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)
Recruiting
Sourcing
Talent Acquisition
Talent Management
Employee Relations
Headhunting
UAE Labor Law
DIFC Labor Law
Hospitality Management
Travel Arrangement
Calendar Management
Office Administration
Customer Service
Microsoft Office Applications
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