Human Resources Executive | Zapplr Media Pvt Ltd | Kochi, Kerala (On-site, Monday to Saturday) | Full-time | 0–1 years

Zapplr is one of South India's fastest-growing influencer marketing agencies, headquartered in Kochi. We run creator-led campaigns across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada markets for brands, film studios, music labels and OTT platforms.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As our HR Executive, you'll own the day-to-day of everything people-related, from hiring great talent to keeping our team supported, organised and engaged. This is our first dedicated HR role. You won't inherit a rulebook; you'll help write it, with close guidance from leadership.

If you're early in your HR career and want variety, ownership and a front-row seat to how a modern agency is built, read on.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Talent acquisition

- Post and manage job openings across LinkedIn, Naukri and Indeed.

- Source, screen and shortlist candidates, and coordinate interviews.

- Manage the candidate pipeline in a simple tracker and roll out offers.

- Run reference checks and pre-joining formalities.

Onboarding and people operations

- Own onboarding so every current joiner has a smooth first week: documents, accounts, tools and induction.

- Track probation with 30/60/90-day check-ins and confirmations.

- Maintain employee records, documentation and HR trackers.

- Handle attendance, leave, payroll inputs and everyday employee queries.

- Manage exit and offboarding formalities, including exit interviews.

Performance and engagement

- Coordinate performance reviews: timelines, forms, follow-ups and records.

- Track goals and check-ins, and flag issues to leadership early.

- Run engagement activities, celebrations and team initiatives.

- Be the team's first point of contact on people matters.

Building the HR function





- Help draft the employee handbook and core policies (leave, attendance, conduct, POSH) with leadership.

- Create standard templates: offer letters, appointment letters and review forms.

- Help select and set up an HRMS or attendance tool.

- Assist with basic HR compliance, working with our CA and consultants.

- Share a short monthly HR update: open roles, joiners, exits and attendance.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

- A degree in HR, Management, Psychology or a related field (MBA-HR is a plus, not a requirement).

- 0–1 years of experience, or strong internships in HR or recruiting.

- Excellent communication in English and Malayalam (Tamil, Telugu or Kannada a bonus).

- Strong organisation, follow-through and attention to detail.

- Comfort with Google Workspace and Sheets, and a willingness to learn HR tools.

- Discretion and maturity with confidential information.

- A genuine interest in people and in building something from the ground up.

- Able to work from our Kochi office Monday to Saturday.

NICE TO HAVE

- Exposure to a startup, agency or media/creative environment.

- Familiarity with ATS platforms or job-board hiring.

- Basic understanding of HR compliance and Indian labour norms.

YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS

- Days 1–30: Learn the team and current practices, build the employee database, and take over open hiring.

- Days 31–60: Roll out the onboarding checklist, offer and appointment templates, and attendance and leave tracking.

- Days 61–90: Draft the employee handbook with leadership, run the first review cycle, and share the first monthly HR update.

WHAT WE OFFER

- A first-hire role with real ownership and direct access to the founder.

- The chance to build an HR function from scratch as we scale.

- A young, creative, fast-moving team in the influencer marketing space.

- Room to grow into a senior people role over time.

Zapplr Media is an equal opportunity employer.

📌 Human Resources Executive (India)
🏢 Zapplr Media
📍 India