn, EPFO and ESIC portals, MS Word and PowerPoint.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior HR Manager, HR Head, HR Business Partner
Interview questions for a HR Manager
- What would your first 30 days as our HR manager look like?
- A manager wants to hire a relative for an open role in his team. How do you handle it?
- An employee has been absent without information for five days. What steps do you take, in order?
- How do you prepare a department head for an appraisal conversation with a poor performer?
- Walk us through the settlement for an employee who leaves without serving the full notice period.
- How would you introduce a stricter late-coming rule without a backlash?
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What does an HR manager do?
An HR manager runs the people processes of a company or unit: hiring, onboarding, attendance and leave, payroll inputs, performance appraisals, statutory compliance, grievances, discipline and exits. They also advise managers on policy and keep employee records and HR reports up to date.
What are the KRAs of an HR manager?
Typical KRAs are hiring within agreed timelines, complete onboarding, accurate and timely payroll inputs, on-time appraisal cycles, statutory payments without penalty, and attrition within target. Each needs a measurable KPI, such as average days to fill a position or the number of payroll corrections caused by late inputs.
What qualifications do you need to become an HR manager in India?
Most HR managers hold an MBA or PGDM in HR, or an MSW or MPM, and have 6 to 10 years of HR experience. Employers also expect working knowledge of PF, ESI, professional tax, the Labour Codes and POSH procedures, along with experience of running recruitment and appraisal cycles.