Talent & Operations Manager

Please read the full role before applying. If the requirements below do not describe you or you don't have the experience, this is not the right role for you and you will be automatically rejected.

Company Description

Bond & Vale is a communications agency dedicated to redefining modern influence through bespoke PR, global communication, and digital marketing solutions. The team partners with brands to shape compelling narratives that drive visibility, engagement, and measurable impact. With a focus on strategy-led storytelling, Bond & Vale supports clients across diverse industries and markets.

The company values creativity, collaboration, and results-oriented thinking, offering an environment where ambitious professionals can contribute to high-profile brand success. This is an ideal setting for individuals who want to work at the intersection of strategy, content, and brand reputation.

Role Description

The Talent & Operations Manager is a full-time, on-site role based in Dubai, responsible for overseeing day-to-day people and operational processes to support a fast-paced agency environment. This role manages the full talent lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment coordination, onboarding, resource allocation across client accounts, and ongoing performance and development processes.

The Talent & Operations Manager will handle HR administration, maintain employee records, support policy implementation, and coordinate benefits and payroll inputs in partnership with finance and external providers. They will optimize internal workflows, manage office operations, support vendor and contractor relationships, and ensure efficient scheduling, capacity planning, and utilization tracking.

The role also involves supporting leadership with reporting, analyzing operational and talent metrics, coordinating internal communications, and contributing to a positive, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in talent management and HR operations, including recruitment coordination, onboarding, performance processes, and maintaining accurate employee records.
• Operational management skills in workflow optimization, resource planning, scheduling, and coordination of cross-functional teams in an agency or similar environment.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, handle confidential information, and support an inclusive, respectful workplace.
• Proficiency with HRIS, project management, and productivity tools (e.g., ATS platforms, Excel/Sheets, project tracking software) and comfort learning new systems.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a proactive, solutions-focused approach in a dynamic, fast-changing environment.
• Previous experience in PR, marketing, communications, or creative agencies is highly beneficial, especially in roles involving resource planning or traffic management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Familiarity with UAE labor practices and on-site office operations in Dubai is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• 1. Recruitment and team growth Own the full hiring cycle for sales roles: writing the brief, sourcing candidates, screening, interviewing, reference checks, offers, negotiation, and closing.
• Source candidates proactively through direct outreach, LinkedIn, referrals, your own network, and recruitment agencies where they earn their fee.
• We do not expect you to post a job and wait.
• Hire three to four strong salespeople in the first phase, then handle ongoing hiring and backfills as the team grows.
• Build a repeatable, documented hiring process so each hire is faster and sharper than the last.
• Design and run structured onboarding so new salespeople reach productivity quickly.
• Track the metrics that matter: time to hire, quality of hire, and whether the people you bring in pass probation and stay.
• 2. People management and performance
• Act as the first point of contact for the team, handling day-to-day questions, issues and people matters directly.
• Set clear KPIs and performance targets for each team member and track delivery against them.
• Run regular one-to-ones and structured performance reviews.
• Give honest, direct feedback and address underperformance early through clear improvement plans.
• Handle difficult conversations directly, including warnings, probation decisions and exits.
• Resolve workplace issues, grievances and conflict promptly and fairly.
• Keep the team focused, accountable and motivated, and identify retention risks before they cost you good people.
• 3. HR and operations
• Own the full employee lifecycle administration: offers, contracts, onboarding, changes and offboarding.
• Manage UAE visa and work-permit processing, including renewals and cancellations.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law and keep the company protected.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records and HR documentation.
• Administer leave and attendance, prepare payroll inputs, and coordinate payroll processing.
• Develop, implement and maintain HR policies and the employee handbook.
• Keep the office running smoothly day to day and manage suppliers and admin as needed.
• Essential requirements
• A proven track record of recruiting salespeople specifically, not just posting roles.
• You can talk us through people you personally found, hired, and who went on to deliver.
• Solid experience managing and reviewing staff, including the confidence and standing to manage people who may be older or more experienced than you.
• Experience working in or with the US, UK, Canada or other Western markets, and native or fluent business English.
• Our clients are Western founders and Western media, so you need to operate naturally in that world.
• Hands-on HR and operations experience, ideally as a sole operator rather than part of a large team.A track record of helping a company grow, not just keeping one ticking over.
• Strong organisation and the ability to run recruitment, people management and admin at the same time without dropping any of them.
• Discretion and sound judgement with confidential information.
• Comfortable being fully hands-on in a small team with no direct reports beneath you.
• Desirable
• Direct experience with UAE Labour Law, visas and onboarding.
• Background in PR, communications, media, marketing, or another agency or creative environment.
• Familiarity with HRIS and standard office tools.A professional HR qualification such as CIPD, SHRM or HRCI. Useful, but the recruiting and commercial ability matters more to us than the certificate.
• Experience working in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, South Africa and Australia
• The package
• AED 12,000 - 16,000 base per month, plus a genuine performance incentive tied to the hires you make and the team's results.
• Employment visa provided.
• Medical insurance provided.
• Working hours: Monday to Friday, 3:00pm to 00:00am (US Hours).
• On-site in Dubai, full-time, reporting directly to the CEO.