Human Resources Manager

POSITION OVERVIEWThe Human Resources Manager leads HR for ALGT and for the ELC and The Entertainer retail business in the UAE and GCC. This is a shared role. It covers head office, the ALGT distribution business and around 28 stores, and it serves both businesses fairly.The role does two jobs. First, it runs HR operations that must be right every time: visas, contracts, payroll inputs, leave, end-of-service and employee records, all in line with UAE and GCC law. Second, it raises the standard of people management across the business: clear policies, fair and consistent employee relations, good recruitment and managers who know how to manage.The role holder is the expert on UAE labour law. GCC has its own team on the ground for day-to-day HR, so the role holder needs a working knowledge of GCC law and the judgement to know when to take advice.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESHR leadership and strategyBuild and deliver an HR plan that supports the business plans of ALGT and the retail businessAdvise directors, the General Manager and department heads on people matters, structure and organisational effectivenessBalance the needs of both businesses fairly, and raise any conflict of priorities with the General Manager earlyEmployee relationsRun the disciplinary, grievance, performance and absence processes, and make sure they are applied fairly and consistently across every storeLead or oversee investigations, and make sure the process is followed and documented before any outcome is decidedCoach and advise line managers on every area of employee relations, so they handle issues well at the first stageManage legal risk on employee matters, and work with external legal advisers where neededManage change processes such as restructures, role changes and contract terminations in line with UAE and GCC lawRun employee surveys and exit interviews, and act on what they showEmployment law and complianceMake sure the business complies with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its regulations, and similar law in GCCManage the relationship with MOHRE in the UAE and the Ministry of Labour in GCC, including labour complaints and inspectionsMake sure all employment contracts are correct, registered and up to dateManage Emiratisation requirements and reporting, where they apply to the businessMake sure staff medical insurance is in place and renewed, in line with UAE and GCC requirementsMake sure HR data is handled in line with the Personal Data Protection LawPolicy and documentationOwn the ALGT HR and operational policy suite, the employee handbook and contract templates; review them every year and when the law changesMake sure policies are available in English and Arabic, and written in plain English that store teams can understandDeliver policy training and briefings to managersRecruitment and inductionLead end-to-end recruitment for stores, head office and other functions, from manpower planning to onboardingManage recruitment agencies and job advertising, and keep recruitment costs under controlWrite and maintain job profiles and competency frameworksPlan recruitment for new stores and peak trading periods, including Q4 and RamadanRun induction for new starters, working with the Area Managers and the training teamVisas, immigration and HR administrationOversee employment visas, work permits, labour cards, ID: new applications, renewals, transfers and cancellationsTrack expiry dates for visas, IDs, passports and medical insurance, so no employee is ever working without valid documentsSupervise personnel files and HR records, so they are complete, accurate and secureOversee attendance and leave recordsPay, benefits and leaveOversee salary structures and grading, and make sure pay is fair across roles and storesPrepare accurate monthly payroll inputs and work with Finance so salaries are paid on time through WPS (Wage Protection System) Manage leave, including annual leave planning, sickness, maternity and Hajj leaveCalculate end-of-service gratuity and final settlements correctly and on timeManage employee benefits and the bonus schemePerformance, training and developmentRun the appraisal process and support managers to set objectives and manage performanceIdentify training needs and deliver development programmes for store teams, store managers and head officeSupport succession planning, so the business can grow its own managersWorkforce planning and reportingMonitor staffing across stores and departments, so each location has the right number of people at the right costProduce a monthly HR report covering headcount, recruitment, turnover, absence, open cases and workforce costUse HR data to spot problems early and recommend actionHR systemsOwn the HR side of the company systems, including Shift (rotas, disciplinary and grievance cases) and Jack (the AI policy assistant for stores)Make sure the information in these systems stays accurate and the policies behind them are currentKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSNo employee working without a valid visa, ID, contract or medical insurancePayroll inputs on time and accurate every month; no WPS penaltiesFinal settlements paid within the legal deadlineEmployee relations cases closed within agreed timescales, with full recordsLabour complaints and MOHRE cases kept to a minimum and handled correctlyStaff turnover and absence against targetTime to fill vacancies, and new starter retention after probationPolicy suite reviewed and current, in English and ArabicAppraisals completed on timePERSON SPECIFICATIONEssentialBachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration or a related fieldAt least 4 years of hands-on HR experience, with at least 2 in the UAEStrong, practical knowledge of UAE labour law, MOHRE processes, WPS and the visa processProven experience in employee relations, including investigations, disciplinaries and grievancesExperience in recruitment, performance management, payroll coordination and HR administrationExperience in a retail, hospitality or similar business with many sites and shift-based teamsExcellent written and spoken English; able to write clear, simple documents for staff with English as a second languageProficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, and in HR systemsHigh standards of professionalism, confidentiality and integrityDesirableCIPD, SHRM or equivalent professional HR qualification (full or part qualified)Working knowledge of GCC labour law and HR practice, or experience managing HR across the GCCExperience supporting store teams in shopping mallsExperience in a franchised or international brandExperience of Emiratisation programmesArabic language skills