Associate Director – Total Rewards

Aldar Estates; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldar Estates seeks an Associate Director, Total Rewards to lead compensation, benefits and payroll for UAE operations. The role focuses on aligning total rewards with business objectives, driving digital transformation, and delivering accurate workforce analytics.

You will oversee salary benchmarking, job grading, internal equity, end-of-service calculations and cross‑functional collaboration with HR and business leaders. Experience with SAP and UAE regulations is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in finance, Economics, HR or related field.
• Certification on C&B; Master’s degree adds value.
• Arabic language ability is advantageous.
• 10+ years HR experience with 5+ years payroll & C&B for 1000+ staff.
• Advanced SAP experience; knowledge of other ERPs is beneficial.
• Knowledge of UAE labor law.
• Deep knowledge of comp&benefits practices, trends and regulations.
• Strong PM skills; lead cross‑functional teams and prioritize demands.

Responsibilities

• Total Rewards Strategy & Program Management: develop and lead rewards strategies including compensation, benefits, variable pay and recognition.
• Compensation & Benefits: lead benchmarking and maintain salary structures, internal equity and external competitiveness.
• Payroll & Compliance: oversee UAE payroll, ensure labor law compliance and end-of-service settlements.
• Manpower Budgeting & Reporting: manage budgets and provide workforce analytics and dashboards.
• HRIS & Analytics: optimize HRIS, manage data, and leverage analytics for planning.
• Stakeholder Management: align rewards with organizational goals and governance.

Skills

SAP expertise

HR analytics

Budgeting & cost control

Stakeholder management

Arabic language

HRIS optimization

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/Economics/HR or related field

C&B certification

Master’s degree (adds value)

Tools

Other ERPs

Job description

The Associate Director, Total Rewards will be responsible for overseeing compensation and benefits, payroll for UAE, manpower budgets, HRIS, data analytics, employee MIS, and end-of-service processes in UAE. This role will ensure accuracy, compliance, and strategic alignment of total rewards initiatives with business objectives while driving digital transformation and process improvements within the organization.

Total Rewards Strategy & Program Management:

• Develop and lead total rewards strategies, including compensation, benefits, variable pay and recognition programs, aligned with business objectives.
• Ensure rewards programs are competitive, cost-effective, compliant with UAE labour laws, and continuously enhanced through market benchmarking and best practices.
• Partner with HR and business leaders to drive employee engagement, retention and effective communication of the total rewards framework.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Lead compensation benchmarking and recommend salary and benefits enhancements.
• Maintain competitive salary structures, job grading and pay frameworks.
• Ensure internal equity and external market competitiveness.
• Oversee employee benefits programs aligned with business and employee needs.

Payroll & Compliance:

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for UAE employees.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, regulations and company policies.
• Manage end-of-service benefit calculations and settlements.

Manpower Budgeting & Reporting:

• Develop, track and manage manpower budgets aligned to business plans.
• Provide workforce analytics, insights and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Produce HR dashboards, MIS reports and management reporting.

HRIS & Analytics:

• Drive HRIS optimization, automation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage compensation and benefits data, including M&A integrations.
• Leverage HR analytics and dashboards to support workforce planning and business strategy.

Stakeholder Management:

• Partner with HR and business leaders to align reward programs with organizational goals.
• Provide expert guidance on rewards policies, governance and employee experience initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree preferably in finance, Economics, Human Resources or related field, Certification on C&B. Master's degree is an added value.
• 10 yrs of experience in HR with a min of 5 yrs managing payroll & C&B for 1000+ staff members. Previous experience in Finance and HRIS is of added value.
• Arabic Speaking is advantageous.
• Advanced experience in SAP system. Knowledge of Other ERPs is an added value.
• Knowledge in UAE labor law.
• Deep knowledge of compensation and benefits best practices, trends, and regulations.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and prioritize competing demands.