Sr. Specialist People Operations

talabat; Manama; On-site; BHD 15,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food delivery service in MENA is seeking a Sr. Specialist People Operations in Manama. This role involves driving HR strategies, enhancing employee experience, and managing HR compliance in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate has 4-6 years of HR experience and is a native Arabic speaker, passionate about fostering a strong people-first culture.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of experience in HR operations or related functions.
• Strong understanding of compensation and employment law.
• Proven project leadership in HR initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end HR support across various functions.
• Translate business needs into actionable people strategies.
• Champion employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives.

Skills

HR operations

Business partnering

Project management

Stakeholder management

Employee engagement

Change management

Data analysis

Native Arabic Speaker

Job description

Overview

When you think of food delivery in the MENA region, talabat is likely the first name that comes to mind. Established in Kuwait in 2004, we have rapidly expanded to become a leading player in the region. Today, we proudly facilitate the delivery of hundreds of millions of orders annually, ranging from food to groceries and other essential products, across countries with a dedicated team of 3K+ employees. Our vast network includes partnerships with more than 27K+ brands and nearly 50K branches. Notably, our innovative Quick Commerce platform, talabat Mart (tMart), revolutionizes grocery delivery, ensuring essentials reach our customers within just 30 minutes. At talabat, we are committed to fostering a sustainable ecosystem that benefits our customers, partners, team members, riders, and the communities we serve. Our #techforgood initiative exemplifies this commitment by enabling customers to effortlessly contribute to vital causes. Since launching in 2020, this program has facilitated the donation of over one million meals and contributed more than $1.5 million to charitable causes, enhancing food security and supporting well-being in the region. As a proud member of the Delivery Hero family, a global leader in online food delivery and q-commerce, talabat continues to innovate and lead in delivering excellence and convenience to our customers’ doorsteps.

Job Description

As a Sr. Specialist People Operations at Talabat, you’ll be at the heart of driving people strategies that enable business success. Acting as the vital link between our business teams and Centers of Excellence (CoEs), you\'ll bring a full-circle HR experience to the table—from partnering and performance to rewards and compliance. You\'ll lead employee experience initiatives, manage high-impact projects, and help drive transformation across the organization. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about building a strong, people-first culture, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

• 360° HR Delivery: Provide end-to-end HR support across talent management, total rewards, performance, and local labor law compliance.
• Be the Bridge: Act as the main connection point between business leaders and our Centers of Excellence (CoEs), translating business needs into actionable people strategies.
• Enhance the Employee Experience: Champion initiatives that foster engagement, recognition, and wellbeing across teams and functions.
• Project Management: Lead and deliver complex, cross-functional people projects—ranging from office expansions and restructuring to policy standardization and HRIS rollouts.
• Enable Change: Support organizational transformation by driving change management programs and coaching leaders through business pivots and restructuring.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure adherence to Bahrain labor law and regulatory frameworks, including contracts, visa processes, terminations, and dispute resolution.
• HR Reporting & Analytics: Leverage data to track people metrics, monitor attrition trends, support manpower planning, and deliver insights to leadership.
• Employee Relations: Act as a trusted advisor and escalation point for sensitive employee matters, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to conflict resolution.
• Drive Localization & Diversity Initiatives: Support nationalization efforts (e.g., Tamkeen programs) and lead diversity and inclusion projects aligned with business priorities.
• Policy & Process Improvements: Continuously review and enhance HR policies and SOPs to improve efficiency and employee experience.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of experience in HR operations, business partnering, or a related function.
• Strong grasp of HR fundamentals including compensation, employment law, employee engagement, and performance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and change initiatives end-to-end.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, can-do attitude.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable in fast-paced, high-growth environments with constant evolution.
• Native Arabic Speaker