VP Human Resources Operations

Title: Vice President - Human Resources Operations Location: Abu Dhabi Company: Confidential Reporting to: SVP HR Operations Direct Reports: 20 UAEN Applicants only please - non negotiable Overview Our client, a leading organization in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced Vice President HR Operations to lead employee relations, HR operations, workforce administration, and people management initiatives across a large and complex workforce. This role will serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership while ensuring the delivery of best-in-class employee experience, regulatory compliance, HR governance, and operational excellence. The successful candidate will combine strong employee relations expertise with broad HR Business Partnering capabilities, working closely with executive leadership and business stakeholders to align people strategies with organizational objectives. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & HR Business Partnering • Develop and implement employee relations and HR operational strategies aligned with business objectives and workforce requirements. • Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and business leaders on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and people-related risks. • Partner with business units to drive organizational performance, culture transformation, and workforce productivity initiatives. • Support organizational design, restructuring, change management, and transformation programs as required. • Translate corporate objectives into practical HR initiatives that support business growth and operational excellence. Employee Relations & Workforce Management • Lead the development and implementation of employee relations frameworks that promote a positive, productive, and high-performance workplace culture. • Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinary actions, misconduct investigations, performance concerns, and workplace disputes. • Oversee investigations relating to employee complaints, harassment claims, code of conduct violations, and other workplace matters. • Ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant resolution of employee issues across all levels of the organization. • Establish and maintain processes for performance improvement plans, disciplinary procedures, and conflict resolution mechanisms. • Drive initiatives focused on employee engagement, retention, recognition, wellbeing, and workplace culture enhancement. HR Operations & Administration • Lead all HR operational and administrative functions, ensuring efficient, compliant, and employee-focused service delivery. • Oversee employee lifecycle activities including onboarding, transfers, promotions, mobility, and offboarding processes. • Ensure accuracy and integrity of employee records, HR documentation, contracts, and personnel files. • Drive continuous improvement of HR processes, systems, controls, and service delivery models. • Partner with HR systems and technology teams to improve automation, reporting capabilities, and data quality. • Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and HR governance requirements. HR Generalist Responsibilities • Provide strategic guidance on compensation, benefits, performance management, succession planning, talent development, and workforce policies. • Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Reward, and other HR functions to deliver integrated people solutions. • Support leadership teams in identifying talent risks, succession requirements, and capability-building opportunities. • Contribute to policy development, review, and implementation across the employee lifecycle. • Monitor workforce trends and recommend proactive interventions to address employee and organizational needs. Stakeholder Management • Build and maintain strong relationships with executive leadership, business unit heads, functional leaders, and external stakeholders. • Influence decision-making through data-driven insights, workforce analytics, and strategic HR recommendations. • Facilitate alignment between HR priorities and business objectives through effective communication and collaboration. • Represent the HR function in executive committees, governance forums, and cross-functional working groups. • Manage sensitive stakeholder relationships while maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, and organizational integrity. Compliance, Governance & Risk Management • Ensure compliance with applicable labor laws, employment regulations, and internal policies. • Monitor legislative developments and advise leadership on potential organizational impacts. • Maintain robust governance frameworks for employee relations, HR administration, and workforce compliance. • Identify, assess, and mitigate people-related risks across the organization. • Ensure all HR activities are conducted in accordance with corporate governance standards and internal controls. Reporting & Analytics • Develop and monitor KPIs for employee relations, HR operations, employee engagement, retention, and workforce effectiveness. • Prepare executive-level reports and dashboards highlighting workforce trends, compliance metrics, employee sentiment, and operational performance. • Utilize workforce data and analytics to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives. Leadership & People Management • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 20 HR professionals across employee relations, HR operations, and administration functions. • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. • Drive talent development, succession planning, and capability-building initiatives within the HR team. • Ensure effective performance management and career development for direct reports. • Champion organizational values and promote a high-performing, customer-focused team culture. Mandatory requirements: • UAEN Applicants only please • Bachelors degree minimum qualification • MUST have clear and concise communication - this role will be heavily involved with multiple C level employees and steakholders • Minimum of 12 years of experience in HR • Must have experience managing teams of above 7 people Show more Show less