Senior HR Manager

Parker Connect; Dubai; On-site; AED 240,000 - 384,000; Full time

Job summary

Parker Connect is seeking a seasoned HR Manager / Senior HR Manager for the UAE/GCC retail sector. You will drive HR strategy, partner with business leaders, and ensure UAE Labor Law compliance across the employee lifecycle.

Lead talent management, compensation, and HR operations in a multi-store retail environment, influencing store and head office teams with strong commercial acumen.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in human resources or related field required.
• 10–15+ years HR experience in UAE/GCC retail sector preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Labour Law and regulatory framework.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; stakeholder management.
• Experience managing multi-store retail workforce.

Responsibilities

• Strategic HR & Business Partnership with retail and corporate leadership.
• Oversee end-to-end employee lifecycle, recruitment, onboarding, engagement and performance.
• Ensure UAE Labour Law compliance and manage employee relations and disciplinary matters.
• Implement performance, learning and development, and succession planning frameworks.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, payroll coordination, and benchmarking.
• Develop HR policies, SOPs, and maintain audit-ready HR systems and analytics.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Education

Master's degree in HR or related field

CIPD/SHRM/HRCI-SPHR/GPHR or related certification

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned HR Manager / Senior HR Manager with extensive experience in the UAE/GCC retail sector. This role will be responsible for driving the HR strategy, partnering with business leaders, ensuring compliance with UAE Labor Law, and managing the complete employee lifecycle. The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial acumen, deep knowledge of regional labor regulations, and proven experience in retail HR operations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR & Business Partnership

• Act as a strategic HR Business Partner to retail and corporate leadership teams.
• Align HR initiatives with business objectives and retail expansion plans.
• Drive workforce planning, budgeting, and manpower optimization.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Oversee end-to-end employee lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, engagement, performance management, development, succession planning, and separation.
• Lead talent acquisition strategies for retail operations (store & HO).
• Develop retention and employee engagement initiatives.

UAE Labor Law & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with UAE Labor Law and GCC regulations.
• Manage employee relations matters, disciplinary processes, and grievance handling.

Performance & Talent Management

• Implement performance management frameworks.
• Drive learning & development initiatives across retail stores and head office.
• Identify high-potential talent and succession planning pipelines.

Compensation & Benefits

• Oversee payroll coordination, benefits administration, and reward strategies.
• Benchmark compensation structures within the retail industry.

HR Operations & Policies

• Develop, review, and implement HR policies and SOPs aligned with UAE regulations.
• Ensure HR systems and documentation are audit-ready.
• Lead HR reporting, analytics, and dashboards for management.

Requirements

• Master's degree in human resources, CIPD/SHRM/ HRCI- SPHR/GPHR or related field
• 10-15+ years of HR experience, with significant exposure to UAE/GCC retail sector.
• Strong working knowledge of UAE Labour Law and regulatory framework.
• Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills.
• Experience managing multi-store retail workforce.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Commercial Acumen
• Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution
• Leadership & Team Management
• Change Management
• Compliance & Governance
• Data-Driven Decision Making