People (HR) Manager - Dubai

Knight Frank MENA; Dubai; On-site; AED 240,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Knight Frank MENA is seeking an experienced People (HR) Manager to oversee day-to-day running of the People and administration department across the UAE. You will manage HR operations, employee lifecycle, onboarding, recruitment support and regulatory compliance, reporting to Head of People.

You will partner with leaders to implement regional HR strategies, develop training, performance management, and well-being initiatives, while ensuring governance, data protection and alignment with Knight

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field.
• Knowledge of UAE labour laws and regional business culture.
• Strong ICT skills and ability to use Knight Frank internal systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Fluency in English; Arabic or other languages advantageous.
• Willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee HR operations and employee lifecycle management.
• Ensure compliance with UAE labour laws and governance.
• Lead recruitment support and workforce planning.
• Drive performance management and development initiatives.
• Provide office management and administrative HR support.
• Partner with leadership to align HR strategy with business goals.

Skills

HR Management

Employee Lifecycle

Policy Compliance

People Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced People (HR) Manager to join our dynamic team and oversee day-to-day running of the People and administration department across the UAE. As a People Manager, you will be involved in all aspects of HR management including operations and implementing strategies and processes to align with the company’s goals and objectives. This position reports directly to the Head of People.

Responsibilities

HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle Management

• Oversee employee onboarding and orientation processes to ensure a seamless and professional integration of new hires into the organisation.
• Contribute towards the Regional People Strategic Plan and manage the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment support, onboarding, probation reviews, employee development and offboarding processes.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date HR records and documentation in accordance with company policies and data protection standards.
• Ensure the consistent application of HR policies, procedures and internal governance frameworks across the business.

Employee Relations & Workplace Culture

• Manage employee relations matters, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions and grievance procedures, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.
• Provide professional HR guidance and support to managers and employees on workplace matters, policies and best practice.
• Promote a positive, collaborative and high-performance workplace culture aligned with Knight Frank’s values.
• Design and implement well-being initiatives and employee engagement programmes to strengthen team cohesion, morale and company culture.
• Compliance & Regulatory Governance
• Ensure full compliance with labour laws and regulatory requirements in UAE, including employment contracts, working hours, leave entitlements and statutory obligations.
• Monitor changes in employment legislation and advise leadership on any required policy or procedural updates.
• Support internal audits and ensure HR processes remain compliant with corporate governance standards.

Talent Development & Performance Management

• Work with the Head of L&D and the wider leadership team to develop and implement training and professional development programmes that enhance employee capability and career progression.
• Assist in the implementation and management of performance management systems to drive productivity, accountability and employee engagement.
• Support managers in conducting performance reviews, objective setting and development planning.
• Act as a trusted HR partner to leadership, providing advice on organisational design, workforce planning and talent management, aligned to the regional strategic plans.
• Support the development and implementation of HR initiatives that align with the company’s business objectives and growth strategy.
• Analyse HR metrics and workforce data to provide insights that support informed decision-making and organisational improvement.

Recruitment & Workforce Planning

• Support the Talent Acquisition team and hiring managers with recruitment activities, ensuring recruitment processes are efficient, compliant and aligned with organisational needs.
• Assist in identifying workforce planning requirements and supporting talent acquisition initiatives as required.

Compensation & Benefits Administration

• Support the administration of compensation and benefits programmes, ensuring alignment with market practices and internal equity.
• Assist in salary benchmarking, promotions and reward-related processes in collaboration with leadership.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing office management, administrative and operational HR support across the business as required.
• Undertake additional duties as reasonably required to support the effective functioning of the HR department and wider organisation.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Understanding of regional business culture and labour law regulations.
• The ability to understand and make use of computers and information technology (Knight Frank internal systems).
• Software: Microsoft Office programs to an advanced/proficient level.
• Language skills: Fluency in English, written and verbal. Fluency in Arabic or other languages is advantageous.
• Travel: Flexible attitude towards travelling.