Job Description

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape.
The Senior Human Resources Manager (SHRM) reports to the Associate Director of HR, EMEA (ADHR), who based in London. They will also work in close collaboration with the Director of Operations Middle East and APAC (DOO), and the HR teams in London and the US. The SHRM is a key member of the Firm's HR team and provides subject matter expertise to the Middle East and APAC (MEA) offices on HR matters with a particular focus on HR compliance and employee relations. The SHRM will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing HR initiatives that align with our business objectives. This position requires a strategic thinker with extensive experience in HR management, who can navigate the complexities of the MEA labor market and cultural landscape.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:• Keeps the ADHR informed of HR-related operational issues, personnel issues, and initiatives.
• Responsible for managing all employee relations activity in the MEA and providing expert HR advice to various stakeholders.
• Manage complex disciplinary and grievance procedures; conducting unbiased and thorough investigations, gathering and analyzing evidence and information related to the investigation, interviewing involved parties individual, documenting findings, compiling reports, and making recommendations based on the investigation results, collaborating with ADHR and legal to determine appropriate actions or resolutions and drafting outcome reports and letters for ADHR and legal approval.
• Provide advice, guidance, training, and assistance to line managers to resolve employee related problems and conflicts.
• Working with the ADHR and DOO, advise on and develop HR related policies based on local legal and regulatory requirements and provide ongoing reviews of policy handbooks for the MEA offices to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide assistance and guidance to management team in legal aspects of hiring, including reference checking, screening of resumes, eligibility to work and preliminary interviews.
• Oversee the compliance of statutory records in accordance with the UAE and Saudi Ministries. Assist the Office Manager with obtaining immigration and visa legal advice, authorized visas and resident permits under the firm's license agreement or other approved authorities.
• Manage the day-to-day administration of various immigration matters, including those seconded or transferred within the Firm to or from MEA.
• Offer advice and expertise on all local relocation to the MEA offices.
• Provide guidance and support to personnel transferred from and to other offices, to include payroll arrangements, tax and insurance submissions and reporting, tax dispensations, insurances and benefits, where required.
• Coordinate with Office Managers on Legal Practice Assistant allocations, coverage, recruitment and development.
• Liase with employment agencies for administrative staff recruitment. Negotiate fee structure for temporary and permanent placements and seek approval from ADHR and Chief HR Officer.
• Prepare job specifications, where required. Interview and screen applicants for staff and management positions.
• Work with the International HR team, DOO and local Office Manager on preparation of all offer letters, documentation for background/conflict checks, and induction paperwork for all new joiners.
• Oversee the orientation and onboarding for all newly hired employees and contractors, as well as the offboarding process for all leavers.
• Work with the Director of Benefits and International Benefits Manager on local benefits administration, including ensuring compliance with local legislation, communicating benefits plans and programs to employees, and solving benefit problems of employees.
• Request personnel related reports from the HRIS team when required. Maintain confidentiality of firm and personnel information.
• Participate in annual salary and benefit surveys to ensure competitive pay at K&S. Analyze survey results and make recommendations of salary adjustments if necessary.
• Assist the ADHR and DOO in the annual evaluation process of support staff. Provide recommendations for annual salary increases for staff using local salary survey data.
• Oversee new employee 90-day review process; arrange review meeting with employee and manager, and if needed any probationary extensions.
• Liaise with relevant Partners, Office Managing Partner and Managers to confirm that fee earner and support staff probations have been passed and confirm such to all employees.
• Conduct exit interviews for MEA lawyers and staff. Provide exit interview feedback to ADHR, Chief HR Officer, Office Managing Partner, and others, as needed.
• Assist the ADHR and DOO where required to ensure compliance with signed compromise and settlement agreements, particularly ensuring agreed confidential references are provided.
• To assist in the workload, where appropriate, in the absence of the ADHR.
• Assist the International HR team with the input of Workday information as directed by the Office Manager for joiners, leavers, maternity, paternity and parental leave, jury service, benefit and loan deductions, settlement agreement administration, etc.
• Conduct Workday training as part of new hire orientation and ensure that rules and policies regarding clock-in / clock-outs are adhered to.
• Oversee any work experience candidate placements and make the necessary arrangements to ensure compliance and conflict clearance for such.
• Perform other duties as assigned by ADHR and Director of Operations Middle East & APAC.


REQUIREMENTS:• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Employee Relations, Human Resources or related field.
• 5+ years of professional Human Resources management experience, ideally with a direct experience in a partnership or professional services environment, including 2 years in employee relations.
• Fluent in written and spoken Arabic and English is required.
• Solid working experience of the principles and practices of employee relations, labor laws, and regulations specific to the Middle East and APAC.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in areas such as organizing, problem solving, planning and decision making.
• Working knowledge of Workday is preferred.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with firm personnel at all levels.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive matters with discretion.
• Ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to multitask and provide hands on service to get the job done.


OTHER:• The role is based in our Dubai office, although it will require travel to the Abu Dhabi and Riyadh offices. The core work hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Due to the nature of the work associated with this position, it may require additional time beyond the standard work week.
• Be available to work extended hours as necessary to ensure that the work needs of the firm are met.
• Ability to assume additional responsibilities as they arise.


The Firm offers a generous total compensation package with annual bonus in recognition of individual merit-based performance.
King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law.
We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.