Research Appointment Specialist

Position Summary

New York University Abu Dhabi is hiring a Research Appointment Specialist to support the Office of Academic Appointments. The role reports to the Associate Director of Research Appointments and is focused on HR and administrative support for researcher appointments.

This position covers contract administration, end-to-end recruitment coordination, onboarding support, records management, compliance tracking, and related HR tasks. It also involves regular communication with stakeholders, helping improve internal processes, and working closely with Deans, faculty, and divisional teams on a weekly basis to keep research appointment workflows running smoothly.

Applications are open to all qualified candidates. In accordance with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Associate Director with the full recruitment workflow, including recruitment guidance, keeping job descriptions current, coordinating with hiring managers, and working with Recruitment, HR Business Partners, and divisional leaders to obtain updated role details when needed.
• Track candidate security clearance steps and follow up on approvals as required.
• Act as the main liaison for Deans and faculty by embedding within each division every week to support clear communication and efficient coordination.
• Keep requisition and applicant data current in Interfolio and other HR information systems, and prepare monthly, annual, and ad hoc reports covering headcount projections and activity status.
• Create and maintain tracking sheets for HR-related activities and provide status updates when requested.
• Coordinate early onboarding, including serving as the main contact for new hire orientation and ensuring all new hire paperwork and documentation are completed correctly.
• Send acceptance emails and share researcher-related updates with onboarding stakeholders.
• Prepare and distribute orientation schedules to candidates and relevant stakeholders on time.
• Arrange name badges for all Research Support group members before their start dates.
• Organize and maintain personal folders on the network drive according to the required naming and filing standards.
• Manage offer letters, renewal letters, promotion letters, VS letters, and other contract-related correspondence.
• Send timely notifications and follow-up emails to hiring managers regarding employment or contract status changes for the Research Support group.
• Support and coordinate approvals for any employee funded through research grants.
• Handle any additional ad hoc duties as needed.

Qualifications

Required education: Bachelor’s degree in Administration or a closely related area.

Preferred education: Master’s degree in Administration or a related discipline.

Required experience: At least 7 years in a comparable role, along with strong organization, time management, task management, attention to detail, communication, interpersonal, analytical, and numeracy skills.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable working in a complex organizational environment, be customer-service oriented, act professionally and resourcefully, contribute well in a team setting, show mid-level leadership potential, maintain discretion, communicate confidently, and be proficient with MS Office. The role also calls for a proactive, flexible, adaptable person who can manage multiple priorities effectively.

Preferred experience: CIPD certification or an equivalent credential, plus familiarity with UAE labour laws.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with an integrated liberal arts and science program spanning the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. Together with NYU New York and NYU Shanghai, it forms part of NYU’s global network university across six continents, supporting international mobility for students and faculty. As a major intellectual hub in the Arab world, NYUAD contributes to scholarship, research, and creative work within a multicultural, international setting.

Additional Information

This is a fixed-term position for 3 years.

The successful candidate should be prepared for full-time, onsite work in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.