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 RESPONSIBILITIESHR 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 & EXPERIENCEBachelor'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 Success Factors or similar) preferred. Proven experience managing recruitment, retention, and employee lifecycle processes in a fast-paced, multi-site environment. SKILLS & COMPETENCIESStrong 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. LOCATIONAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.