HR Manager
Doha College
Total years of experience :9 years, 2 Months
Overall responsibility of the HR function, managing a team of 6 employees across 2 offices supporting 300 staff in a British international school and affiliated Sports & Music Academies.
• Strategic partner of Board of Governors and Management in all areas of HR and have transitioned HR from an administrative function into a comprehensive HR organization
• In charge of overall recruitment process with an average annual employee turnover of 15% per annum due to the term-based contract nature of the education sector in the region. 80% of the recruitment is from oversees. Developed a new overall recruitment process from scratch including need assessment, role description, pre-screening, interviewing and on-boarding & orientation. Developed recruitment oriented marketing tools in conjunction with marketing department as well as outside providers to attract talent from oversees.
• In charge of immigration and induction team, facilitating residence and work permits for employees & their families. Over 50% of current employees are on expatriate terms.
• Initiated and led a complete compensation review assessment in which triggered introduction of a new salary bandwidths at all levels, reorganization of designations as well as terms and conditions revamp. Part of executive management team implementing new assessment parameters and criteria for extended salary scale tied to performance review.
• Introduced proactive employee relations and communications programs to resolve employee grievance, employee and management issues and to restore the credibility and employee-centric focus of the HR organization. Investigation lead in conjunction with Leadership Team as well as the Board of Governors and working closely with legal counsel in matters of employee concerns.
• Performed complete review of HR policies, terms and conditions to ensure are in compliance with legal frameworks as well as international best practices. Restructured the HR function including reviewing HR roles & responsibilities and expanding the team from 4 to 7.
• Advising executive management on HR strategy to support business’s goals, continuous review of HR alignment with global, region, local and sector norms by participating in salary and compensation review surveys. Presenting reports to Board of Governors on HR related matters on regular basis.
• Critically review feedback from exit interview, employee discussions and probation review meetings, deciphering areas of development and create action plans and subsequently recommend areas for improvement to Leadership. Led employee engagement survey & subsequent improvement plan in conjunction with Korn Ferry to measure employee engagement and set new HR strategic direction and align business strategy with people strategy.
Integration of UAE HR function: Lead role in creation and negotiation of new policy manual; employee education of new policies and supervision of new HR procedure implementation. Recruitment: In charge of UAE wide recruitment requirements and manpower needs planning for fiscal year. Assessment of candidates on RMS system, reviewing recruitment updates, interviewing Manager level candidates, endorses terms of offers, salary scale parameter determination and terms negotiations with candidates.
Graduate recruitment: Overseeing recruitment of 20 graduates each season including attending job fairs, running assessment centers, developing assessment exercises, training assessors, presenting, interviewing and terms negotiations. Overseeing graduate induction and onboarding.
Emiratization Program: Researching and commencing “Fellowship” Program- presenting at universities, attending job fairs, setting program parameters, terms negotiations, overseeing internship program, onboarding and engaged with Emirati employees. Lead role in developing and presenting potential Emirati Training program with Mubadala Internal Audit and HR departments.
Global Mobility: In charge of international mobility program- assessing mobility needs, negotiate program terms, selecting candidates, onboarding and maintaining Mobility Program online database.
HR Presentations and Training: lead induction sessions for new employees covering performance management, Ethics and Independence, conducted “Feedback Skills Training” and oversee Global English program.
Employee Relations and Performance Management: employee discussions, issued disciplinary warnings, lead mediation meetings, implement improvement plans and facilitate terminations.
Salary and Year End reviews: developed performance review strategy, create review monitoring process, employee education, lead employee performance year end discussions, manage Manager bonus scheme, asses market conditions, set salary scales and finalized salary adjustments.
Compensation and Benefits: review payroll, final settlements, HR expenses, overtime encashments, loan requests and annual ticket expenses. Oversee insurance program for employees
Principal point of contact for all HR-related matters, including recruitment, on-boarding, training, performance management, policy and procedure implementation, compensation management, employee relations, rewards and recognition management.
Recruitment: Responsibilities include managing Manpower Plan, searching internal candidate database, managing recruitment agencies, evaluating resumes, interviewing candidates, facilitating psychometric testing, overseas recruitment campaigns (Manila and Kuala Lumpur), presentations at local universities, negotiating contracts of employment, candidate correspondence, internal communication, managing inter-company permanent and short term transfers negotiating terms of contract with other member Firm’s Partners and advising Partners and Head Office on recruitment needs.
On-boarding: Responsibilities include answering candidate queries, liaising with PRO, facilitating housing and transport, corresponding with internal departments, assigning counselors, employee correspondence and Induction.
Training: Facilitated soft skill training including participant correspondence, liaising with facilitators, collecting feedback, coordinating with internal departments, manage venue booking, meeting with vendors and advising management on training and development needs.
Performance Management: Discussing performance related matters with supervisors and management, employee relations, writing disciplinary notices, mediating between staff members, facilitating disciplinary action and performance management plans and follow up.
HR Policies and Procedures: Develop and implement HR policies and procedures. Monitor compliance of employees against firm policies and procedures through data analysis and employee feedback. Amend policies if needed.
Rewards and Recognition: Implementation and maintenance of recognition programs such as Rewards program, and Employee referral program. Responsibilities include developing budget, selecting rewards, reviewing nominations and employee education
Compensation and Benefits: Manage monthly payroll in conjunction with Accounts including collecting new hire, termination and employee data, managing changes of employment terms, preparing Action forms, correspondence with staff and answering employee queries.
Recruitment: Responsible for recruitment of employees of all levels from entry level positions to senior management. Responsibilities include interviewing candidates, negotiating employment offers, coordinating with hiring managers and internal departments, managing executive recruitment firms, contacting universities, scheduling, and posting positions.
Expatriate Orientation and Relocation: Facilitating and coordinating all necessary details related to expatriate relocation including processing visa applications facilitated through local immigration law firm, communicating with office of origin and providing useful cultural guidance.
Talent Development: Manage German internship program involving an average of 40 interns and trainees per calendar year. Responsibilities include coordinating with Head Office, placing candidates, training plan development, visa preparation, communication with internal departments, conducting orientation seminar, organizing excursions and supporting interns while in New York.
Orientation: Responsible for orientating new hires. Responsibilities include conducting new hire orientation, HRIS data management, communicating with Head Office and processing all employment related documents such as benefit and personal paperwork.
Mergers and Acquisitions: Managed human recourses functions and facilitated a smooth transition during time of transition for two mergers. Responsibilities included participating in strategic meetings, coordinating with internal departments and Head Office, gathering and inputting new employee data into HRIS, assisting with reorganization of staff and departments and conducting orientation specifically tailored for these new employees.
Project Management: Part of 4 person team supporting 300 employees managing all aspects of HR. Responsibilities include answering employee queries, preparing budgets and headcounts, employee relations, conducting exit interviews, reviewing payroll, communicating with other branches and internal departments, maintaining databases, assisting with switching HRIS providers, maintaining recruiting reports and vendor lists, tracking all HR related and agency fees and ad hoc projects when needed
Project Manager J-1 Visa Procurement Program
• Prepared and reviewed candidate paperwork, developed training plans, conducted English language testing, assisted with recruiting candidates and host-companies, assisted with trainee tax filing and overall database management,
• Developed and hosted cultural orientation seminars for trainees
Major: European Studies Classes included: Politics, Sociology, History and Women’s Studies