HR Executive

Job description / Role

On behalf of Zimmermann, we are hiring for an HR executive to join our team in Dubai, who will be part of the growth of the brand in the Middle East.

Zimmermann is one of Australia's leading and most respected fashion designer brands. Zimmermann's ready-to-wear and swim and resort collections are sold through Zimmermann boutiques and high-end retailers both in Australia and internationally. We maintain stand-alone retail stores throughout Australia, Europe, UK, USA, and China and a successful online business.

What you'll be doing:

To provide end-to-end human resources support across the Middle East retail and corporate teams. This role partners with business leaders to deliver strategic and operational HR initiatives in recruitment, employee relations, learning & development, WHS, performance management, compliance, and administration. The HR executive/manager acts as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, ensuring consistent and high-standard employee experience aligned with Zimmermann's brand and values.

Broad areas of responsibilities will include:

1. Recruitment
   • Lead and coordinate recruitment processes in coordination with Chalhoub's TA teams across retail and corporate departments.
   • Partner with managers to understand talent needs, proactively build candidate pipelines, and manage job postings across platforms (e.g. Seek, LinkedIn, Z.Style Suite, Chalhoub job sites).
   • Conduct candidate screening, shortlist suitable profiles, and coordinate interviews and feedback collection.
   • Manage onboarding process in collaboration with Chalhoub's HR teams.
   • Liaise with recruitment agencies where necessary, negotiate terms, and ensure hiring compliance with prior approval and alignment with Chalhoub.
   • Champion diversity and inclusion throughout all recruitment activities.
   • Maintain recruitment documents and reports.
2. HR operations & generalist support
   • Serve as first point of contact for HR queries from both retail and corporate teams.
   • Maintain employee records, contracts, and documentation for audits and compliance.
   • Prepare HR documentation and administer offboarding processes.
   • Monitor compliance requirements across regions in collaboration with Chalhoub's local HR teams.
   • Partner with business stakeholders and Chalhoub to ensure new hires and exits are processed appropriately.
3. Employee relations & compliance
   • Provide timely advice and support to managers and employees regarding workplace issues, performance management, grievances, and disciplinary processes.
   • Conduct investigations, draft documentation, and ensure legal compliance in consultation with Head of HR and Chalhoub's HR teams.
   • Support formal feedback processes such as file notes, warnings, and termination documents.
   • Collaborate with retail and corporate leadership teams to build a positive and compliant workplace culture.
4. Payroll & HRIS administration
   • Coordinate with Chalhoub HR/payroll teams to ensure accurate and timely payroll updates (e.g. new hires, promotions, exits, leave).
   • Ensure all payroll-related data is accurately maintained.
   • Support in compensation benchmarking and legislative interpretation.
5. Learning & development
   • Coordinate training initiatives across both retail and corporate, including LMS management, compliance training, and onboarding sessions.
   • Support the annual appraisal process and assist in leadership development activities.
   • Assist in the development of training materials and coordinate external training providers.
6. Work health & safety (WHS)
   • Coordinate training initiatives across both retail and corporate, including LMS management, compliance training, and onboarding sessions.
   • Support the annual appraisal process and assist in leadership development activities.
   • Assist in the development of training materials and coordinate external training providers.
   • Promote a safe and compliant work environment across retail stores and corporate offices.
   • Manage injury reporting, WHS registers, and support workers compensation claims in collaboration with Chalhoub HR.
   • Ensure adherence to safety protocols and legislative obligations.
7. Special projects
   • Participate in or lead HR projects as directed by the Head of HR or Executive Leadership Team, including policy reviews, process improvements, and organizational change initiatives.

What you'll need to succeed

• Tertiary qualifications in human resources or related discipline.
• At least 2 years' experience in a similar role.
• Experience in the fashion industry (beneficial but not essential).
• Fluency in Arabic is mandatory for this role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• High level of organisational and time management skills.
• A thorough knowledge of MS Excel, MS Word, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of HR/payroll systems.

Key performance indicators:

• Efficient end-to-end recruitment with minimal time-to-fill.
• Strong relationships with stakeholders across retail and corporate.
• Timely resolution of employee relations issues in line with legal and internal guidelines.
• Compliance with payroll and WHS obligations.
• Consistent delivery of HR processes and procedures across the business.
• Successful coordination of onboarding, offboarding, and performance processes.

We invite all applicants to apply

It takes diversity of thought, culture, background, differing abilities, and perspectives to truly inspire, exhilarate, and delight our customers. At Chalhoub Group, we are committed to inclusion and diversity.

We welcome all applicants to apply and be part of our exciting future. We ensure equal opportunity for all our applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin, or disability status.

About the Company

The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the group has become a major player in the fashion, beauty and gift sectors regionally.

By blending its Middle East expertise and intimate knowledge of luxury, Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region, by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers through its passionate teams.

With a growing workforce of more than 9,000 people, implemented in 14 countries, as well as the operating of over 470 retail outlets, the group's success is attributed to its most valued asset of highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group's competitive edge in today's market.

By being committed to implementing sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group has been awarded in 2013 the CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.