Talent, Payroll, and Operations Senior Specialist

Overview

department

Employee Experience & Culture

• Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture aligned with the school’s mission and values.
• Lead employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives.
• Support leadership teams in strengthening staff morale, communication, and retention.
• Coordinate employee recognition and appreciation programs.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Lead recruitment processes for academic and non-academic positions.
• Coordinate workforce planning aligned with school growth and staffing requirements.
• Partner with school leaders on hiring strategies and staffing approvals.
• Ensure positive candidate experience and timely hiring processes.
• Support succession planning and internal talent development initiatives.

Payroll Oversight & HR Operations

• Oversee payroll preparation and validation processes in collaboration with the Payroll Specialist.
• Ensure payroll accuracy, deadlines, and confidentiality standards are maintained.
• Monitor HR operational workflows and identify process improvement opportunities.
• Support budgeting, staffing analysis, and workforce cost tracking.

HR Systems, Reporting & Data Management

• Maintain HR metrics, reports, dashboards, and employee data accuracy.
• Analyze workforce trends and provide HR insights to leadership.
• Support HR audits, reporting requirements, and documentation controls.

Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement

• Develop and standardize HR operational procedures.
• Ensure HR workflows are efficient, documented, and scalable.
• Support cross-training initiatives and business continuity planning.
• Collaborate with all HR functions to improve delivery service.

Compliance & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Overseas and collaborate with the Public Relations Officer on:
• + Visa processes
• + KHDA compliance
• + Government approvals
• + Employee onboarding compliance
• + Ensure HR operational practices align with UAE labor law and school requirements.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide guidance and operational support to HR team members.
• Collaborate with members of the HR team, the Finance Department, School Leadership Team
• Support strategic HR initiatives and institutional growth plans.

Schoolwide Responsibilities

• Openly support and abide by all school policies and procedures
• Model ASD Values in interactions with the school community

Required Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, or a related industry qualification at the graduate level
• Minimum 5–8 years HR experience, preferably within schools or international education
• Experience in employee relations and people operations
• Familiarity with UAE labor laws and KHDA requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized HR Qualification and/or professional subscription (eg CIPD) desirable

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Sound working knowledge of UAE Labour Law.
• Competent using IT systems, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Word/Excel, employment management systems (e.g. Odoo).
• Strong organizational and prioritisation skills.
• Experience liaising with government bodies in the UAE as well as a working knowledge of HAAD and Immigration requirements and processes.
• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral; Arabic proficiency is desirable)
• Attention to detail with diligent follow up, and able to execute in a timely manner.
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.
• Organizational ability, of self and others.
• Forethought and forward planning (particularly as this relates to local Government compliance matters).
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Represent ASD with colleagues, parents, students, and broader school community in a professional manner.
• Terms of Employment:
• This position is a year round role, staff position.
• General working hours are from 7:45 am - 3:45 pm, Monday through Thursday and 7:45 am - 12:15 pm (on site) & 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm (remote/flexible) on Fridays.
• In some cases, flexibility with work hours is requested to meet the needs of the role.
• *Friday is considered as a full working day for employees and the school reserves the right to*
• *schedule afternoon meetings and/or events where the employee’s presence is required.*
• *Employees should plan to be available and ready to respond to work-related requests on*
• *Friday afternoons unless an approved leave of absence has been applied for and approved*
• *through the usual and customary leave request process in advance.
• Any absence on a*
• *Friday will be considered a full-day absence.*
• ASD employees are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students.
• All
• employees agree to abide by all child protection policies and procedures and agree to
• participate in all child protection training as mandated by the School as a condition of
• employment.
• Criminal background checks will be conducted on all candidates prior to confirmation of
• employment.