Human Resources Consultant - Dubai Campus

Role: HR Consultant

Grade: Grade 7

Appointment: Full-time, Open-ended

Department: HR Directorate

Reporting Line: Head of HR, Dubai Campus 

Location: Dubai Campus

About our School/Directorate and Team: The HR Dubai Team is part of the Global HR Directorate. Our purpose is to foster a fair, equitable and positive working environment and to support the University's strategic aims by enabling our people to be the best they can be – Add the new directorate purpose here once confirmed. We do this by working collaboratively with leaders, managers, and employees and aspire to create the right environment where every person can flourish and is supported to succeed.

Purpose of Role: The HR Consultant role, part of the Global HR Directorate, is based at the Dubai campus and supports a diverse workforce of over 400 employees, including both full-time staff and casual workers. While primarily supporting the Dubai team, this role is integral to the global team and involves collaboration with colleagues across all campuses on global issues.

This position focuses on delivering an efficient HR service aligned with the university's strategic needs. As a key advisor to Dubai campus managers, the role holder will provide expert HR guidance and collaborate with the UK team on casework, statistical analysis, and information sharing to enhance Employee Relations practices.            

The role will support the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures, and guidance in compliance with university policies, employment law, and industry best practices. This includes conducting research, analysing data, and designing initiatives to drive continuous process improvements and meet evolving business needs.

Detailed Description

• HR Operations Lead: Oversee and manage daily HR operations at the Dubai campus, while collaborating with HR consultants and HR Business Partners (HRBPs) across our global team. 
• Knowledge Sharing: Regularly meet with HRBPs, HR Consultants, and HR Managers across campuses to stay informed on changes in legislation, best practices, and key global HR activities.
• Client Partnerships: Build strong relationships with Heads of Schools and Professional Services Heads, and their management teams at the Dubai Campus and where appropriate more broadly, focusing on supporting the people aspects of their objectives.
• Support the Head of HR: Working closely with the Head of HR to integrate HR initiatives into the broader organisational strategy, promoting a cohesive approach to talent management and workforce planning. This includes identifying staffing needs and optimising resource allocation to meet organisational goals.
• Line Management of HR Advisor: Provide guidance and support to the HR Advisor, ensuring their activities align with organisational goals. Mentor them in delivering high-quality HR services and managing cases effectively, ensuring you are addressing complex issues with innovative solutions.
• Automation Solutions: Lead the evaluation and implementation of HR automation initiatives, identifying opportunities to streamline processes while ensuring alignment with operational needs. Ensure seamless integration with existing systems to create a cohesive HR ecosystem.
• Data Management and Analytics: Oversee the automation of data collection and reporting, leveraging analytics to improve decision-making, workforce planning, and talent management. Establish KPIs to measure the effectiveness of automated processes and adjust as needed.
• Customer Service and Continuous Improvement: Deliver excellent customer service while driving continuous improvements across the full range of HR services at the Dubai Campus.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Head of HR in actively engaging with all department heads and teams to understand their needs, providing tailored HR solutions that enhance performance and productivity across all areas at the Dubai Campus, while collaborating with global HR Consultants and Business partners to maintain standards and provide effective support to all Schools and Directorates. 
• Provide HR guidance on a range of employment issues, coaching and advising managers to enhance team performance and development, implementing a performance management process that fosters a culture of continuous feedback and improvement, and aligning individual goals with the University’s strategic goals. 
• Foster professional relationships within the institution, ensuring internal and external stakeholders across all campuses are managed at expected professional standards. 
• Support the HR workstreams for restructuring and growth initiatives, identifying HR risks and consulting with relevant teams to address them, facilitating discussions to support change aligned with university values and ensuring effective communication with stakeholders. Deliver training and development related to HR operational matters in line with organisational strategies 
• Contribute to the development and review of HR policies, ensuring alignment with the university’s strategic objectives, best practices, and compliance requirements; support equality and adapt policies to meet specific client area needs. 
• Identify and mitigate HR risks by advising staff and guiding line managers on HR policies, procedures, and compliance with employment laws. 
• Provide support on disciplinary, grievance, performance, and attendance management, this role would be required to communicate effectively on more complex information such as employment related issues and employment law issues when responding to queries from managers. 
• Collaborate with the UK team on casework, statistical analysis, and information sharing to enhance Employee Relations practices.
• Collaborate with the Recruitment and Organisational Development Specialist to ensure recruitment aligns with campus plans, operational goals, and service management. Stay well-informed on processes and policies to be able to provide coverage during leave or as required. 
• Promote ERP system adoption, serving as the primary contact for ERP queries and utilising Oracle Cloud ERP for reporting and analysis. Collaborate with the Global HRD team to align services and enhance the ERP HCM module by optimising workflows, forms, and functionality to support HR and University objectives. 
• Manage HR files and documents in compliance with data protection regulations, ensuring staff files are up-to-date and ready for reporting and data analysis as and when needed. 
• Conduct job evaluations as required (Training will be provided
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll processing by collaborating with the local Finance team, and UK payroll team to address payroll-related queries and ensure data accuracy. 
• Manage the annual Performance Review Pay (PRP) process in close collaboration with the HR Advisor to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation. This involves overseeing the entire lifecycle of the process and updating the Heads of Departments, accordingly, providing guidance when needed. 
• Support staff with performance review queries and guide managers on the process, conducting training annually ahead of the Performance and Development Review (PDR) period.
• Deliver consistent HR services through administrative support in key areas such as issuance of all types of contracts, attendance management, management of staff benefits like medical insurance, fee remission and education allowance and all other employee relations. Update and review employment templates to ensure compliance with legislation and suitability, proposing new templates as needed
• Work closely with the Head of HR to effectively manage the annual medical insurance renewal process, ensuring the organisation continues to provide comprehensive and competitive health coverage for employees 
• Ensure the helpdesk is regularly monitored and ensure responses are provided in a timely manner to all queries whether internal or external, meeting deadlines and exceeding expectations. 
• Lead the development and delivery of the HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) manual for all HR operations, collaborating closely with the HR Advisor. 
• Manage the onboarding process to ensure new recruits are smoothly integrated, remaining accessible to address any questions throughout their onboarding and Induction journey. 
• Identify and implement process improvements, stay informed on HR and business trends, and proactively drive initiatives to optimise HR processes. 
• Respond promptly to local and global audit queries, ensuring compliance with governance and audit standards.
• Promote open communication channels between management and employees, ensuring transparency and trust within the organisation. 
•  Regularly create digital content for the Dubai Campus and assume an editorial role for the monthly HR Newsletter for the University.
• Ability to liaise with HWUD legal advisers and other external bodies as appropriate for guidance and support in resolution of any employment relations issues. 

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the level of the post and its general responsibilities. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. Educated to first degree level or equivalent or equivalent practical experience in the workplace
2. Minimum of 5 years' experience in a HR Operations role
3. Strong Knowledge of the UAE Labour laws and employment practices
4. Experience of managing a team and/or managing a specific HR service with continual service improvement
5. Experience working at a Business Partner level and building strong relationships and internal networks
6. Demonstrable experience of managing change and delivering people related workstreams and longer-term workforce planning exercises
7. Demonstrable ability to operate in a complex and fast changing environment 
8. Demonstrated experience in influencing and coaching
9. Demonstrable ability to work in a complex, agile organisation 

Desirable

1. Chartered Member of CIPD
2. Project Management skills 
3. Knowledge of UK and/ or Malaysian employment legislation
4. Experience of operating in a complex global environment
5. Experience of Job Evaluation systems (HWU uses HERA)
6. Experience of cloud-based people systems as part of an integrated ERP system (e.g. Oracle)
7. Advanced knowledge of using Power BI, Power Automate and AI in HR operations. 

How to Apply

Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system attaching a Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete an on-demand-video interview as the first stage of the selection process. Successful candidates will then proceed to in-person formal interviews at our Dubai campus, where you will be asked to deliver a brief presentation on a relevant topic.  Following the formal interview, the preferred candidate will attend a second interview with senior staff at the Dubai campus before a final offer decision is made.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. 

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities, and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.