People Operations Lead

Branch Overview
Branch is a leading AI-based lending fintech with 50M+ downloads across India and Africa.  We use alternative data to reach millions of people that are largely excluded from the financial sector.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in India, Nigeria and Kenya, Branch is a for-profit, socially conscious company built for scale and impact. Our mission-driven team—founded and led by the former CEO of Kiva.org—now spans 400+ employees globally. We’re backed by investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Visa, and the IFC.
Job Overview
We are looking for a proactive and people-centric People Operations Lead to own and scale core People Operations programs while continuously improving employee experience at Branch. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building strong operational foundations, improving processes, and acting as a trusted point of contact for employees and stakeholders.
As the People Operations Lead, you will own key employee lifecycle programs, support culture and engagement initiatives, and partner closely with business and People teams to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. You will play a critical role in strengthening people processes as Branch continues to scale globally, balancing execution with continuous improvement and a strong service mindset.
Responsibilities

• Team Management & Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of People Operations Associates across payroll, IT & admin, and HR operations
  • Define clear roles, responsibilities, SLAs, and performance expectations for the team
  • Build capability through coaching, training, and regular feedback
  • Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee-first service within the team
• Employee Lifecycle Management
  • Own the complete employee lifecycle, including pre-onboarding, onboarding, employee changes, and exits.
  • Ensure a smooth and consistent onboarding experience, including documentation, system access, policy communication, and orientation
  • Manage offboarding processes, including exit documentation, asset recovery, knowledge transfer, and final settlements
  • Continuously review and improve lifecycle processes to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency
• Pre-Onboarding & Background Verification
  • Drive pre-onboarding activities such as offer documentation, data collection, and readiness checks
  • Own and manage background verification processes with external vendors, follow up on discrepancies, and ensure timely closures
  • Maintain accurate and confidential employee records
• Payroll & Compensation Operations
  • Own end-to-end payroll processing, including inputs, validations, and coordination with payroll vendors
  • Ensure accurate and timely salary disbursements, reimbursements, bonuses, incentives, and deductions
  • Manage statutory payroll components including PF, ESIC, PT, TDS, and gratuity
  • Handle payroll-related employee queries and audits
• Compliance, Statutory Filings & Annual Returns
  • Ensure full compliance with labor laws and statutory requirements across applicable geographies
  • Own statutory filings, annual returns, and government submissions (PF, ESIC, PT, LWF, etc.)
  • Act as the primary point of contact for labor authorities, consultants, and auditors
  • Stay updated on changes in labor laws and proactively implement required changes
• Audits & Risk Management
  • Lead internal and external statutory, payroll, and compliance audits
  • Prepare documentation, reconciliations, and reports required for audits
  • Identify compliance risks and implement corrective and preventive actions
  • Ensure audit readiness at all times
•  IT Asset & Access Management
  • Own IT asset management, including laptops, peripherals, and software licenses
  • Ensure timely provisioning and de-provisioning of IT assets and system access during onboarding and exits
  • Maintain accurate asset inventories and records
  • Partner with IT and vendors to ensure asset security and compliance
• HR Operations, Policies & Systems
  • Own and maintain HR policies, SOPs, and employee handbooks
  • Ensure consistent application of policies across the organization
  • Manage HR systems (HRMS), data integrity, reporting, and access controls
  • Drive automation and process improvements to scale people operations
• Stakeholder & Vendor Management
  • Manage relationships with external vendors including payroll providers, BGV agencies, insurance partners, and consultants
  • Ensure SLAs are met and continuously optimize cost and service quality
• Reporting & Data Management
  • Maintain accurate employee data and documentation
  • Prepare people operations dashboards and reports for leadership
  • Track key metrics such as headcount, attrition, payroll costs, and compliance status
• Culture & Employee Experience Support
  • Act as a trusted point of contact for employees on operational and policy-related queries
  • Support engagement initiatives by ensuring operational excellence and responsiveness
  • Serve as a culture champion by reinforcing company values through people processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field. An MBA/PGDM degree in HR is preferable
• 5 to 8 years of HR generalist experience
• Preferably with experience in startups/companies with an employee-centric culture
• Passionate about innovative people solutions and process improvement
• Excellent communication and articulation skills
• Collaborative mindset and a team player

• Mission-driven, fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment
• Competitive salary and equity package
• A collaborative and flat company culture
• Fully-paid Group Medical Insurance and Personal Accidental Insurance
• Unlimited paid time off including personal leave, bereavement leave, sick leave
• Fully paid parental leave - 6 months maternity leave and 3 months paternity leave
• Monthly WFH stipend alongside a one time home office set-up budget
• $500 Annual professional development budget
• Discretionary trips to our offices across the globe, with global travel medical insurance
• Team meals and social events- Virtual and In-person