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Zeyna AswadZA

Zeyna Aswad

Sr. HR Business Partner

$250/day
Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City, AE
8-15 years

Average response time: 1 hour

About Zeyna

• 15+ years of experience in top-tier management consulting, strategy, and investments across MENA including hands-on HR leadership in startup and high-growth environments.
• Expertise in HR Ops, Talent Acquisition, Policies & Compliance, Payroll, Emiratization, and HR business partnering.
• Led strategic HR initiatives, including the development of a talent acquisition strategy, HRMS implementations, policy enhancements, and employee integration programs to support scalable organizational growth.
  • Arabic

    Native or bilingual

  • English

    Fluent

Can work on-site
Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City (up to 50km)

Experience

  • Contango Management Consultancy (an ADQ Company)
    Sr. HR Business Partner – HR Operations and Talent Acquisition
    December 2023 - July 2025 (1 year and 7 months)
    Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
    • Led end-to-end HR operations for all business units, including expatriate services, payroll administration,
    • Developed and implemented a revamped Talent Acquisition Strategy, streamlining recruitment processes and policies to improve efficiency, and successfully transitioned from external agencies to in-house recruitment channels and tools.
    • Led end-to-end hiring and onboarding for 200+ employees at various levels, ensuring smooth integration and positive employee experience.
    • Designed and launched a structured HR Induction Program encompassing pre-joining, first week, and post-joining phases to support seamless employee onboarding.
    • Directed the full-cycle selection and deployment of ATS and HRMS systems, driving effective integration with HR operations.
    • Reviewed company policies comprehensively and delivered strategic recommendations to enhance HR governance.
    • Executed the timely transfer of 50+ employees between entities under tight deadlines, ensuring operational continuity and minimal disruption.
  • International Media Investment (IMI) Group
    HR Business Partner
    April 2021 - November 2023 (2 years and 7 months)
    Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
    • Managed end-to-end HR and Employee Relations for a workforce of 300+ employees across 20+ departments, including Shared Services, Studio Operations, and Technology teams.
    • Led a zero-based manpower planning and workload analysis exercise to optimize resource allocation and support future workforce planning.
    • Spearheaded the implementation of SAP SuccessFactors (RCM, EC, PMGM) and HumanForce, ensuring seamless integration of core HR, performance, and time management systems.
    • Oversaw the recruitment of 80+ hires across all levels—including Director roles—delivering timely, business-aligned talent acquisition across diverse technical and functional teams.
    • Resolved complex employee relations matters, including critical grievance cases and internal investigations, in coordination with the Legal Department to ensure fair and compliant outcome.
  • Protiviti Middle East Consultancy
    HR Assistant Manager
    June 2018 - March 2021 (2 years and 9 months)
    Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
    • Led the HR function for 400+ employees across three UAE offices (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, DIFC), managing a team of five and driving HR strategy and operations.
    • Revamped the onboarding and Buddy Program, introduced structured career checkpoints, and enhanced the overall new joiner experience.
    • Initiated a full policy and SOP review across Middle East offices, advising leadership on local labor law changes and implementing efficient workflows through the new HRM and Workspace systems.
    • Designed and facilitated employee feedback mechanisms (HR Clinics, focus groups, business buzz meetings, surveys) and used data insights to inform retention and engagement strategies.
    • Drove internal communication, performance management support, employer branding efforts, and employee engagement through CSR, cultural, and wellness initiatives.

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Education

  • Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (level 5)
    PwC Academy
    2017
    Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development
  • Diploma in HR Management
    Cambridge College Intl.
    2013
    Diploma in HR Management

Skill set

Categories

  • Other