The HR & Government Relations Officer oversees all daytoday HR operations and government processes for the school, ensuring compliant, consistent, and peoplecentred practices. The role combines HR administration, employee relations, visa/Iqama processing, onboarding and welfare, and the upkeep of policies and staff records. It is primarily operational and executionfocused, with close collaboration across leadership, the project team, and the sister school.
You will be the sole HR professional on site, working mostly with the Head of School (and at times the Project Manager), and coordinating with HR/finance peers within the SEK network in Saudi Arabia.
Key responsibilities
Recruitment, eligibility & contracts (smaller part of the role)
Screen candidates for visa/eligibility (age, nationality, qualifications, role alignment)
Coordinate interviews where time allows (posting roles is desirable but not core)
Issue/coordinate employment contracts, ensuring job titles and terms match visa requirements
Support leadership to ensure offers and conditions are clear and consistent
Conduct, performance & culture
Maintain and update the Staff Handbook; ensure staff acknowledge receipt and understand expectations (dress code, punctuality, professional conduct, cultural norms)
Lead (in consultation with leadership) verbal/written warnings, disciplinary meetings, and documentation of underperformance—ensuring a fair, consistent process with a witness present
Act as the first formal point of contact for staff concerns, ensuring resolution pathways are clear and documented
Government relations & sponsorship (Saudi context)
Manage endtoend work visa processes, entry/exit permissions, and Iqama logistics for international staff
Coordinate with external visa agents contracted by candidates; guide and escalate when issues arise
Ensure job titles, qualifications, contracts, and visa categories align to avoid application delays
Navigate required government platforms and procedures; keep leadership updated on timelines and requirements
Onboarding, arrival logistics & staff welfare
Provide prearrival briefings (shipping belongings, pets, what to pack, travel notes, registering children at school)
Collect arrival details, arrange security clearance and site access, meet staff on arrival, and handover accommodation access (with Project Manager support for allocations and readiness)
Explain benefits, medical insurance, and leave entitlements; manage absence requests and related documentation (operational dayof sickness is handled by leadership for cover)
Offer cultural orientation for living and working in Saudi Arabia; curate local practical information (shopping, services, facilities) to help staff settle smoothly
Records, systems & compliance
Maintain complete and secure HR files (contracts, visas, Iqamas, warnings, leave, attestations)
Ensure alignment with Saudi labour law, preparing documentation for audits/inspections and internal reviews
Uphold confidentiality and data protection across all HR processes; ensure consistent, evidencebased recordkeeping
Exit and offboarding
Manage endofservice processes (notice periods, documentation, final payments coordination with finance, exit permits, visa/Iqama cancellation)
Ensure offboarding is compliant, smooth, and properly documented
Collaboration & ways of working
Report primarily to the Head of School; coordinate with the Project Manager depending on project phase
Align protocols with the sister school and seek guidance/escalation from SEK’s Saudi HR/finance colleagues where appropriate
Ensure consistent messaging to staff: HR participates in or leads all conversations that define working conditions, so expectations remain clear and aligned
Experience, skills & profile
At least 5–8 years of relevant HR experience, ideally within Saudi Arabia and with government relations/sponsorship responsibilities
Proven experience managing visas, Iqamas, and government processes with external agents and platforms
Strong track record in employee relations, conduct/discipline processes, and HR documentation
Highly organised, discreet, and calm—able to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and sound judgment
Clear communicator who can explain rules, steps, and decisions in plain language and follow through proactively
Arabic: required (to navigate government processes); English: required (for daily communication with leadership and staff)
Saudi national preferred
Why join us?
Shape HR operations and government processes from the ground up in a new international school
Make a direct impact on staff wellbeing, consistency, and compliance during a critical startup phase
Collaborate with an experienced sister school and the SEK network while owning onsite delivery
Work in a unique, valuesdriven community within a worldclass development
Salary is based on relevant qualifications and experience. Accommodation is also provided as an additional benefit and included for staff at no additional cost.
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