Senior Manager â HR Policies & Employee Relations

PricewaterhouseCoopers; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational professional services firm in Dubai is seeking a Senior Manager for Human Capital to lead employee relations and policy governance. The role requires 12 years of experience in HR and policy compliance, with a strong understanding of Middle Eastern labor laws. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical and leadership skills. Attractive compensation and work environment offered.

Qualifications

• 12 years of progressive experience in Human Capital or Compliance.
• 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of labor laws in the Middle East, specifically in the UAE.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and governance of employee relations practices.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• Implement compliance policies and ensure alignment with labor law.

Skills

Compliance Management

Employee Relations Law

Conflict Resolution

Analytical Thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor Degree – Human Resources Management

Bachelor Degree – Business Administration

Bachelor Degree – Business Law

Job description

Overview

PwC Middle East – Internal Firm Services (IFS) – Human Capital (HC) – Senior Manager. We are a network of firms in 152 countries with more than 328,000 people committed to delivering world-class capabilities and quality in assurance, tax, and advisory services. PwC Middle East employs over 10,000 people across 12 countries and provides tailored solutions to meet challenges and opportunities in the region. This role sits within the People Experience function and focuses on employee relations, policy design and governance, and enabling a positive and compliant employee experience across the region.

We pursue Trusted Leadership and Distinctive Outcomes, values that guide our work and interactions. Trusted Leadership emphasizes building trust, delivering sustained outcomes, and acting with courage and honesty. Distinctive Outcomes emphasize excellence, collaboration, and inclusiveness. We seek self-aware, collaborative individuals committed to continuous learning and delivering quality and integrity.

Job Summary: As a senior member of the People Experience function, you will lead the design, implementation, and governance of employee relations practices and people policies across the region. This role blends strategic advisory, policy transformation, and employee relations leadership to ensure policies and practices are compliant, risk-managed, clear, accessible, and people-centric. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, balancing firm reputation and compliance with the employee experience, and aim to simplify, standardize, and foster a proactive culture while meeting regulatory and governance standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Employee Relations (ER)
• Provide strategic advisory on complex and sensitive employee relations matters including grievances, investigations, disciplinary cases, counseling, and terminations
• Lead and coach the HC team in conducting investigations ensuring fairness, consistency and timeliness
• Partner with Ethics, Legal and Risk teams to manage high-risk cases and ensure alignment with labor law, firm values, and code of conduct
• Introduce proactive ER initiatives (manager training, awareness sessions, ER toolkits) to prevent issues and strengthen trust and culture
• Oversee ER analytics and reporting, identifying trends and recommending actions that enhance employee experience and mitigate risk

• Policies & Compliance
• Lead the design, revamp, and simplification of people policies ensuring they are globally aligned, locally compliant, accessible, and written in clear, inclusive language
• Digitize and centralize policy access improving visibility and usability across the region
• Stay abreast of regional labor law changes; act as the focal point for communicating and embedding regulatory updates into policies and practices
• Serve as the point of contact for all HC-related internal and external audits
• Ensure policies reinforce the firm’s values, culture, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Governance & Strategic Enablement
• Establish and maintain operating procedures, governance frameworks, and reporting dashboards for ER and policy compliance
• Use data and employee feedback to continuously improve policies and ER processes
• Connect ER and policy insights to broader People Experience initiatives (engagement, wellbeing, onboarding) to enhance the employee lifecycle
• Partner with senior stakeholders to balance business needs, employee experience, and compliance

Required Experience & Competencies

• 12 years of progressive experience in Human Capital (HC), HC Governance or Compliance, preferably within multinational or matrixed organizations
• 5 years in a senior leadership role with proven experience in policy design, compliance strategy, and cross-functional collaboration
• Hands-on experience managing complex and sensitive employment matters including investigations and litigation cases
• Deep knowledge of labor laws across the Middle East region (UAE, KSA, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Qatar)
• Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and act as a trusted advisor
• Experience in simplifying, digitizing, and modernizing HR policies
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical skills and sensitivity to employee experience and firm reputation
• Ability to build credible rapport with leadership and employees and to manage situations requiring discretion and trust
• Fluency in English & Arabic

Expected Skills & Behaviors

• Demonstrates thought leadership in HC policies and compliance, setting a high standard for ethical conduct and governance
• Cultivates a culture of integrity and transparency across the organization
• Communicates complex policy matters with clarity and conviction, inspiring trust among stakeholders
• Encourages ownership and accountability by fostering a compliance-first mindset
• Continuously monitors regulatory changes and industry trends to keep policies current and future-ready
• Drives innovation in compliance practices through digital tools, automation, and data-driven insights
• Advocates for fair and inclusive workplace practices through robust policy frameworks
• Establishes strong cross-functional partnerships with Legal, Risk, Audit, and HR teams to ensure seamless policy implementation
• Builds scalable compliance frameworks that support regional and global expansion

Education

Degrees/Field of Study required or preferred: Bachelor Degree – Human Resources Management; Bachelor Degree – Business Administration; Bachelor Degree – Business Law

Certifications

Not specified

Required Skills

Compliance Management, Compliance Management Systems, Conflict Management, Conflict Negotiations, Conflict Resolution, Management, Employee and Labor Relations, Employee Relationships, Employee Relations Law, Employee Relations Programs, Employment Litigation, Governance Framework, HR Employee Relations, HR Policy Development, Human Resource Practices, Human Resources Best Practices, Human Resources Policies, Labor and Employment Law, Labor Rights Policy Design, Policy Setting, Risk Mitigation

Optional Skills

Active Listening, Analytical Thinking, Coaching and Feedback, Communication, Complaint Management, Confidential Information Handling, Conflict Resolution, Contract Dispute Resolution, Contract Interpretation, Creativity, Developing Policies and Guidelines, Disciplinary Procedures, Embracing Change, Emotional Regulation, Empathy, Employee Data Management, Employee Surveys, Handling Sensitive Information, HR Policies, Inclusion, Influence

Languages

Arabic, English

Travel Requirements

Not Specified

Available for Work Visa Sponsorship

Yes

Government Clearance Required

Yes