Manager - Rewards and Workforce Operations

About the role

Based at NMC Head Office in Abu Dhabi, this role combines financial analysis with rewards expertise and people leadership. It covers manpower and salary planning, approved and unbudgeted position controls, annual reward budgets, performance cycles, grading and benefits governance, and workforce reporting across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The incumbent manages a team of 3 and coordinates with about 25 colleagues across rewards, payroll, medical insurance and HR data management.

Key responsibilities

• Own the consolidated workforce budget control framework, tracking approved manpower, people costs, actuals, forecasts and variances by facility, cluster and job family
• Maintain position management governance using Position Classification Numbers (PCNs) and oversee creation, approval, activation, vacancy tracking and closure of positions
• Lead budgeting, workforce planning and phasing of employees, joiners, leavers and replacements, and reconcile recruitment plans with payroll impact
• Manage annual salary planning, increment cycles and the Annual Review Cycle (ARC) budget, including allocation, utilization and scenario modelling
• Analyse payroll and people cost trends with Finance and operational stakeholders
• Administer performance management processes, including goal setting, review cycles, calibration and linkage to recognition and reward decisions
• Design and evaluate employee recognition initiatives and clinically and nonclinically sustainable incentive or bonus schemes
• Oversee job evaluation, grading, salary structures, market benchmarking, pay equity and grade-linked benefits
• Develop frameworks for inter-business-unit transfers and maintain reward, grading and mobility policies, coordinating with Legal/Compliance on UAE employment requirements
• Deliver management dashboards and reporting on attrition, headcount, recruitment progress, vacancy ageing, position utilization, workforce movements and reward spending
• Improve data quality and reporting controls across HRIS, position management, payroll and planning systems, and drive Excel/Power BI automation
• Prepare business cases and executive presentations for HR and business leadership, and lead, coach and develop 3 direct reports

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline (mandatory)
• Master's degree or MBA preferred; CCP/GRP or equivalent rewards qualification advantageous
• 10-15 years of progressive experience in rewards, compensation and benefits, workforce planning, HR operations or people cost management, including team leadership
• Experience in a large multisite or multi-entity UAE organization; healthcare sector experience strongly preferred
• Management consulting or rewards advisory experience desirable; proven partnership with Finance and senior business stakeholders preferred

Required skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and financial forecasting
• HRIS and workforce systems (Oracle preferred), Power BI and data visualization
• Working knowledge of UAE employment legislation and emirate-specific requirements