Dubai-based People & Operations Lead for Growth

SmartChoice International GCC; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

SmartChoice International is seeking an experienced People & Operations Manager to own the internal people function and day-to-day operations in Dubai.

You will work closely with senior management to ensure we have the people, processes, systems and structure required to support growth, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

This role covers HR, operations, and leadership development, requiring UAE employment knowledge, commercial acumen and the ability to scale internationally.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience across HR, People, Operations or a combination of these areas.
• Experience working within a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Strong knowledge of UAE employment practices and HR processes.
• Commercial and business-minded rather than purely HR-focused.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the employee lifecycle from onboarding through to exit.
• Manage HR contracts, policies, performance reviews, probation and employee relations.
• Support recruitment and hiring of internal employees.
• Develop employee engagement, culture and retention initiatives.
• Work with management on performance management and career development.
• Ensure HR processes remain compliant with UAE and relevant international requirements.
• Own and improve internal business processes and workflows.
• Ensure teams follow agreed procedures and standards.
• Manage internal systems, documentation and operational reporting.
• Oversee contractor and employee onboarding/offboarding processes.
• Work closely with Finance on payroll, invoicing and operational administration.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement improvements across the business.
• Manage suppliers, office requirements and other operational matters.
• Work with management to establish clear KPIs and performance standards.
• Support the development of training and learning initiatives.
• Produce regular people and operational reporting for senior management.
• Help build the infrastructure required to scale the business internationally.

Skills

HR management

Operations management

Recruitment

Performance management

Stakeholder communication

Job description

SmartChoice International is seeking an experienced People & Operations Manager to own the internal people function and day-to-day operations in Dubai.

You will work closely with senior management to ensure we have the people, processes, systems and structure required to support growth, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

This role covers HR, operations, and leadership development, requiring UAE employment knowledge, commercial acumen and the ability to scale internationally.