| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Human Resources |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | HR Manager |
| Direct reports | HR Executive, HR Assistant |
| Experience | 3 to 6 years in HR operations |
Senior HR Executive 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: Senior HR Executive
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: HR Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Senior HR Executive handles a broad range of HR operations and mentors junior executives. They manage onboarding, attendance and leave, payroll inputs, employee records, grievances and compliance support, and act as a first point of contact for employees and managers. The role is a step above HR executive, trusted with more complex cases and independent judgement. In an Indian company the senior HR executive runs day-to-day HR smoothly, supports recruitment and engagement, keeps records and compliance in order, and helps the HR manager deliver across the employee lifecycle.
Key responsibilities
- Manage onboarding, joining formalities and induction for new employees.
- Oversee attendance, leave and payroll inputs and check them for accuracy.
- Maintain employee records and the HRMS with correct, current data.
- Handle employee queries and grievances and resolve or escalate them.
- Support recruitment, coordinate interviews and roll out offers to candidates.
- Support statutory compliance and audit preparation for the HR team.
- Coordinate confirmation, transfer and exit formalities across the company.
- Support engagement activities and internal communication to all employees.
- Mentor junior HR executives and assistants and review their work.
- Prepare HR reports and MIS for the HR manager.
Requirements
- A graduate degree, an MBA in HR preferred
- Sound knowledge of HR operations and labour basics
- Comfort with an HRMS and Excel
- 3 to 6 years in HR operations
KRAs and KPIs for a Senior HR Executive
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 |
|---|---|
| HR operations | Onboarding, attendance and records handled accurately and on time |
| Query resolution | Employee queries and grievances resolved within the agreed time |
| Data accuracy | Employee records and HRMS data kept accurate and current |
| Compliance support | HR compliance and audit needs supported with no major gap |
| Team support | Junior HR executives mentored and their work reviewed |
| Reporting | HR reports and MIS prepared accurately and on schedule |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: HRMS, MS Excel, Payroll and attendance system, Email and calendar, Document management.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Assistant HR Manager, HR Business Partner, HR Manager
Interview questions for a Senior HR Executive
- How do you run onboarding so a new joiner has a smooth first week?
- How do you check attendance and leave inputs before payroll?
- How do you handle a sensitive employee grievance?
- How do you keep employee records and the HRMS accurate?
- How do you mentor a junior HR executive who keeps making errors?
- How do you prepare HR records for an audit?
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What does a senior HR executive do?
A senior HR executive handles a broad range of HR operations and mentors junior executives. They manage onboarding, attendance, leave and payroll inputs, maintain employee records, handle grievances, and support recruitment and compliance. They are a first point of contact for employees and managers, take on more complex cases, and help the HR manager deliver across the employee lifecycle.
What is the difference between an HR executive and a senior HR executive?
An HR executive handles core HR tasks under guidance. A senior HR executive takes on more complex cases, works with more independence, mentors junior executives, and often reviews their work. The senior role reflects more experience and judgement, and is a step toward assistant HR manager and HR business partner positions.
What qualifications does a senior HR executive need?
A graduate degree is the base, with an MBA in HR preferred, plus sound knowledge of HR operations and labour basics and comfort with an HRMS and Excel. Employers value a few years of HR operations experience, reliability with records and compliance, and the ability to mentor juniors and handle employee issues sensibly.