HR Generalist

Bakkt; Dubai; On-site; AED 201,000 - 312,000; Full time

Job summary

Bakkt is seeking an HR Generalist to be the operational heart of its human resources function in Dubai. This hands-on role covers the full employee lifecycle for our global team, from hiring and onboarding through payroll support, compliance, and day-to-day employee queries.

You will manage the Deel portal for non-US employment, support visa administration, and collaborate with the US HR team on reporting and audits.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in an HR Generalist or People Operations role
• Hands-on UAE experience with Deel, MOHRE, WPS, and UAE Labour Law
• Recruitment and onboarding experience for global roles
• Payroll, visa administration, and compliance exposure
• Strong communication and collaboration across regions

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end recruitment for global roles
• Own onboarding including contracts via Deel and visa initiation
• Manage UAE payroll data in Deel and liaise with Finance
• Ensure UAE employment compliance and visa sponsorship
• Coordinate HR operations and reporting with global teams

Job description

About the role

The HR Generalist is the operational heart of Bakkt’s human resources function. This is a hands-on role covering the full employee lifecycle for our global team - from hiring and onboarding through to payroll support, compliance, and day-to-day employee queries.

You will be the first point of contact for all HR matters, working closely with the Global Head of HR in the UAE and managing our Deel portal as the primary tool for non-US employment, payroll, and visa administration. You will also support the US HR team with reporting, audit preparation, and ad hoc people operations tasks as required. Someone with global HR exposure and familiarity with US HR practices will thrive in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

• 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

Deel Portal & Payroll Support

• Own the Deel portal for all 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

Compliance & Visa Administration

• 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

Employee Lifecycle

• 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

Employee Support & HR Operations

• 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

What We Are Looking For

• 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

Knowledge

• UAE Labour Law: MOHRE, WPS, EOSB, DHA health insurance, fixed-term contracts, and visa sponsorship


• Deel platform - payroll, contracts, expense management, and immigration support


• Basic familiarity with US HR practices and compliance is a plus


• Strong understanding of employee data management and HRIS best practices

Skills & Attributes

• Organized and detail-oriented - you manage multiple processes without things slipping


• Strong communicator - confident handling employee queries and working across cultures


• Comfortable leveraging AI tools to improve HR processes, communications, and documentation


• Discreet and trustworthy - you handle sensitive employee information daily


• Self-starter who can work independently and elevate appropriately


• Calm under pressure - visa deadlines and payroll cut-offs do not wait

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or equivalent experience


• HR certification is a plus but not required

Bakkt is devoted to having diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Bakkt does not make any employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. Must successfully pass a post-offer background check and drug screen.