Senior People Partner (India)

Job Description

This role requires you to be based in Pune, while working hybrid.

Join our dynamic International People Partner team as we expand our presence in the APAC region! We are seeking a passionate Senior People Partner (India) to be based in Pune, where you will play a vital role in supporting all functions within our India team and in particular our Product Development team as they build out their team in India. Reporting directly to the Director of People Partners (APAC) in Singapore, you will be at the forefront of our growth journey.

We are looking for someone who is not only authentic and attentive to customer needs but also possesses a strong commercial mindset. Your ability to build meaningful relationships, offer constructive challenges, and elevate those around you will be key to your success in this role. As an integral member of our global HR Business Partnering team, you will help shape our people strategy and drive impactful initiatives across the organization.

The role

• Drive the expansion of our new entity in Pune, while also serving as the regional lead for Bangalore. This role involves significantly scaling our presence in India and acting as the primary People & Partner (P&P) representative in the region, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to support local initiatives and provide insights into P&P operations.

• Collaborate with the Vice President, Software Engineering India and management across the region to offer guidance and recommendations, while closely coordinating with the wider P&P team on the implementation of projects and initiatives such as employee surveys and annual reward planning.

• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulatory requirements and compliance as needed

• Lead initiatives and create opportunities locally to foster a collaborative and ‘fun’ performance based culture.

• Act as a point of contact for employees and the business in providing guidance and support on employee relations matters (in close partnership with both APAC P&P and Employee Relations teams).

• Point of contact for regional center of excellence questions: talent and development, employee relations, total rewards etc. 

• Develop and analyze HR Data and reports, recommend appropriate actions for continuous improvements locally e.g. employee engagement surveys.

• Deliver effective training sessions to the local team, ensuring that all members are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.

What we’re looking for

• An experienced HRBP and senior strategic HR Generalist with demonstrable experience developing, refining and implementing a positive employee experience.

• Prior experience in establishing and scaling operations in India is highly advantageous, as it will contribute to the successful development of our new entity in Pune and enhance our regional leadership in Bangalore.

• Strong mindset for continuous improvement and exceeding internal customer expectations.

• Demonstrated ability to work and collaborate effectively across global teams, navigating diverse cultures, time zones and business practices to drive results.

• Ability to influence and develop relationships.

• Sound understanding of Indian Labor Laws and HR best practices.

• Strong background in employee relations matters such as disciplinary processes and investigations.

• Ability to maintain, understand and respect confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with excellent judgment and discretion. 

What’s the team like?

• The team is distributed globally and works across multiple time zones and works with stakeholders across the business. 

• Our day to day objectives are currently focused on working side by side with senior leaders to support them as leaders and create HR solutions at scale that support the business during this exciting time of growth and expansion. 

• And finally, it's a team full of good humans who pride themselves on their work and their team ethos. 

Please note that Zendesk can only hire candidates who are physically located and plan to work from Karnataka or Maharashtra. Please refer to the location posted on the requisition for where this role is based.

Hybrid: In this role, our hybrid experience is designed at the team level to give you a rich onsite experience packed with connection, collaboration, learning, and celebration - while also giving you flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. This role must attend our local office for part of the week. The specific in-office schedule is to be determined by the hiring manager.

The intelligent heart of customer experience

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with your specific accommodation request.