Posted 1 week ago

Senior Manager, People Experience Middle East and Africa

EU010 Daniel J. Edelman Limited United Arab Emirates, Dubai, UAE
Onsite Full Time

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Job Description Core Accountability Areas: Integrated People Experience Delivery: The role is accountable for bringing together three core pillars into a single, cohesive service model: People Operations → efficient, accurate, scalable delivery Employee Relations → consistent, compliant, risk-managed case handling Enablement / Transformation → tools, processes and new ways of working People Operations Leadership Own end-to-end delivery of People Operations across assigned markets Ensure excellence across the employee lifecycle (joiners, movers, leavers, documentation, Workday) Drive standardization and scalability aligned to global processes Maintain high data integrity and effective use of systems (e.g. Workday) Act as escalation point for operational challenges Continuously improve processes to enhance efficiency and employee experience Employee Relations Leadership Continuously improve processes to enhance efficiency and employe experience Triage and escalate complex, sensitive and high-risk cases Ensure consistency and alignment with EMEA & Global ER standards Partner closely with SVP Employee Relations on: Escalations and risk mitigation Policy interpretation, development, and implementation Governance and consistency Building ER capability within the hub team Training and coaching local leadership on ER best practice Ensuring compliance with local labour laws across all markets Enablement and Transformation Delivery Partner with Enablement Lead to deliver transformation initiatives Support rollout and adoption of: Systems (e.g. Workday, People Portal) New processes and service models Translate global change into practical and effective regional implementation Identify opportunities for simplification, automation and continuous improvement Drive engagement and adoption of new ways of working Global Alignment and Local Delivery Ensure strong alignment with EMEA and global People strategy Act as a bridge between global design and local execution Adapt delivery to reflect: Local legislation Cultural nuances Market-specific operational needs Balance consistency vs flexibility to achieve both compliance and efficiency ServiceNow/ Data Insight Drive adoption and consistent use of ServiceNow across the hub Use data to proactively identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities Enable effective case management, workflow tracking and service visibility Ensure accurate and timely data capture to support reporting and decision making Leadership, Team Management and Cross-Hub Collaboration Act as a key partner to: People Partners Regional and market leads Legal and compliance teams Operate as part of a connected EMEA Hub network to: Share insights, align on standards and identify cross-regional risks Drive consistent application of policies, processes and tools Support cross-hub collaboration and resource flexibility Escalate systemic issues, multi-market risks and gaps in process, policy or tooling to EMEA Maintain strong, visible connection with EMEA functional leaders undefined Quality, consistency and risk management of ER cases Operational efficiency, accuracy and SLA performance Adoption and effectiveness of transformation initiatives Stakeholder satisfaction (HR and business leaders) Alignment between global strategy and local execution Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree or HR certification (SHRM/PHR) preferred. 8–10 years of progressive HR experience, ideally in professional services, PR, or communications sectors. Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices. Proven ability to influence stakeholders and build trusted partnerships. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution Fluency in English and Arabic required We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. It started with one man’s passion to make an impact through stories… 70 years later, we are the world’s largest communications firm, which fosters an environment where people feel empowered to take the kind of bold action that makes careers, reshapes industries, and creates the unexpected. We are one global team, over 6,000 strong across 60 offices, grounded by our shared values. We promise an experience where our employees see that boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. Since Dan Edelman founded the firm in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business, and our culture is one that brings understanding, collaboration, and respect to our work and to each other. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our clients, and our communities, and propel us forward as a company. At Edelman, we are in relentless pursuit of a fair and inspiring workplace that is respectful to all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust and collaboration. Each day and on each project, we strive to ensure that our colleagues feel a sense of true inclusion and belonging and can bring their best to their work— taking action and shaping impactful moments and movements within our company, on behalf of our clients, and within communities around the globe. The relentless pursuit of excellence The freedom to be constantly curious The courage to do the right thing The commitment to positively impact society. We grow our people We invite and celebrate differences Our reputation is our brand We’re global, yet local We offer more than just a career – we offer a place to grow, make a meaningful impact, and help drive change alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our culture is built on trust, innovation, and inclusivity, where unique perspectives are not only welcomed, but celebrated. At Edelman, your ambitions are supported, your voice matters and your work contributes to shaping the future of communications and clients’ business. Join our talent community to receive the latest DJE Holdings news and content, and to be notified when job openings match your skills and experience.

Skills and functions

  • Human Resources