Manav Pondkule

About Manav Pondkule

As a Talent Acquisition Manager based in Mumbai, I bring a focused approach to hiring within the BFSI sector, backed by a strong academic foundation—an MBA in Human Resources from NMIMS. Since November 2024, I’ve been contributing to the growth of IDFC FIRST Bank by identifying and onboarding talent across critical verticals. My expertise spans across banking recruitment, social media hiring strategies, sourcing, screening, interviewing, salary negotiation, and stakeholder management. I’m passionate about building meaningful candidate experiences and aligning talent strategies with business goals. Outside of work, I’m committed to fitness and enjoy exploring new destinations, which helps me stay energized and inspired in both personal and professional spheres.IDFC FIRST Bank, where I currently work, is one of India’s fastest-growing private sector banks. Formed in 2018 through the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First, the bank has rapidly scaled its operations, now serving over 35 million customers across branches. With a customer-first philosophy, the bank offers a full suite of services including retail, MSME, rural, and corporate banking. It is known for its ethical banking practices, digital-first approach, and commitment to social good—having financed over 38 million loans, including those for women entrepreneurs and small businesses. The bank’s modern tech stack, cloud-native architecture, and data-driven decision-making make it a dynamic place to work. It also fosters a culture of meritocracy, continuous learning, and employee well-being, making it a compelling environment for professionals looking to grow.In my current role, I specialize in hiring for a wide range of functions that are central to the bank’s operations and compliance framework. These include retail assets banking, secured and unsecured lending products, risk and compliance, credit underwriting, collections, and debt management. I work closely with business leaders to understand evolving talent needs and ensure we bring in professionals who are aligned with our values and performance expectations. My goal is to not just fill roles, but to build teams that drive sustainable growth and uphold the bank’s commitment to responsible banking. Whether it’s sourcing niche talent or managing high-volume hiring, I strive to maintain a balance between speed, quality, and candidate experience.

Experience

1. Talent Acquisition Manager

   IDFC FIRST Bank

   Nov 2024 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   Managing end to end recruitment process for the state of Maharashtra Handling Retail Assets portfolio i.e. frontline hiring for Sales, Collections & Customer Service Ensuring KRAs set by leaders are met MoM Responsible to maintain at least 95% manning in all products across functions Approximately 98.7% positions have been delivered on time Engaging in stakeholder management (Both internal and external) Engaging with candidates & managers for solving queries on pre & post onboarding process Part of the Top 5 recruiters in the new system adoption contest Part of the team providing trainings to recruiters and managers on usage of the new system

Education

• H.A. College of Commerce

  B.Com, Commerce

  2015 — 2016

• Mithibai College of Arts Chauhan Institute of Science and A.J. College of Commerce and Economics

  Bachelor of Commerce - BCom

  2017 — 2019

• Utpal Shanghvi School

  High School

  2001 — 2013

• SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)

  MBA HR

  2020 — 2022