
Manager - People & Culture - Aldar Education
- Abu Dhabi
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Act as the lead HR business partner for multiple campuses.
- Provide strategic and operational HR support across the employee lifecycle.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies.
- Guide school leaders on employee relations, performance enablement, and policy implementation.
- Ensure full compliance with UAE Labour Law, ADEK regulations, and Aldar Education policies.
- Manage HR systems, data accuracy, reporting, and compliance documentation.
- Champion employee engagement, wellbeing, inclusion, and Emiratization targets
- Collaborate with school leadership to design and implement people strategies aligned to school priorities.
- Act as a strategic advisor to Principals on workforce challenges, resourcing, and succession planning.
- Represent assigned campuses in cluster-wide and group-wide P&C initiatives and audits.
- Lead end-to-end recruitment, including safer recruitment practices, interviews, and approvals.
- Ensure alignment with approved staffing and budget plans.
- Manage onboarding journeys: pre-arrival communication, ADEK pass and visa processes, induction, and system access.
- Liaise with HQ P&C, Public Relations, and Government Relations to ensure full regulatory and immigration compliance.
- Coordinate probation reviews and performance appraisal cycles in line with policy.
- Support Principals in identifying and addressing performance concerns.
- Update and align job descriptions with competency frameworks.
- Track and report on professional development and training activity.
- Lead investigations and manage employee relations cases with confidentiality and professionalism.
- Advise on disciplinary matters, grievances, and conduct concerns.
- Escalate high-risk or legal issues to HQ P&C and Legal as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate and confidential ER records and trackers.
- Oversee day-to-day HR operations including time & attendance, leave, staff files, and system updates.
- Issue employment contracts, contract renewals, salary letters, NOCs, and experience letters.
- Process staff exits, final settlements, and clearance documentation in coordination with HQ Payroll and School Ops.
- Maintain accurate organization charts and staffing reports across campuses.
- Monitor and report key HR KPIs including turnover, absence, Emiratization, recruitment activity, and compliance rates.
- Ensure HR systems reflect accurate headcount and staff movements.
- Provide ad hoc and scheduled reports to HQ P&C and SLTs.
- Drive employee engagement through feedback channels, recognition initiatives, and inclusion programs.
- Partner with SLTs to address staff wellbeing and morale.
- Support implementation of Aldar Education's diversity and inclusion agenda.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
- Related industry qualification, of graduate level, for the assigned functional area(s).
- Recognized HR Qualification and/or professional subscription (eg CIPD) desirable
- Minimum 5 years in HR or Recruitment in any industry;
- Education industry experience preferable
- Proven knowledge of UAE Labour Law and ADEK/KHDA compliance requirements.
- Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft 360 suite, ERP (Oracle, SAP, MS Dynamics).
- Strong organizational and prioritisation skills.
- Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage.
- Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive.
- Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.