HR Manager - Fit Out & Contracting Industry

About this opportunity

HR Manager – Contracting & Interior fit-out Industry *Industry:* Interior Fit-Out / Contracting / Construction *Location:* UAE *Experience:* Minimum 4–6 years of relevant HR experience, with strong UAE experience preferred *Employment Type:* Full-Time Role Overview We are looking for a hands-on and highly organized *HR Manager – *Contracting & Interior fit-out Industry to manage the complete HR function of a growing contracting and fit-out organization. The ideal candidate should have experience working in a *fast-growing or scaling company*, preferably within the UAE *interior fit-out, construction, MEP, maintenance, or contracting industry*. This is not a purely policy or administrative HR position. The HR Manager will be expected to take ownership of the *entire employee lifecycle*, HRMS operations, payroll inputs, attendance, workforce planning, visas, insurance, employee engagement, training and day-to-day HR operations. The role requires someone who is comfortable working closely with *management, project teams, engineers, supervisors, labour/workforce employees, finance and external service providers*. Key Responsibilities 1. Complete HR Operations Own and manage the day-to-day HR function across the organization, including: * Employee onboarding and offboarding * Employment documentation and employee records * New-joiner induction and orientation * Leave and attendance management * Employee confirmations and probation tracking * Employee transfers and changes * Exit formalities and clearance * HR letters and documentation * Employee grievances and disciplinary processes * Maintaining accurate and complete employee records Ensure HR processes remain structured and scalable as the company continues to grow. 2. Keka HRMS – End-to-End Ownership Take complete ownership of *Keka HR* as the company's HR operating system. Responsibilities include: * Employee database management * Attendance and clock-in/clock-out monitoring * Leave administration * Attendance regularization * Shift and work schedule management * Payroll preparation * Employee documentation * Onboarding and offboarding workflows * Reports and HR analytics * Ensuring employees and managers use the system correctly The HR Manager will be responsible for maintaining *data accuracy and discipline within Keka* rather than depending on manual HR processes. 3. Payroll Management Manage the HR side of the monthly payroll process. * Review attendance, leave, absences and Loss of Pay * Verify overtime and other payroll-related inputs * Prepare accurate monthly payroll information * Coordinate with employees/managers to resolve discrepancies before payroll closing * Submit finalized payroll information to the Finance team for salary processing * Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation * Continuously improve payroll accuracy and reduce last-minute corrections 4. Overtime Analysis & Workforce Cost Control Overtime should not simply be processed — it should be *tracked and analysed*. The HR Manager will: * Monitor overtime by employee, team and project * Identify unusual or repetitive overtime patterns * Analyse overtime trends and behaviour * Highlight excessive overtime to management * Work with Project Managers to understand the operational reasons behind overtime * Prepare periodic overtime reports and dashboards * Help management identify opportunities for better manpower utilization and workforce planning 5. Labour Workforce Planning & Daily Scheduling Work closely with Project Managers, Project Engineers and Operations teams to coordinate the company's labour workforce. Responsibilities include: * Coordinate the *daily allocation and scheduling of labour* * Understand manpower requirements across active projects * Align workforce availability with project priorities * Coordinate movement of workers between sites where required * Identify manpower shortages or excess capacity * Maintain visibility of where employees/workers are deployed * Support management with short-term and forward manpower planning The objective is to ensure the available workforce is *properly utilized across projects*. 6. UAE Visa, Insurance & Government-Related HR Coordination Manage and track all employee-related documentation and renewal requirements. Coordinate with approved *typing centres, PRO/service providers and insurance providers* for: * New employment visa applications * Visa renewals * Visa cancellations * Emirates ID processes * Medical fitness requirements * Labour-related documentation * Employee health insurance applications and renewals * Other employee-related government documentation Maintain a reliable tracking system with advance alerts to ensure *visas, IDs, insurance and other mandatory documents never expire due to missed follow-ups*. 7. Recruitment & Scaling Support the organization as it continues to scale its workforce. * Understand manpower requirements from management and project teams * Coordinate recruitment for office, engineering, technical and labour positions * Screen and shortlist candidates * Coordinate interviews with relevant managers * Prepare offers and onboarding documentation * Maintain recruitment pipelines for frequently required positions * Track hiring timelines and recruitment performance Preference will be given to candidates who have previously supported a company through a *significant growth/scaling phase*. 8. Induction, Training & Development Develop a structured induction and employee development process. Organize internal and external training covering areas such as: * Company policies and procedures * Keka HR and internal systems * Health & Safety awareness * Communication skills * Time management * Leadership and supervisory skills * Productivity improvement * Cybersecurity awareness * Professional conduct * Project/site coordination * Other training requirements identified by management Maintain a training calendar and track participation and effectiveness. 9. Employee Engagement & Team Building Plan and coordinate initiatives that strengthen collaboration and company culture. This includes: * Office team-building activities * Sports and recreational activities * Employee engagement initiatives * Recognition programs * Company events and celebrations * Employee feedback initiatives The HR Manager should actively contribute towards creating a workplace where *accountability, teamwork, ownership and performance* are encouraged. 10. HR Reporting & Management Information Provide management with meaningful HR information rather than simply maintaining records. Regular reporting should include: * Headcount * Attendance trends * Absenteeism * Overtime * Employee turnover * Recruitment status * Visa and insurance expiry status * Leave utilization * Payroll-related HR metrics * Workforce allocation * Training activities * Employee performance/disciplinary trends where applicable The HR Manager should use this information to *identify problems early and recommend improvements*. Candidate Profile The ideal candidate should have: * *4–6+ years of HR experience*, including several years of UAE experience * Previous experience in *interior fit-out, construction, MEP, facilities management, maintenance or another contracting environment* is strongly preferred * Experience working in a *growing/scaling organization* * Strong understanding of UAE HR operations and employment processes * Practical knowledge of UAE visa, Emirates ID, medical and insurance processes * Experience managing both *white-collar and blue-collar/workforce employees* * Experience with payroll, attendance and overtime management * Strong HRMS knowledge; *Keka HR experience is highly preferred* * Strong Excel/reporting and analytical skills * Good organizational and follow-up capabilities * Strong communication and interpersonal skills * Ability to coordinate simultaneously with management, Finance, Project Managers, engineers, supervisors and workers * Ability to work independently and take complete ownership of the HR function What We Are Looking For We are particularly interested in someone who does not see HR as only *recruitment, payroll and documentation*. We need an HR Manager who understands that in a contracting business, HR is closely connected with *project delivery, manpower availability, labour productivity, overtime costs, employee discipline and operational efficiency*. The successful candidate should be proactive, structured, data-driven and comfortable building processes while the organization continues to scale. Pay: AED4,000.00 - AED7,000.00 per month Work Location: In person