ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL MADURAI
The New School Madurai is a Waldorf-inspired learning community dedicated to the holistic development of every child. Our primary school follows the ICSE curriculum, delivered through a pedagogy that values creativity, rhythm, and deep human connection. As our school grows, we are building the administrative and people systems that will allow us to serve our students, staff, and families with care and professionalism.
We believe that how we treat our staff reflects how we treat our students. We are looking for an HR professional who shares that belief and is committed to building a workplace that is fair, organised, and genuinely supportive.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The person in this role will be the first dedicated human resources person at The New School Madurai. This is a hands-on, generalist role that covers the full employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to attendance, documentation, compliance, and staff welfare. You will work closely with the Principal and school leadership to ensure that our people processes are well-managed, legally compliant, and aligned with the values of our community.
This is a role for someone who is organised, discreet, and genuinely interested in people — someone who can hold the details and the human element of HR together.
RECRUITMENT & ONBOARDING
- Manage end-to-end recruitment for all staff positions — posting vacancies, screening applications, coordinating interviews, and communicating with candidates
- Prepare offer letters, appointment letters, and employment contracts in line with school policy
- Coordinate structured onboarding for new joiners — documentation, induction schedules, and orientation to school systems and culture
- Maintain a talent pipeline and applicant database for ongoing and future hiring needs
ATTENDANCE, LEAVE & PAYROLL SUPPORT
- Maintain accurate daily attendance records for all teaching and non-teaching staff
- Administer the leave management system — tracking leave balances, processing applications, and maintaining records
- Prepare monthly attendance summaries and input data for payroll processing
- Coordinate with accounts for timely and accurate salary disbursement
- Maintain records of statutory deductions — PF, ESI, PT — and support compliance filing
DOCUMENTATION & COMPLIANCE
- Maintain complete and up-to-date employee files — physical and digital — for all staff members
- Draft and manage HR correspondence: warning letters, confirmation letters, increment letters, relieving letters, and experience certificates
- Ensure the school's HR practices comply with applicable labour laws and statutory requirements
- Support annual audits and inspections with accurate HR documentation
- Maintain and update the staff handbook and HR policies in consultation with leadership
STAFF WELFARE & RELATIONS
- Serve as the first point of contact for staff queries on HR policies, leave, pay, and general employment matters
- Handle staff grievances with discretion, empathy, and fairness — escalating to leadership where required
- Support the planning and coordination of staff welfare initiatives, recognition programmes, and community-building events
- Assist in conducting staff performance review cycles — scheduling, documentation, and follow-up
- Maintain confidentiality in all matters related to personnel
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
- Maintain the HR calendar — probation reviews, contract renewals, appraisal cycles, compliance deadlines
- Generate HR reports and dashboards for school leadership — headcount, attrition, leave trends, and recruitment status
- Liaise with external agencies for background verification, insurance, and statutory registrations as needed
- Support smooth day-to-day school administration in coordination with the office team
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential:
- Bachelor's degree in any discipline; a degree or postgraduate qualification in Human Resources, Business Administration, or Commerce is preferred
- 2–6 years of experience in an HR role, in a school, educational institution, or small-to-mid-sized organisation
- Working knowledge of HR processes — recruitment, attendance, payroll inputs, documentation, and compliance
- Familiarity with labour law basics — PF, ESI, Shops & Establishments Act, gratuity
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel) and Google Workspace; comfort with HR software or willingness to learn
- Good written and spoken communication in both Tamil and English
- High degree of discretion and integrity in handling confidential information
Desirable
- Experience working in a school or educational institution
- Exposure to HRMS or payroll software
- Familiarity with drafting HR communications and policy documents
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are a growing school with a close-knit team, and the person in this role will be known by every member of staff. We are looking for someone who:
- Is organised, detail-oriented, and follows through reliably
- Handles sensitive information with care and maintains appropriate boundaries
- Communicates clearly and kindly — whether writing a formal letter or having a difficult conversation
- Can work independently and manage their own time and priorities
- Is genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the people around them
- Understands that in a school, HR is not just administration — it is part of how the community holds itself together
WHAT WE OFFER
- An opportunity to build and shape the HR function of a growing school from the ground up
- A warm, mission-driven work environment where staff are respected and valued
- A school calendar with regular breaks and a sustainable work rhythm
- Opportunities for professional development as the school grows
- The satisfaction of contributing to an institution that genuinely cares about its people
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to:
[email protected]
Subject line: Application – HR Role
- In your cover letter, please tell us briefly about your HR experience and what draws you to working in a school environment. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial conversation.
Pay: ₹20,000.00 - ₹30,000.00 per month
Work Location: In person
