Director | Operations, HR & Culture

A company is seeking a Director Operations, HR & Culture who has at least 8 years of experience. They are not looking for someone who has purely been involved in HR; this role would suit someone who has had a career in HR, understands UAE labour law, and can oversee the other departments in a leadership capacity (e.g., Finance, IT). This role requires someone who can hit the ground running and do what is needed, as there is no team to do it for you.

• Lead the cycle of and participate in strategic planning, workforce development, and other related activities.
• Work as part of the leadership team to devise strategies that meet organizational goals.
• Provide guidance to leadership with overall resource planning and monthly reporting of all aspects of operations, people, and finance.
• Manage and coordinate all operations, people, and finance tasks and ensure that the team effectively meets the organization's needs.
• Plan highly complex workloads with a broad range of activities, some that are ongoing and some which require formulation and adjustment of plans or strategies.
• Develop and implement people and culture policies and procedures that align with the organization's goals and objectives.
• Oversee the recruitment and selection process, ensuring the hiring of high-quality candidates in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Manage employee relations and provide guidance and support to managers and employees on Human Resources-related issues.
• Oversee the performance management process and ensure that employees receive regular feedback and coaching to enhance their performance.
• Manage and continuously improve the compensation and benefits programs, including salary structures, bonus programs, and health and welfare benefits.
• Ensure compliance with ADGM employment laws and regulations.
• Oversee all recordkeeping to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
• Acquire and analyze our people and culture metrics and provide regular reports to senior management on learnings and recommended improvements.
• Develop and deploy team experiences that drive engagement and wellbeing.
• Provide leadership to the finance and accounting team, ensuring that they have guidance and support for fulfilling the organization's budgetary and operational requirements.
• Oversee, coordinate, and administer the financial systems and processes, including accounting, payroll and benefits, record keeping, insurance, and all related financial administration.
• Manage the organization's budget, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged.
• Lead operations team members, ensuring that they have guidance and support for fulfilling the operational requirements of the organization.
• Ensure all daily office and business operations are carried out in a supportive, cost-effective manner.
• Oversee and improve operational management systems, processes, and best practices.
• Ensure the organization's processes remain legally compliant.
• Plan, develop, implement, and maintain appropriate standards, best practices, and procedures.

• Bachelor's degree in business, Operations Management, Human Resources, or related field; CIPD would be preferred. A specialized master's degree would be advantageous, however, it isn't essential.
• The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing administrative/operations functions (unrelated to HR, e.g., Finance, IT) along with a solid background in HR/Culture.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning, budgeting, and reporting. Familiarity with business and financial principles.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills, functioning at a senior level within the current role.
• Good knowledge of local employment law. Experience with ADGM regulations would be an advantage but not essential.
• Hands-on experience initiating and implementing HR/operational projects.
• Experience designing compensation and benefits packages.
• Ability to develop and manage clear and fair company policies.
• Excellent analytical and decision-making abilities.
• Our client is not a large entity, so there is no HR team; you would be the team. This role suits someone who is able to think outside the box and can roll up their sleeves.
• High attention to detail and follow-through skills.
• Excellent command of the English language, written and spoken. Spoken and written Arabic would be an advantage, but it is not essential.
• Must currently live in the UAE and be prepared to reside in Abu Dhabi.