We're Hiring: Team Lead – HR Business Partner (HRBP) | Zouk

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Work Mode: On-site, with regular store visits

Experience: 3–4 Years

Function: Human Resources

Reporting To: Head of HR

Employment Type: Full-time

About Zouk

Zouk is a proudly Indian, 100% vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle brand with a growing presence across D2C, e-commerce marketplaces and offline retail. We specialise in bags, wallets, footwear and accessories and are on a mission to build an iconic global consumer brand from India.

As we scale, we are strengthening our people function to support business growth, build a robust workplace culture and establish efficient, scalable HR practices.

Role Overview

We are looking for a hands-on and versatile Team Lead – HR Business Partner (HRBP) to manage four key areas: HR Business Partnering, HR Operations, HR Analytics, and Culture & Values.

In this role, you will partner with business leaders across functions, support employees at the head office and stores, ensure HR processes and statutory compliance run smoothly, and use people data to drive informed decisions.

You will work closely with the Head of HR and guide HR executives, while helping build people practices that support Zouk's growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. HR Business Partnering

- Partner with function heads across D2C, Brand, Offline, Marketplaces, Production & Procurement, Operations, and Finance on people-related priorities.
- Advise business leaders on organisation structure, role clarity, workforce planning, and team transitions.
- Drive performance management cycles, including goal setting, performance reviews, calibration, promotions, increments, and pay corrections.
- Coach managers on feedback, employee development, difficult conversations, and team issues.
- Handle employee grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
- Support POSH compliance and the effective functioning of the Internal Committee.
- Identify critical talent and flight risks, conduct stay interviews, and develop retention plans.
- Engage regularly with store teams, address concerns, and ensure feedback is translated into actionable improvements.
- Present people reviews, workforce risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.

1. HR Operations & Compliance

- Manage the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, documentation, employee letters, exits, and full-and-final settlements.
- Oversee monthly payroll inputs and validate employee data before payroll processing.
- Administer employee benefits, including group medical and term insurance.
- Ensure statutory compliance across PF, ESIC, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund (LWF), and TDS.
- Support implementation of applicable Labour Code requirements and related compliance processes.
- Coordinate HR audits,



inspections, and compliance for contract and agency manpower across stores and warehouses.
- Develop and maintain HR policies, SOPs, service timelines, and the employee handbook.
- Manage HRMS workflows, configuration, access controls, and employee data privacy.
- Resolve payroll discrepancies, salary-related escalations, and complex employee cases.

1. HR Analytics & Reporting

- Develop and publish monthly HR dashboards with meaningful insights and recommendations for leadership.
- Analyse attrition by function, tenure, and store, distinguishing between regretted and non-regretted exits.
- Track manpower costs against budgets in coordination with Finance.
- Support compensation benchmarking, pay-equity analysis, and workforce planning.
- Develop store staffing models using business parameters such as footfall, sales, and conversion.
- Maintain accurate employee data and drive HR technology and process automation initiatives.
- Track statutory filings, registers, audit observations, and compliance status.

1. Culture, Engagement & Values

- Embed organisational values into hiring, performance management, employee recognition, and everyday people practices.
- Plan and execute employee orientation, engagement activities, celebrations, offsites, and internal communications.
- Conduct engagement surveys and pulse checks, and partner with managers on action plans.
- Track employee engagement indicators, including eNPS, exit feedback, and engagement trends.
- Coordinate founder town halls and employee connect initiatives across the head office and stores.
- Support wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and women-friendly workplace policies.
- Establish effective employee feedback and confidential speak-up mechanisms.
- Explore external culture benchmarks and initiatives aligned with Zouk's brand purpose.

Requirements

- MBA in Human Resources from a reputed business school.
- 3–4 years of hands-on experience across HR Business Partnering and HR Operations.
- Practical experience in payroll coordination, statutory compliance, employee relations, and employee lifecycle management.
- Working knowledge of Indian labour laws and applicable Labour Code requirements.
- Experience managing performance cycles, employee grievances, and manager relationships.
- Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, with the ability to analyse HR metrics and prepare dashboards.
- Familiarity with HRMS platforms, HR policies,



and process documentation.
- Strong communication, stakeholder management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality and attention to detail.
- Willingness to work on-site in Mumbai and visit stores regularly.

Preferred Experience

- Experience in a growth-stage startup, D2C, retail, consumer brand, or organisation with strong people practices.
- Exposure to multi-location teams, store employees, and workforce planning.
- Experience building or improving HR processes in a growing organisation.

What We're Looking For
- High Ownership: Takes responsibility for outcomes and ensures timely closure.
- Business Orientation: Understands business priorities and translates them into effective people practices.
- Analytical Mindset: Uses people data to identify trends, solve problems, and recommend improvements.
- Versatility: Can move between employee concerns, payroll escalations, leadership discussions, and HR analytics.
- Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where processes evolve with business needs.
- People Focus: Builds trust with employees and managers while maintaining fairness and accountability.
- Hands-on Approach: Equally comfortable working with leadership at the head office and engaging with teams on the shop floor.

Why Join Zouk?
- Work closely with the Head of HR, founders, and business leadership.
- Take ownership across HRBP, operations, analytics, and culture.
- Help build scalable people processes for a fast-growing consumer brand.
- Make a meaningful impact on employee experience, organisational effectiveness, and business performance.
- Gain broad exposure to strategic and operational HR in a growing omnichannel business.

Interested in building strong people practices while working closely with business leaders? Apply now to join Zouk's growing team. Pay: ₹1,200,000.00 - ₹1,500,000.00 per year

Application Question(s)

- Do you have 3–4 years of hands-on experience across HR Business Partnering and HR Operations?
- Do you hold an MBA in Human Resources from a reputed business school?
- Have you independently managed payroll inputs, employee lifecycle processes, and statutory compliance, including PF, ESIC, PT and LWF?
- Have you handled employee relations, grievances, disciplinary cases, performance improvement plans (PIPs), and manager coaching?
- Have you prepared HR dashboards and analysed metrics such as attrition, manpower costs, employee engagement, and workforce planning using Excel or Google Sheets?
- Have you worked with an HRMS and managed HR policies, SOPs, and employee data to ensure process efficiency and compliance?
- What's your current ctc, expected ctc and notice period?

Work Location: In person

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