At Arada, we create communities that inspire healthier, happier and more meaningful lives. Through innovative developments, exceptional customer experiences and a commitment to sustainability, we are shaping places where people can live, work and thrive.

Joining Arada means becoming part of a collaborative, ambitious and forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering excellence across every aspect of our business.

Role Purpose:

Arada has entered Syria with a new mixed-use community in New Damascus, through a joint venture with the Syrian Sovereign Fund. As our first People Experience hire on the ground, you’ll make sure every Group business in the country can hire, pay, protect and look after its people from day one.

You’ll run HR operations end to end for a mix of local employees, secondees and contractors. You’ll be part of PX Operations and work closely with the PX Middle East team, business leaders in Syria and colleagues across Group PX.

Key Responsibilities:

• Authorities and registration: Be Arada’s point of contact with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, its provincial directorates and the social insurance authority. Register each Group entity as an employer, keep its filings current, and manage labour inspections and any follow-up actions.

• Contracts and social insurance:

  • Support screening of new hires.

  • Prepare Arabic employment contracts that comply with Labour Law, and file them on time.

  • Manage social insurance end to end: registrations, monthly contributions, salary and status updates, and work-injury notifications.

• Permits: Secure, renew and cancel work and residence permits for foreign nationals and Group colleagues assigned to Syria. Give the business realistic lead times before anyone travels.

• Employee lifecycle: Own the employee journey:

  • Offer, pre-joining, onboarding, probation and confirmation

  • Transfers, contract amendments and letters

  • Resignations, terminations, end-of-service entitlements and clearance

• Payroll and records: Give Payroll accurate monthly inputs. Keep employee files and Group HR system records complete, current and consistent with each other.

• Partnering: Advise managers on employee relations, performance, conduct, grievances and team structure, working with PXBPs. Deliver the PX Middle East team’s people priorities and document every case properly. Join local leadership discussions, raise people and compliance considerations early, and keep Group leadership and PX informed.

• Safety and duty of care: Work with the HSE and security leads to cover:

  • Inductions

  • Current emergency contacts

  • Incident follow-up

  • Duty of care for visiting colleagues

• Policy and compliance:

  • Track changes in labour, social insurance, tax and residency rules, and explain what each change means for Arada.

  • Adapt Group PX policies to Syrian requirements.

  • Set up each entity’s internal work regulations and disciplinary schedule, with the required approvals.

• Providers and office set-up:

  • Help Group PX manage local providers (legal advisers, medical insurance, recruitment partners) against agreed service levels.

  • While the business is new, work with the Office and Facility Manager to set up and run the Damascus office: facilities, workspace, equipment, new-joiner access, and entry visas and logistics for visiting colleagues.

• Reporting: Share regular updates on headcount, registrations, permits and compliance risks. Flag processes that could work better. Treat all employee data with strict confidentiality.

What you’ll bring

• Syrian nationality (this role is open to Syrian nationals)

• 6+ years in HR in Syria, in the private sector or with international organisations, including direct work with labour authorities and day-to-day HR administration

• A sound, practical understanding of Labour Law, social insurance obligations and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour procedures

• A track record of advising managers as an HR generalist or business partner, ideally in a start-up or expanding operation

• Excellent Arabic and English, written and spoken

• Steadiness and resourcefulness when rules change, the ability to work independently, and a clear sense of when to escalate

• Complete discretion with sensitive personal information

• A university degree in HR, business, law or a related field

Strongly preferred

• A background in real estate development or construction, with awareness of site safety

• Experience with work and residence permits and benefits for foreign nationals

Nice to have

• Office set-up experience

• Darwinbox, SAP SuccessFactors or a similar HRIS

• CIPD or SHRM

Using GenAI in Your Application Process

To support a fair and consistent experience for all candidates, we ask that assessments and interviews are completed independently and without assistance from generative AI tools. This ensures we understand your strengths, your thinking, and how you approach real situations.

Why join Arada?

At Arada, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that transform communities while working alongside talented professionals in a culture that values innovation, collaboration and continuous growth. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Arada is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and make employment decisions based on merit, experience and business needs.