Junior HR Business Partner

Job description / Role

Company

Al Futtaim Private Company LLC

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Groupu2019s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

The HRBP oversees day-to-day HR operations at the assigned IKEA store, acting as a strategic partner and advisor to the Store Manager and Management Team. The role is crucial in aligning HR initiatives with business objectives to drive employee engagement, operational excellence, and organizational effectiveness. The HRBP implements HR strategies focused on talent development, workforce planning, performance management, and fostering a culture in line with IKEA values and business priorities.

What you will do

• Translate the IKEA People Strategy into a store-specific strategy aligned with Al Futtaim Retail People strategy.
• Design and recommend an organization structure for the store to ensure efficient performance.
• Accountable for the manpower cost and budget planning, ensuring effective utilization of resources.
• Conduct annual manpower budgeting exercises accurately and efficiently.
• Establish and maintain a values-driven store culture, supporting recruitment, development, and promotion.
• Partner with store leadership to identify talent needs and develop recruitment strategies.
• Support the hiring process to ensure the store is staffed with qualified and motivated coworkers.
• Manage both internal and external recruitment processes, ensuring alignment with values and culture fit.
• Act as a point of contact for coworker concerns and grievances, facilitating fair resolutions.
• Advise, coach, and mentor management on people-related issues.
• Ensure compliance with HR policies, local labor laws, and Group policies throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Guide store management in performance appraisal processes and mentor managers on enhancing leadership skills.
• Develop succession plans and support continuous improvement opportunities for coworkers.
• Collaborate on organizational changes for operational efficiency and coworker satisfaction.
• Lead change management and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on the store level.
• Develop initiatives to enhance employee engagement, recognition, and retention, including managing engagement surveys.

What you will need

• 3-5 years of experience in HR business partnering, with experience in the retail industry.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to blend context and content in decision-making.
• Proficient in budget planning, business acumen, data analysis, project management, and change management.
• Experience with SAP, HRIS, and other HR-related software.
• Strong influencing, communication, and engagement skills with the ability to coach and mentor others.

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest global partners of Marks and Spenceru2019s in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion and food options.

Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference.

About Al-Futtaim IKEA

Growing together...

We are a values-driven company with a passion for life at home. Our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people.

Al-Futtaim IKEA holds the franchise rights for IKEA in Egypt, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.