HR Operations Manager

AppliedAI is a pioneering AI technology company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, committed to innovation and excellence in artificial intelligence solutions across regulated industries such as healthcare, insurance, government, and financial services.
As our HR Manager you'll lead the People Operations function for a fast-growing technology company, overseeing HR processes across the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through offboarding. The role owns the operational foundations required to support the company's growth and scale, leads a small HR operations team, and oversees the company's payroll processing.
This role suits someone who has operated in a fast-paced, changing environment, understands what \"good\" HR operations look like at scale, and can bring order, clarity, and structure without over-engineering.

Key Responsibilities
HR Operations LeadershipOwn end-to-end HR operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, contracts, probation tracking, employee changes, leave, and exitsLead and develop a small HR operations team, setting priorities, reviewing work, and building capabilityEnsure HR activities are delivered accurately, on time, and consistently, even in high-volume or changing conditionsAct as the escalation point for complex or sensitive HR operational matters raised by managers and employeesPayroll OversightOversee the company payroll process, managing the team member responsible for payroll processing and ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timelinessAct as the point of accountability for payroll governance, audits, and issue resolution, without directly processing payrollEnsure payroll processes are well documented and resilient to team changesAutomation & Process ImprovementIdentify opportunities to introduce automation and efficiencies across HR operations, from manual data entry to workflow handoffsEvaluate and implement HR systems, tools, and process changes that reduce manual effort and improve accuracyApply experience from fast-paced or scaling environments to identify what needs to be put in place (processes, templates, trackers, SOPs)Move HR operations from ad hoc to repeatable and scalable without slowing the business downOwn the implementation and day-to-day governance of People policiesDocument and standardise HR processes so they are easy for managers and the team to followEnsure policies and processes are applied consistently across teams and, where relevant, across jurisdictionsUAE & Global ContextApply strong working knowledge of UAE labour law to HR operations and ensure ongoing complianceOversee visa and employment documentation processesOperate confidently within a global People team, supporting multiple jurisdictionsSystems, Data & ReportingOwn HR systems and trackers, ensuring data accuracy, visibility, and control across the functionOversee HR reporting and audits, providing accurate and timely data to leadershipKeep HR operations organised, structured, and dependable as the team and company scaleKey

Requirements:
6-8+ years' experience in HR Operations, including prior experience managing or leading a teamExperience working in a fast-paced, high-growth, or changing environment, ideally in technologyExperience overseeing or managing a payroll function (direct payroll processing experience not required)Practical understanding of what HR foundations are required to scale (process, documentation, data discipline, automation)Experience working within the UAE employment contextStrong organisation, prioritisation, and communication skillsComfortable operating at both a hands-on and strategic levelPreferred

Experience:
Experience in tech, professional services, or scaling organisationsExperience leading HR systems implementations or operational improvement initiativesExperience supporting a regional or global workforceExperience managing payroll vendors or payroll system providersStructured but pragmatic: brings order without bureaucracyProactive: anticipates operational needs as the business growsDependable: trusted to keep HR operations running smoothly and lead others in doing the sameClear communicator: explains processes simply and confidently to managers, employees, and leadershipOwnership-oriented: takes responsibility for outcomes, including those delivered through othersOpportunity to work with a leading AI technology company.
Collaborative and innovative work environment.
Growing, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking culture.
Career growth and professional development opportunities.
Exposure to a thriving ecosystem working from our Abu Dhabi HQ.
Visa sponsorship for international candidates.