HR Associate - Inclusion Economics India Centre at IFMR

Organization: Inclusion Economics India Centre at IFMR

About us

Inclusion Economics India Centre (IEIC) is an initiative affiliated with Inclusion Economics at Yale University (YIE), founded and based out of the Yale Economic Growth Center and MacMillan Center. IEIC is based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Society.

Inclusion Economics’ vision is a world where research and dialogue ensure economic justice, social opportunity and environmental protection. Drawing upon economics, political science, and related fields, we conduct cutting-edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. Our core research focuses on gender as it relates to labour economics and broader economic empowerment; political economy and governance; and climate and environmental economics. We also aim to build a culture of evidence and increase data literacy in the public sector, strengthening leaders’ ability to identify and implement evidence-informed policies. Throughout the research life cycle, we engage closely with policy counterparts to ensure we address questions of immediate relevance, and we regularly communicate data-driven insights with policy counterparts and the general public.

The role

The HR Associate will play a key role in supporting the Senior HR Manager across a range of HR functions, with a primary focus on recruitment, onboarding, payroll, compliance, and staff engagement. Working closely with the Senior HR Manager, senior leadership and research teams, this role will help ensure smooth HR operations, helping create a healthy work-environment and a positive staff experience. We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented professional with strong interpersonal and organizational skills, a multi-tasker, trained in HR functions—someone who can manage multiple priorities, collaborate effectively with diverse teams, and thrive in a fast-paced, multi-country environment.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment & Selection:
  • You will support the Sr. HR Manager in managing end-to-end recruitment and selection process in close coordination with Research Managers and the senior leadership team.  
  • You will source potential candidates through online platforms including job portals, professional networks, and social media channels.
  • You will coordinate interviews, manage candidate communication, and share weekly hiring updates with relevant stakeholders.
  • You will participate in the hiring meetings with the leadership team and hiring managers.
  • You will manage the pre-screening process, including updating candidate scores and status trackers.
  • You will be required to foster long-term relationships with past applicants and potential candidates.
  • You will contribute to drafting job descriptions and interview questions in consultation with the Sr. HR Manager, Hiring Managers, and Associate Director of Research/Finance.
  • You will maintain recruitment dashboards and progress reports. Identify bottlenecks in the hiring pipeline and provide strategies to improve it.
  • You will assist in establishing and maintaining communication with universities, academic institutions, and placement cells to expand the recruitment pipeline.
  • You will assist in engaging with the organisation’s alumni network to share open positions and identify potential candidates.
  • You will assist in building and maintaining an updated database of university contacts and alumni groups to support ongoing hiring needs.
• Performance Management:
  • You will assist the Senior HR Manager in coordinating the performance management cycle.
  • You will assist in organizing mid-term and annual performance review processes, including timelines, communication, and follow-ups.
  • You will assist in managing the documentation of performance review forms, feedback, evaluation notes, and related records.
  • You will assist in preparing performance review letters and other related documents.
• HR Operations:
  • You will coordinate onboarding processes for new staff, including induction sessions, logistics, welcome kits, and onboarding feedback.
  • You will ensure accurate data entry and upkeep in HRIS platforms (Zoho People).
  • You will assist in preparing HR letters such as offer letters, confirmations, experience certificates, and other official correspondence.
  • You will support payroll preparation, attendance monitoring, and leave data management.
  • You will support HR compliance efforts by ensuring adherence to statutory requirements, and organisational policies.
  • You will respond to staff queries related to HR policies, procedures, and processes.
• Staff Engagement & Wellbeing:
  • You will assist the Senior HR Manager in planning and execution of engagement initiatives such as team get-togethers, and wellness activities.
  • You will coordinate with admin/procurement teams for staff gifts and logistics for staff events.
  • You will assist in facilitating training and development programs to build staff capabilities and support professional growth.
  • You will support the Sr. HR Manager in matters related to staff safety and wellbeing, including coordination during emergencies, maintaining updated staff contact information, and assisting with updating/implementation of organisational safety protocols.
  • You will act as a coordination point for staff safety-related communication and support, in close collaboration with the Sr. HR Manager and Senior Leadership team
• Other organisational activities
  • You will support the planning and coordination of organisational-level events such as Policy Dialogues, Staff Conclaves, Research Conferences, and other external events.
  • You will perform other HR-related duties as assigned by the Sr. HR Manager.

Basic qualifications

• Graduate or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5-6 years of hands-on experience in recruitment, preferably within the development or social impact sector.
• Proficiency in using job portals and social networking platforms (e.g. LinkedIn and similar channels) for sourcing and hiring talent.
• Strong interest and passion for human resource management and people development.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet timelines.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with colleagues, managers, and stakeholders.
• Should be well-versed with Excel and other MS Office applications.
• Commitment to producing high-quality, value-adding outcomes with attention to detail.

Preferred qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English & Hindi.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment across multiple time zones
• Willingness to travel to other regional centers within India as and when required.
• Exposure to and hands-on experience with HRMS platforms such as Zoho People (or similar systems) for maintaining employee data, leave management, and HR reporting.

Location: New Delhi, India