Designing Alley
Website:
designingalley.com
Job details:
About the Organization
Designing Alley is an engineering-focused organization specializing in innovative product development, industrial automation, and high-precision engineering systems.
The company operates within a growing ecosystem of early-stage ventures working across engineering, technology, and sustainability domains.
As the organizations scale, we are establishing a centralized People & Operations function to build structured hiring systems, workforce management processes, and operational frameworks across the ecosystem.
Role Mandate
This is a high-ownership, hands-on role responsible for building and managing people operations across multiple early-stage ventures.
The People & Operations Manager will work closely with the founder and technical teams to:
· design structured recruitment systems
· manage employee lifecycle processes
· coordinate freelancers and industry experts
· establish HR policies and documentation frameworks
· ensure disciplined administrative execution across the organizations
The role requires a process-builder mindset, capable of creating scalable systems while also managing day-to-day execution.
Core Responsibilities
1. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development
Lead recruitment activities across diverse functional areas, including:
- Engineering and product development
- IT and software roles, including AI & ML
- Chemical and biomedical engineering
- Operations and management
- Sales and marketing
- Research positions
Key responsibilities include:
- Working closely with technical teams to convert role requirements into structured job descriptions
- Managing hiring through multiple channels, including professional networks, hiring platforms, academic institutions, and referrals
- Conducting initial screening interviews, including behavioral and cultural fit assessments
- Coordinating technical interviews with internal teams and external experts
- Managing offer letters, candidate communication, and hiring documentation
- Maintaining structured candidate databases and workforce planning records
The role will also support hiring across multiple engagement models, including:
- Full-time employees
- Freelancers
- Industry experts and long-term consultants
2. Employee Lifecycle Management
Establish and manage structured employee lifecycle processes, including:
- Onboarding and induction programs
- Employment contracts and documentation
- Probation tracking and confirmations
- Performance review coordination
- KPI and performance tracking frameworks
- Employee communication and engagement
The role will also manage employee exits and transitions, ensuring proper documentation and professional closure.
3. Freelancer, Consultant & External Talent Coordination
Many projects require collaboration with external specialists. The role will support:
- Onboarding of freelancers and consultants
- Contract and NDA coordination
- Engagement tracking and documentation
- Coordination between external experts and internal teams
4. HR Policies, Leave Systems & Internal Governance
Design and manage internal policies and systems, including:
- Leave and holiday policies
- Attendance tracking systems
- Travel approval and reimbursement policies
- Work guidelines and operational protocols
The role will ensure that policies remain clear, practical, and scalable as the organizations grow.
5. Administrative & Operational Coordination
Support operational efficiency across the ventures by coordinating:
- Domestic and international travel planning
- Conference participation and professional visits
- Vendor coordination (travel agencies, service providers, consultants)
- Administrative documentation and approvals
- Internal operational follow-ups
The role will also assist founders with organizational coordination and execution tracking when required.
6. Compliance & Documentation Governance
Ensure proper documentation and compliance standards by managing:
- Employment contracts and personnel records
- NDAs and consultant agreements
- HR documentation archives
- Confidential data handling practices
- Coordination with legal and financial advisors where required
The objective is to maintain audit-ready and well-structured documentation systems.
7. Organizational Systems & Process Development
Build scalable systems to support company growth, including:
- HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Digital documentation and tracking systems
- HRMS or workflow management tools
- Structured reporting dashboards for leadership
The role will also support workforce planning and capacity forecasting as the organizations expand.
Profile Requirements
We are seeking a proactive professional who is comfortable operating across HR, operations, and administrative domains in a startup environment.
Formal qualifications are secondary to demonstrated capability and execution discipline.
Ideal background includes:
- 4–7 years of experience in HR, operations, or administrative management
- Experience in engineering firms, technology startups, manufacturing organizations, or R&D environments preferred
- Exposure to multi-entity or startup ecosystems is advantageous
- Strong process-building and documentation discipline
- Ability to operate independently with high ownership
Core Competencies
· Talent acquisition and hiring systems
· HR documentation and compliance management
· Employee lifecycle and performance systems
· Administrative coordination and vendor management
· Travel planning and logistical coordination
· Digital system implementation (HRMS / workflow tools)
· High ownership, discretion, and execution reliability
Performance Indicators
Key success indicators for this role include:
- Time-to-hire and hiring quality
- Implementation of structured HR systems
- Accuracy and completeness of HR documentation
- Administrative efficiency and response time
- Workforce stability and operational coordination
Role Evolution
As the organizations grow, the role may evolve into:
Head – People & Operations
with expanded responsibility across HR strategy and organizational governance.
Click on Apply to know more.