Senior Executive Assistant / Office Manager

Confidential Company; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Abu Dhabi seeks a Senior Executive Assistant / Office Manager to provide essential support to the Founder. This role includes managing payroll, benefits, and office operations, ensuring that the workplace functions smoothly while allowing the Founder to focus on strategic priorities. The ideal candidate should possess strong organizational and communication skills, with a knack for conflict resolution and discretion in handling sensitive matters. This is not a senior leadership position, but it plays a vital role in supporting an efficient business operation.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills required.
• Experience managing payroll and benefits preferred.
• Ability to handle people matters diplomatically.

Responsibilities

• Support the Founder in administrative tasks.
• Manage attendance and employee grievances.
• Coordinate payroll and benefits administration.
• Oversee office logistics and needs.

Skills

Organizational skills

Discretion

Conflict resolution

Time management

Communication

Job description

Senior Executive Assistant / Office Manager

We’re looking for a highly organised Senior Executive Assistant / Office Manager to take HR and office-related matters off the Founder’s plate, allowing him to focus on clients, product, and market development. This role handles timekeeping, payroll checks, benefits, people issues, and office logistics, providing structure and follow-through. This is a hands-on execution role, not an Operations Director, Deputy Managing Director, or Project Manager position.

Key Responsibilities

1. Founder Support
   • Act as the primary point of support for all delegable matters, excluding direct client delivery and senior leadership decisions
   • Ensure tasks, requests, and decisions are tracked, followed up, and completed on time
   • Allow the Founder to step out of day-to-day admin
2. People Operations
   • Manage timekeeping, attendance, and related follow-ups
   • Handle people matters, personal grievances, and office politics calmly and diplomatically
   • Apply standards, diligence, and accountability consistently, particularly on critical tasks
   • Act as the buffer so people issues are resolved professionally without escalating to the Founder
3. Payroll, Benefits & Compliance
   • Coordinate and double-check payroll processing
   • Manage medical insurance, benefits, and agreed entitlements
   • Track home visit flights and allowances in line with policy
   • Liaise with external providers (payroll, insurance, HR platforms) as required
4. Office & Administrative Management
   • Oversee practical office needs, including chairs, desks, and ergonomic requirements
   • Phones and equipment (assessing necessity)
5. General office logistics
   • Ensure the office runs efficiently, fairly, and smoothly, supporting productivity and staff wellbeing
   • Resolve issues early so they do not become time-consuming or distracting for leadership

Ways of Working

• Maintain a friendly, informal, and respectful team environment
• Be firm on timekeeping, reliability, and follow-through
• Operate with discretion, consistency, and good judgment
• Exercise functional authority through role and process, not hierarchy

What This Role Is Not

• Not a Project Manager
• Not an Operations Director or Deputy MD
• Not a senior leadership role with broad business authority