Assistant Manager - Talent Partner

Seddiqi Holding is a Family-owned and managed company with a unique, diversified portfolio of businesses and brands across numerous sectors. The business includes Ahmed Seddiqi, Seddiqi Properties, Swiss Watch Services and Mizzen.

We are looking to hire an Assistant Manager - Talent Partner to support the respective Head to ensure effective and efficient HR support, advice, consultation, and guidance is delivered to business unit. The role is responsible to implement initiatives in alignment with Business Unit’s and HC Department’s strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Management

• Act as talent partner and the focal point of contact for all employees within designated portfolio and collaborate with all HC functions, to ensure value-added and timely services are provided to employees.
• Responsible for the Implementation of HC initiatives, strategies and corporate guidelines across business units; ensuring consistency, efficiency and value.
• Build and sustain a valuable relationship with leadership members and managers in own business units to ensure proper implementation of HR practices and provide the necessary support to meet current and future business objectives.
• Act as an employee advocate to address individual or group concerns and escalate unresolved issues to TPH.
• Work closely with key stakeholders, managers, and team leaders to maintain an engaged workforce and retain top talent.

Manpower Planning & Talent Acquisition

• Provide support to the Head in coordinating and finalizing the annual manpower planning process and own the manpower planning and tracking for their own assigned business units.
• Prepare dashboards and reports that include trend and ratio analysis of norms for predicting future manpower plans and forecasted HR budgets based on trends and historical data analysis.
• Take the lead on maintaining alignment between the approved manpower plan and the recruitment needs of the business guiding the Talent acquisition on the manpower requirements.
• Work with the line managers to finalize recruitment requisitions and talent requirements for the review of the TPH and HOD.
• Work with the Talent Acquisition team and the business to organize the selection process, participates when necessary in the interview and assessment process.
• Follow up with Talent acquisition and Onboarding team to ensure that the recruitment, selection and onboarding process occurs as per the set timelines, escalating any issues or expected delays while keeping the business updated.
• Understand additional non-budgeted work force requirement and provide support to Hiring Manager to submit their business justifications for approvals in line with internal standards.
• Maintain accurate documentation, files, and records of approved budget, RRFs, JDs and special approvals in line with internal standards.
• Collaborate with TPH and TA to execute talent acquisition initiatives such as recruitment campaigns, Emiratization etc.

Organizational Design

• Provide support and inputs to TPH on restructuring activities and ensure proper documentation of approved structures and structural changes.
• Work with line managers on job specifications, complete job description questionnaires and draft job descriptions for the review of the TPH and HODs.
• Propose and implement change management initiatives to support organizational/departmental restructures, and job redesign.
• Manage the process of internal displacement resulting from business restructuring in coordination with TPH, Talent acquisition and employee experience

Talent & Development

• Provide insights and feedback on training and development needs based on specific job and team requirements through continuous monitoring of employee performance and analysis of statistical data collected from exit interviews, incident management and grievances.
• Support the implementation of T&D initiatives by executing data gathering, progress tracking and measurement, to ensure accurate evaluation of performance.

Performance & Talent Management

• Advocate a performance-driven culture by ensuring continuance monitoring and timely reporting of performance gaps in relation to set KPIs, business plans and strategies.
• Track and ensure completion of annual Performance Management cycle for the respective business unit/s ensuring objective setting, mid-year, and year-end reviews are completed in line with HR Policy and the agreed timelines.
• Track, analyze and provide periodic reporting on progress of monthly, quarterly, and annual performance results to TPH and Line managers.
• Utilize performance data, performance trends and history to make recommendations and facilitate talent development decision making.
• Administer performance issues and related disciplinary actions in line with HC Policy, DOA and Disciplinary Offence Table and maintain the relevant documentation and trackers.
• Work with the HPBP and Line Managers to formulate and implement performance development plans for high potential and improvement plans for underperforming employees.
• Contribute with inputs on succession planning and retention strategies for key talent and critical positions within the business unit

Ongoing Rewards Management

• Support HC Systems & Rewards team in administering payroll by providing a monthly submission of updates affecting employee benefits.
• Contribute with feedback and inputs from the business and employees on existing Seddiqi rewards programs and market trends.
• Support HC System & Rewards team and TPH in the execution of annual salary and benefit review activities.

Employee Relations:

• Mediate and resolve employees’ grievances or queries and provides support.
• Administer operational and employee related incidents reported to the HC department.
• Take the necessary actions to investigate any reported grievance or incident, recommend appropriate disciplinary actions in line with HC Policy, DOA and Disciplinary Offence Table and HCD SLAs and maintain appropriate tracking of employee disciplinary history.
• Conduct disciplinary meetings (formal or informal) with Line managers in line with HR policy.
• Support the TPH in communicating organizational messages within the respective business unit/s.
• Monitor respective business units’ attendance and absenteeism levels, escalate to the TPH and recommend necessary actions to improve it.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and other requirements and escalate any breaches to the attention of the TPH.
• Manage employee special requests requiring evaluation and validation to make recommendations on exception to HC policy and secure documented approvals as per HC policy and DOA.
• Responsible for initiating the TPH SAP actions as per HC policy and DOA.
• Provide support to TPH, Line Managers and HODs to identify retirement lists on annual basis to submit for approval; and manage the communication plan with retiring employees.

Employee Experience

• Coordinate with the employee experience and Talent &Development team to ensure new employees are promptly inducted and given support to become productive contributors to the business.
• Work closely with TPH, management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale and increase productivity and retention.
• Support the execution of HC employee happiness strategy and initiatives and provide regular updates on responses to enhance employee experience throughout the employee Lifecyle.
• Support the execution of employee recognition programs in line with the HR Strategy, plan and approved policy.
• Manage the resignation acceptance process by understanding the underlying reasons of resignations, reviewing historical performance, identifying regretted losses, and making recommendation to retain talent.
• Conduct exit interviews for all voluntarily departing employees. Track, report and analyze data collected and report to TPH and HOD periodically.
• Monitor and examine staff turnover to provide insights and analysis of patterns and escalate any alarming trends.

HC Policy & Procedures

• Receive employee Feedback/Suggestions on HC policies and consolidate findings for TPH review.
• Collaborate with relevant HR teams for the development and updating of policies, procedures, and Departmental SOPs.
• Assist in administering, implementing, communicating, and provide support in the interpretation of HR policies.
• Plan and deliver awareness sessions on new and existing HR policies, HR guidelines and initiatives.

In order to be successful in this role, you should have:

• 8-10 years years job related experience, of which 4+ years in an HR Generalist role
• Strong employee relations experience and a full understanding of current employment legislation.
• Experience in retail, hospitality or any customer service industry is an advantage
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Human Resources/Psychology or closely related discipline
• Professional Certification in HR desirable
• Fluent/Native English - Verbal & Written.

If you are ready for your next challenge, Apply Now!