HR Generalist: People Ops, Compliance & Insights

Grant Thornton UAE; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton UAE is seeking an HR Generalist to support HR Operations, People & Culture, and related enabling teams. You will manage the employee lifecycle, ensure compliance, and partner with managers across service lines to handle performance, planning, and people initiatives.

The role focuses on governance of HR processes, data accuracy, and employee relations while supporting the broader business objectives and workforce strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience managing end-to-end employee lifecycle activities including onboarding, probation reviews, promotions, transfers, contracts, and offboarding.
• Strong understanding of HR policies, compliance, and employee relations; comfortable guiding managers and staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle activities including onboarding, probation reviews, promotions, transfers, contract amendments, and offboarding.
• Prepare and issue employment-related documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain employee records within HR systems and personnel files.
• Coordinate visa, labour, and immigration-related HR activities where applicable.
• Support payroll administration by ensuring accurate employee data and timely submissions.
• Monitor probation periods, contract renewals, and key employee milestones.
• Ensure HR policies, procedures, and employee records remain compliant with internal and regulatory requirements.
• Respond to employee HR queries and provide guidance on policies and procedures.
• Build strong working relationships with managers across assigned service lines.
• Support managers on lifecycle decisions, performance management, and people-related matters.
• Provide first-line advice on employee relations issues, escalating complex matters appropriately.
• Assist with performance review cycles and talent management initiatives.
• Support workforce planning, resource forecasting, and headcount tracking activities.
• Contribute to employee engagement and culture initiatives.
• Support implementation of people strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems, and employee experience.
• Contribute to HR transformation and automation initiatives.
• Assist in developing HR dashboards, reports, and people analytics.
• Support annual HR activities including budgeting, promotions, compensation reviews, and engagement surveys.
• Participate in cross-functional projects and firm-wide people initiatives.
• Produce regular HR reports and insights on headcount, turnover, recruitment, absence, and workforce trends.
• Maintain data integrity across HR systems and reporting tools.
• Support compliance, audit, and governance requirements through accurate documentation and reporting.
• Analyse people data to support decision-making and identify trends.

Skills

Employee lifecycle

Onboarding

Payroll administration

Visa & immigration

HR policies & compliance

Employee relations

Performance management

Workforce planning

People analytics

Data reporting

Job description

Grant Thornton UAE is seeking an HR Generalist to support HR Operations, People & Culture, and related enabling teams. You will manage the employee lifecycle, ensure compliance, and partner with managers across service lines to handle performance, planning, and people initiatives.

The role focuses on governance of HR processes, data accuracy, and employee relations while supporting the broader business objectives and workforce strategy.