Hi, I’m
Ma. Concepcion Latayan
HR and Recruitment Specialist
Dubai
Summary
With 14+ years of experience in HR management, recruitment, and office administration, I am a highly skilled Human Resources and Administration Specialist. I have worked in the F&B, Hospitality, and Construction sectors, gaining valuable expertise. Demonstrated success in implementing efficient HR practices, fostering team development, and ensuring compliance with international labor laws. Proven ability to manage full-cycle recruitment, handle employee relations, and oversee administration in fast-paced environments.
Overview
15
years of professional experience
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
TWG Tea Trading LLC
HR and Administration Specialist
11.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Manage the complete end-to-end recruiting function, to include maintaining a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates including sourcing, screening, interviewing, providing feedback/recommendations, and assisting the candidate through offer negotiations and acceptance.
- Plan interview and selection procedures, including screening calls, assessments and in-person interviews.
- Design job descriptions and interview questions that reflect each position’s requirements.
- Collaborated with department managers to identify staffing needs and create strategic recruiting plans.
- Facilitated smooth onboarding processes for new hires, leading to faster integration into the workplace culture.
- Monitored employee attendance and performance, addressing issues in accordance with company policies and procedures.
- Fielded employee inquiries related to insurance, pension plan, vacation, sick leave and employee assistance.
- Maintained personnel records and statistical data to establish accuracy and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Assisted employees in resolving conflicts through mediation services, leading to improved working relationships among team members.
- Enhanced employee satisfaction by implementing streamlined HR policies and procedures.
- Apply, track and arrange all new residence/visa renewal activities for new and existing Colleagues including eligible dependents through.
- Oversaw compliance with labor laws and regulations, minimizing risk of legal issues.
- Streamlined exit interview processes, gathering insights to improve employee satisfaction and retention strategies.
- Managed payroll data entry and processing for 120 employees to comply with predetermined company guidelines.
- Performed calculations in overtime, vacation, and sick hours to have an accurate data to payroll processing.
Kitch-In Portal Limited
RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST
3 2022 - 10.2023
Job overview
- Company Overview: A joint venture of Accor Group, Bulldozer Group and Celebrity Chef Izu Ani, Kitch-In is a UAE based Food & Beverage Tech Start-Up specializing in Cloud Kitchen concept
- Manage the complete end-to-end recruiting function, to include maintaining a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates including sourcing, screening, interviewing, providing feedback/recommendations, and assisting the candidate through offer negotiations and acceptance
- Plan interview and selection procedures, including screening calls, assessments and in-person interviews
- Design job descriptions and interview questions that reflect each position's requirements
- Partner and manage recruitment agencies and other vendors, (i.e., external recruiters) associated with recruitment, ensure vendor contracts are in place and approved
- Management of appropriate content across all available online portals and recruitment platforms to strengthen employer branding and drive engagement amongst both active and passive candidates
- Coordinate with Heads of Department / Hiring Managers to understand and anticipate headcount staffing needs and budgets
- Play a strategic role in building scalable talent acquisition programs and processes, inclusive of sourcing platforms, workforce planning, social media, recruitment strategies, interview and feedback processes as well as new hire onboarding
- Apply, track and arrange all new residence/visa renewal activities for new and existing Colleagues including eligible dependents through DIFC Portal
- Correspond with Life and Health Insurance provider either for insurance enrollment, update or deletion and review insurance invoices for accuracy
- Handle employee letters such as salary certificates, NOC's etc
- And new bank account enrollment for all employees
- A joint venture of Accor Group, Bulldozer Group and Celebrity Chef Izu Ani, Kitch-In is a UAE based Food & Beverage Tech Start-Up specializing in Cloud Kitchen concept
Independent Food Company
SPECIALIST RECRUITER
08.2019 - 03.2022
Job overview
- Company Overview: UAE based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella - SALT, Switch, Parkers, Grind, Somewhere and Public
- Manage the end to end recruitment cycle, including but not limited to, developing job descriptions, preparing advertisement, screening CV's, interviewing candidates, assessing applications, offer negotiation, updating recruitment files and onboarding
- Set up recruitment strategies and identifying resources for outreach and staffing needs
- Play a strategic role in building scalable talent acquisition programs and processes, inclusive of sourcing platforms, workforce planning, social media, recruitment strategies, interview and feedback processes as well as new hire onboarding
- Liaise with the Recruitment Agents effectively and in coordination with the recruitment procedures
- Research and analyze recruitment opportunities and resources
- Constantly improving existing recruitment processes, policies, and developing a sourcing plan for filling the open positions in the business inclusive of creating a consistent pool of candidates
- Designing interview structure, creating strong assessment criteria, assisting in technical interviews if needed and ensuring that the business sticks to the process
- Provide an adequate pipeline of local and international talents
- Conduct interviews with candidates by phone, Zoom and face to face in accordance with company policy and selecting best qualified shortlist to present to the Managing Directors
- Employee on-boarding, documents verification and induction (including travel, housing and visa arrangements)
- UAE based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella - SALT, Switch, Parkers, Grind, Somewhere and Public
Hermes Retreats
RESERVATIONS AND SALES TEAM LEAD / OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
02.2013 - 01.2019
Job overview
- Company Overview: Group of Luxury Hotels, Villas and Safari Lodges
- Played a key role in the start-up of a luxury hotels, lodges and villas located in Seychelles, Thailand and Kenya
- Part of the pioneer team, tasked with training, developing and supervising a team of reservation and sales agents
- Strategic planning related to budgeting, revenue, business development, employee development and marketing
- Process reservations for all properties including flights, transfers, excursions etc
- Created new contracts and established trust and rapport with new and existing travel agents and wholesalers to ensure repeat business and increasing revenues for the hotels
- Manage the availability status, rates and promotions across all channels
- Oversee and ensure that rates, promotions on hotel website, OTA's (Online travel agents), GDS etc
- Are updated without any rate parity
- Represented the company at consumer trade shows and travel trade events
- Work with management team to create and implement a sales plan addressing revenue, customers and the market for the segment
- Act as point of contact between the Directors and internal/external clients
- Arrange meetings and conference calls including coordinating all meeting logistic, developing agendas, presentation and meeting materials vendors including cleaning, catering, and security service
- Oversee the daily operation and perform administrative duties - request access, reception duties, create memos, office maintenance, petty cash, timesheet, organize documents, check inventories and place orders of office supplies and supervise office watchmen
- Group of Luxury Hotels, Villas and Safari Lodges
Prime Projects International Gen. Trading
HR EXECUTIVE
12.2009 - 02.2013
Job overview
- Coordinated staff recruitment and selection process in order to ensure a timely organized and comprehensive procedure is used to hire staff
- Develop and implement a human resources plan and personnel management policies and procedures
- Employee on-boarding, documents verification and induction (including travel, housing and visa arrangements)
- Prepare certificates such as NOC's, experience letters, certificate of employment, acknowledgement letters etc
- Provide information and assistance to staff and supervisors on human resource and work related issues
- Manage all the daily requests from employees and work with the PRO on completing all PRO work
- Monitor staff performance and attendance activities
- Compile and update employee records (hard and soft copy)
- Assist in payroll preparation by providing relevant data (absences, bonus, leaves etc.)
- Organize travel requests, provide and research travel options as well as providing final itineraries to all staff and executives
Education
The Emirates Academy
Certificate from Hospitality Management
09.2007 - 03.2008
De La Salle - College of St. Benilde
Bachelor of Science from Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management
05.2004 - 04.2008
Skills
Human Resources (HR)
References
Available upon request.
Awards
- Dean's Lister, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, 2005 - 2007
- 1st Honor - 3rd Trimester, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, SY 2006-2007
- 2nd Honor - 2nd Trimester, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, SY 2006-2007
- 2nd Honor - 1st Trimester, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, SY 2006-2007
- 2nd Honor - 3rd Trimester, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, SY 2005-2006
- 2nd Honor - 1st Trimester, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, SY 2004-2005
Timeline
HR and Administration Specialist
TWG Tea Trading LLC
11.2023 - Current
SPECIALIST RECRUITER
Independent Food Company
08.2019 - 03.2022
RESERVATIONS AND SALES TEAM LEAD / OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Hermes Retreats
02.2013 - 01.2019
HR EXECUTIVE
Prime Projects International Gen. Trading
12.2009 - 02.2013
The Emirates Academy
Certificate from Hospitality Management
09.2007 - 03.2008
De La Salle - College of St. Benilde
Bachelor of Science from Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management
05.2004 - 04.2008
RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST
Kitch-In Portal Limited
3 2022 - 10.2023
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