Nisha Menon

Providing HR support to 150+ designated academic, administration and support employees at the school and managing an overall HR budget of AED 27M. I report to the Head of People and Culture - Ventures and Education at Al Ghurair Investments (Head Office) and work closely (business partner) with the School Principal and Senior Leadership Team providing strategic and tactical HR advice and guidance.

Providing HR support to 150+ designated academic, administration and support employees at the school and managing an overall HR budget of AED 27M. I report to the Head of People and Culture - Ventures and Education at Al Ghurair Investments (Head Office) and work closely (business partner) with the School Principal and Senior Leadership Team providing strategic and tactical HR advice and guidance.

Bloom Education, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, operates Brighton Colleges in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In 2018, the operations were established in Dubai with two schools - Brighton College and Dwight School - with a shared support services team. I reported to the Head of Business Operations (Shared Services) as the HR Officer providing HR support to the 100+ teaching, support and shared service employees for the Dubai campus.

• General Administration
 Assist the Head of HR in day to day management of the HR department and line management of the two HR Coordinators.
 Ensure compliance on labor law and immigration issues.
 Coordinate requirements for KHDA Teacher Licensing and maintaining necessary records and database for all statutory staff training and certifications.
 Manage staff attendance and identify trends for review of Head of HR and Senior Leadership Team.
 Ensure efficient use of the HRMS to generate reports for review by Executive Leadership team in terms of compensation and benefits, performance reviews and other necessary information as required.
 Management of payroll, medical insurance claims, employment contracts, and staff files for all academic and non-academic staff across three schools.
 Manage content of staff handbook and lead on induction processes with a view to improve the experience for new recruits.
• Recruitment
 Manage the recruitment drive for each academic year as per the staffing structure and working closely with Senior Leadership Team of all three schools.
 Ensure seamless recruitment process through ownership of the entire candidate life-cycle from pipeline development to on-boarding.
 Communication with candidates by email and telephone - responding to queries, update on application status, sending invitations for interviews, rejecting unsuitable candidates.
 Preparation and administration of initial offer, contract letters for the newly hired candidates; educating them in regards to compensation and benefits and company policies.
 Perform employment verification, background/reference checks and process visas and work permits in conjunction with the Government Relations Manager (PRO).
 Maintain recruitment tracker to manage the process and also present weekly report to the leadership team.
 Lead and manage schools’ profiles for recruitment on the best suited recruitment portals, web site, LinkedIn page and social media channels.
 Develop and continually review job descriptions to cater to structural/role changes.
• Employee Relations
 Serve as initial point of advice, problem resolution, and facilitation in the areas of employee relations, performance management and employee discipline.
 Advice employees regarding policies, procedures and documentation.
 Support Head of HR/Leadership team in assigned areas to resolve issues and ensure compliance with labor law and regulations.

Additional responsibilities undertaken as PA to Leadership at Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba
• Performance Management Reviews - ensuring implementation of the PM policy and timely conduct of PM reviews by relevant stakeholders. Collation of PM data for whole school.
• Assisted with local recruitment drive for 2017-18 - arranging interview schedules, communicating with potential candidates re: interview process and reference checks while ensuring the HR processes are followed.
• HR Administration Support - Assist HR team in onboarding process, contracts, maintaining leave records for payroll purposes and handling HR related queries/concerns of employees at KSNAS.
• Preparation of Evidence Folders for KHDA Compliance and DSIB Inspections - collation and analysis of assessment data for the various year groups to present the attainment and progress results as per the DSIB framework for school inspections and leadership team.

Job Responsibility:
• Effective management of Principal’s communications by receiving, reviewing and screening incoming calls, email, correspondences and visitors according to priority and taking appropriate actions to ensure inter and intra departmental flow of information.
• Record management - File and retrieve documents, records and reports as per the document control processes to ensure smooth reference of documents.
• Plan and organize Principal’s internal and external meetings; prepare agendas, presentations; take minutes and keep record of proceedings.
• Calendar Management - Coordinate and facilitate Principal’s calendar to arrange appointments while interacting with parents and visitors at all levels of seniority.
• Support Executive Leadership team on a required basis.
• Carry out specific projects and research assigned by Principal.
Additional responsibilities undertaken
• Recruitment drive for teachers for the academic year 2016-17
 Working with Principal and Academic Leadership to understand the requirements/teacher vacancies.
 Advertising the vacancies on suitable platforms to invite applications.
 Screening of applications as per the decided criteria.
 First round of HR interview (telephonic) to assess suitability for the specified role.
 Scheduling of demo lessons and interviews with the respective Executive Leadership members.
 Follow up action post selection - initial offer, contract letter with all the relevant details.
• Performance Management Reviews - ensuring implementation of the PM policy and timely conduct of PM reviews by relevant stakeholders. Collation of PM data for whole school.
• ELT Strategy and Operational Meetings - Involved in the ELT Strategy meetings for school development plans, monitoring schedules, Teacher Performance Reviews, Inspection preparation.
• Leave management and Substitution duties
• Data analysis and collation for DSIB Inspection
• Preparation of Evidence Folders for KHDA Compliance and DSIB Inspections

• Counseling of prospective students and response to queries from emails and/or phone calls and during recruitment activities for local and international prospects.
• Achieving monthly sales targets and maintaining customer relationship management.
• Supporting implementation of the institute's training programs.
• Responsible for preparation of training material, certificates, documentation and interfacing between faculty and students (clients).
• Compile and present statistical reports pertaining to international students enrollments with recommendations.

• Coordinated and followed up on the department’s projects’ progress and timelines to ensure project delivery as per the agreed SLAs.
• Review of departmental performance including generation of MIS for senior management review.
• Key Account Management of customers - Airtel and Aircel - Coordinated activities among various teams, both internal and external agencies, to ensure project delivery of various products as per agreed SLA with the customers.
• Coordinated inter and intra departmental flow of information for the Head of Deployment.
• Planned and organized Head of Deployment’s internal and external meetings, prepared agendas and took minutes as a record of proceedings

HR/General Administration
• Responsible for HR and administration activities to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Managed a team of 25 supervisors, administration assistants and clerks to administer the required tasks, organize travel arrangements for the staff/colleagues and maintain the records and files.
• Responsible for personnel management activities across all roles, employee grievance redress and implementation of organization’s disciplinary policies.
• Partnering with Senior Management team for providing support and advice for manpower planning, deployment & optimization, performance management, succession planning, talent management, employee engagement activities, organizational restructuring.
• Ensuring completion of operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees and following up on the work results.
• Planned and ordered supplies, stationery supplies and purchasing orders to ensure optimum office supplies stock.
• Managing proper accommodation, clothing and ration requirements of the airmen and accountable for administration and welfare of the airmen.
• Reviewed and balanced office budgets.
• Ensured protocol management during visits of VIPs, Senior Defense Officers and dignitaries.

Executive Assistant/Secretary
• Performed various administrative or executive support tasks that are highly confidential and sensitive.
• Read, analyzed, sorted and distributed incoming correspondences to related internal/external parties with follow up on required actions.
• Received, reviewed and screened incoming calls, email, correspondences and visitors according to priority and took appropriate actions to ensure inter and intra departmental flow of information.
• Filed and retrieved documents, records and reports as per the document control processes to ensure smooth reference of documents.
• Planned and organized CEO’s internal and external meetings; prepared agendas, presentations; took minutes and kept record of proceedings.
• Coordinated and facilitated CEO’s calendar to arrange appointments while interacting with visitors at all levels of seniority.
• Reviewed, proofread and edited documents prepared for CEO’s signature.
• As principal advisor to the CEO, responsible for formulation, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of various organizational policies, training directives and administration standing operating procedures.
• Handled responsibilities of CEO when he is traveling and attended meetings on his behalf.
• Carry out specific projects and research assigned by CEO.