HR & Government Relations Officer

Role overview

The HR & Government Relations Officer oversees all daytoday HR operations and government processes for the school, ensuring compliant, consistent, and peoplecentred practices. The role combines HR administration, employee relations, visa/Iqama processing, onboarding and welfare, and the upkeep of policies and staff records. It is primarily operational and executionfocused , with close collaboration across leadership, the project team, and the sister school.

You will be the sole HR professional on site , working mostly with the Head of School (and at times the Project Manager ), and coordinating with HR/finance peers within the SEK network in Saudi Arabia.



Key responsibilities

Recruitment, eligibility & contracts (smaller part of the role)

• Screen candidates for visa/eligibility (age, nationality, qualifications, role alignment)
• Coordinate interviews where time allows (posting roles is desirable but not core)
• Issue/coordinate employment contracts, ensuring job titles and terms match visa requirements
• Support leadership to ensure offers and conditions are clear and consistent
  
  

Conduct, performance & culture

• Maintain and update the Staff Handbook; ensure staff acknowledge receipt and understand expectations (dress code, punctuality, professional conduct, cultural norms)
• Lead (in consultation with leadership) verbal/written warnings, disciplinary meetings, and documentation of underperformance—ensuring a fair, consistent process with a witness present
• Act as the first formal point of contact for staff concerns, ensuring resolution pathways are clear and documented
  
  

Government relations & sponsorship (Saudi context)

• Manage endtoend work visa processes, entry/exit permissions, and Iqama logistics for international staff
• Coordinate with external visa agents contracted by candidates; guide and escalate when issues arise
• Ensure job titles, qualifications, contracts, and visa categories align to avoid application delays
• Navigate required government platforms and procedures; keep leadership updated on timelines and requirements
  
  

Onboarding, arrival logistics & staff welfare

• Provide prearrival briefings (shipping belongings, pets, what to pack, travel notes, registering children at school)
• Collect arrival details, arrange security clearance and site access, meet staff on arrival, and handover accommodation access (with Project Manager support for allocations and readiness)
• Explain benefits, medical insurance, and leave entitlements; manage absence requests and related documentation (operational dayof sickness is handled by leadership for cover)
• Offer cultural orientation for living and working in Saudi Arabia; curate local practical information (shopping, services, facilities) to help staff settle smoothly
  
  

Records, systems & compliance

• Maintain complete and secure HR files (contracts, visas, Iqamas, warnings, leave, attestations)
• Ensure alignment with Saudi labour law, preparing documentation for audits/inspections and internal reviews
• Uphold confidentiality and data protection across all HR processes; ensure consistent, evidencebased recordkeeping
  
  

Exit and offboarding

• Manage endofservice processes (notice periods, documentation, final payments coordination with finance, exit permits, visa/Iqama cancellation)
• Ensure offboarding is compliant, smooth, and properly documented
  
  

Collaboration & ways of working

• Report primarily to the Head of School; coordinate with the Project Manager depending on project phase
• Align protocols with the sister school and seek guidance/escalation from SEK’s Saudi HR/finance colleagues where appropriate
• Ensure consistent messaging to staff: HR participates in or leads all conversations that define working conditions, so expectations remain clear and aligned
  
  

Experience, skills & profile

• At least 5–8 years of relevant HR experience, ideally within Saudi Arabia and with government relations/sponsorship responsibilities
• Proven experience managing visas, Iqamas, and government processes with external agents and platforms
• Strong track record in employee relations, conduct/discipline processes, and HR documentation
• Highly organised, discreet, and calm—able to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and sound judgment
• Clear communicator who can explain rules, steps, and decisions in plain language and follow through proactively
• Arabic: required (to navigate government processes); English: required (for daily communication with leadership and staff)
  
  

Why join us?

• Shape HR operations and government processes from the ground up in a new international school
• Make a direct impact on staff wellbeing, consistency, and compliance during a critical startup phase
• Collaborate with an experienced sister school and the SEK network while owning onsite delivery
• Work in a unique, valuesdriven community within a worldclass development
  
  

Salary is based on relevant qualifications and experience. Accommodation is also provided as an additional benefit and included for staff at no additional cost.