JOB PURPOSE
The Manager – HR Operations will lead and take end-to-end ownership of the HR operations function, overseeing talent acquisition, retention, onboarding and offboarding, and payroll coordination. The role requires a hands-on generalist who can build efficient, compliant HR processes while championing an employee experience suited to a fast-paced, service-driven environment. Candidates with a background in hospitality, restaurants, or leisure and entertainment businesses are strongly preferred, given the operational tempo and people-first culture such backgrounds bring.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
HR Operations
- Own and continuously improve end-to-end HR operations processes, policies, and SOPs across the employee lifecycle.
- Ensure HR data integrity and process compliance within the HRIS/SAP system, including employee records, contracts, and letters.
- Act as the escalation point for employee queries relating to HR policy, benefits, and administration.
- Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law, visa/immigration requirements, and internal governance policies.
- Prepare and present HR operational metrics and dashboards (headcount, turnover, time-to-hire, etc.) to leadership.
Talent Acquisition
- Manage full-cycle recruitment for operational and corporate roles, partnering with hiring managers to define role requirements.
- Build and maintain a pipeline of hospitality, retail, leisure, and entertainment talent suited to business lines.
- Coordinate interviews, assessments, and offer negotiations, ensuring an efficient and positive candidate experience.
- Track recruitment KPIs and report on hiring progress against workforce plans.
Retention
- Design and drive retention initiatives, engagement programmes, and career development pathways.
- Monitor attrition trends, conduct exit interviews, and translate findings into actionable retention strategies.
- Partner with department heads to address engagement risks and strengthen team culture.
Onboarding & Offboarding
- Own the end-to-end onboarding journey, ensuring new joiners are set up, informed, and integrated smoothly.
- Coordinate pre-boarding documentation, IT/system access, inductions, and probation tracking.
- Manage the offboarding process, including exit formalities, clearance, final settlements, and knowledge handover.
Payroll Coordination
- Coordinate monthly payroll inputs with Finance/Payroll teams, ensuring accuracy of new joiners, leavers, and changes.
- Validate attendance, leave, overtime, and benefit records feeding into payroll processing.
- Respond to and resolve payroll-related employee queries in a timely manner.
- Support WPS compliance and statutory reporting requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; HR certification (CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent) is an advantage.
- Minimum 6–8 years of progressive HR generalist experience, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial capacity.
- Background from the hospitality, restaurant, or leisure and entertainment industry is a strong preference for this role.
- Solid working knowledge of UAE Labour Law and HR compliance requirements.
- Hands-on experience with HRIS/payroll systems (SAP SuccessFactors or similar) preferred.
- Proven experience managing recruitment, retention, and employee lifecycle processes in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
- Hands-on, service-oriented mindset with a bias for action — comfortable operating both strategically and operationally.
- Strong communication skills in English; Arabic is an advantage.
- High attention to detail and discretion when handling confidential employee and payroll data.
LOCATION
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
