Global HR Generalist: UAE Payroll & Onboarding Lead

bakkt-llc; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Bakkt in Dubai seeks an HR Generalist to own the full employee lifecycle for a global team. You will be the first point of contact for HR matters, work closely with the Global Head of HR in the UAE, and manage the Deel portal for non-US employment, payroll, and visa administration.

Responsibilities include end-to-end recruitment and onboarding, payroll support in Deel and Rippling, UAE compliance (MOHRE, WPS, visa renewals), visa sponsorship, and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in an HR Generalist, HR Operations, or People Operations role.
• Hands-on experience in the UAE - Deel experience is strongly preferred; familiarity with MOHRE, WPS, visa processes, and UAE Labour Law is required.
• Recruitment experience - end-to-end coordination of hiring in the UAE market.
• Global HR exposure is a strong advantage; US HR experience (FLSA, benefits, Rippling) is a bonus.
• Experience in a lean team where you own and execute rather than delegate.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end recruitment for global roles: job postings, candidate coordination, interview scheduling, and offer management.
• Own the onboarding experience for all new joiners: contracts via Deel, visa initiation, system setup, health insurance, and Day 1 logistics.
• Maintain onboarding checklists and ensure every new joiner is set up correctly across Deel and Rippling before their start date.
• Liaise with hiring managers to ensure a smooth and timely recruitment and onboarding process.
• Own the Deel portal for UAE employees: profile management, contract issuance, document uploads, and access rights.
• Support monthly payroll processing in Deel: data accuracy, cut-off deadlines, and liaison with the Global Head of HR for approval.
• Manage expense submissions in Deel and coordinate approvals with Finance.
• Act as first point of contact for all employee payroll and Deel queries.
• Manage UAE employment compliance: MOHRE registration, WPS payroll compliance, and labour card renewals.
• Oversee visa sponsorship processes for all Dubai employees and their dependants: liaising with Deel immigration services.
• Track visa and Emirates ID expiry dates and initiate renewals in advance to avoid lapses.
• Ensure DHA health insurance is active for all UAE employees and dependants; manage additions, removals, and queries.
• Maintain working knowledge of UAE Labour Law and flag any compliance risks or legislative changes to the Global Head of HR.
• Issue and manage employment contracts for all non-US employees via Deel; ensure all documentation is complete and compliant.
• Track probation periods and flag upcoming review dates to the relevant manager and Global Head of HR.
• Manage offboarding for leavers, coordinate visa cancellation, revoke system access, and ensure clean exit documentation.
• Maintain accurate and organised employee files in Deel and Rippling at all times.
• Serve as the primary HR point of contact for all non-US employees: payroll queries, leave, benefits, policies, and general HR matters.
• Support managers with day-to-day ER matters: performance conversations, absence management, and disciplinary processes.
• Draft HR communications and work with corporate communication: policy updates, compliance notices, and process reminders.
• Maintain and update the HR team’s SOP library for processes so any team member can step in and cover.
• Support the Global Head of HR with ad hoc projects, reporting, and US HR administration as needed.

Skills

Organized

Communication

AI-assisted HR

Discretion

Self-starter

Calm under pressure

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business

Tools

Deel

Rippling

Job description

Bakkt in Dubai seeks an HR Generalist to own the full employee lifecycle for a global team. You will be the first point of contact for HR matters, work closely with the Global Head of HR in the UAE, and manage the Deel portal for non-US employment, payroll, and visa administration.

Responsibilities include end-to-end recruitment and onboarding, payroll support in Deel and Rippling, UAE compliance (MOHRE, WPS, visa renewals), visa sponsorship, and maintaining records.