Assistant People & Culture Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an Assistant People & Culture Manager to join our fast-growing technology-enabled lifestyle brand based in Dubai, UAE. Operating across multiple regions in EMENA with a digital-first approach, we are dedicated to establishing a commercially savvy, well-structured HR function that genuinely prioritizes employee experience. This hands-on, generalist HR position is embedded in a key market and reports to the Central People and Culture Lead with a dotted line to the Country Head. You will serve as the principal HR partner in your market and lead a small team of People and Culture Officers, managing the entire employee lifecycle and ensuring flawless execution of all people-related processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the entire recruitment process for junior to mid-level roles including job postings, candidate screening, and offer coordination.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to clearly define role specifications, candidate profiles, and recruitment timelines.
• Coordinate end-to-end onboarding activities such as contract preparation, system access setup, and employee induction.
• Oversee payroll preparation from validating attendance, leave, allowances, deductions to variable inputs for each payroll cycle.
• Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with local statutory mandates, submitting payroll within agreed deadlines.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of UAE labour laws covering end-of-service benefits, gratuity, visa/work permits, and disciplinary policies.
• Assure data integrity within HRIS by timely updating all employee lifecycle information.
• Guarantee all HR processes and documents meet local labour law requirements, escalating legal concerns as needed.
• Provide first-line HR advice and support for employee relations, including grievance handling and conflict resolution.
• Manage probation reviews, contract renewals, and facilitate exit interviews.
• Drive employee engagement through wellness programs, recognition initiatives, and internal communications aligned with company culture.
• Supervise and mentor a small team of People and Culture Officers, clarifying priorities and ensuring quality work delivery.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex employee issues and procedural challenges.
• Prepare HR reports and dashboards related to headcount, attrition, and HR activities for stakeholders.
• Maintain HR documentation readiness for audits and compliance validations.
• Support timely application of audit findings and policy updates.

Qualifications & Experience

• 4 to 6 years of progressive experience in human resources, specifically in HR operations, talent acquisition, or employee relations.
• Proven ability to work efficiently in dynamic, multicultural, and regional environments.
• Experience with HRIS systems, preferably SAP SuccessFactors.
• Strong mastery of UAE labour law including statutory compliance procedures and payroll governance.
• Hands-on payroll management expertise with knowledge of payroll cycles and statutory deductions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including conflict resolution and clear communication with stakeholders.
• Prior leadership experience managing a small HR team.
• Fluency in Arabic, both written and spoken, is mandatory.
• Highly organized, attentive to detail, maintains confidentiality, and demonstrates high emotional intelligence.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent fields; professional HR certifications like CIPD or SHRM are advantageous.

Key Performance Metrics

• Accuracy and punctuality of payroll delivery.
• Average time taken to hire and complete onboarding processes.
• Data accuracy within the HRIS system.
• Compliance with labour regulations.
• Resolution speed of employee relations cases.
• Effective execution of employee engagement initiatives.