Naila Shahzadi
Sharjah
Summary
Dynamic Senior HR Leader with over 19 years of experience in the UAE, specializing in HR Business Partnering, Performance Management, and Talent Strategy. Expertise in advising C-level executives and developing robust HR frameworks has resulted in successful cultural transformations across government and private sectors. Proficient in leveraging advanced HR systems such as Oracle Fusion, SAP SuccessFactors, Zoho, and Zimyo, with a strong command of HR analytics and UAE labor law. Committed to fostering organizational development through innovative succession planning and digital transformation initiatives while enhancing employee engagement and aligning organizational values with strategic goals.
Experienced culture management professional with strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Proven track record in fostering positive workplace environments, enhancing employee engagement, and driving organizational success. Skilled in conflict resolution, strategic planning, and change management. Known for adaptability and reliability in meeting evolving organizational needs.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
People & Culture Manager (Consulting)
UpNext HR Consulting
Dubai, UAE
04.2025 - Current
- Developed HR transformation frameworks that enhanced organizational capability and ensured compliance for multiple government clients.
- Spearheaded culture transformation and leadership development initiatives to enhance employee engagement.
- Developed and implemented HR policies and governance frameworks aimed at minimizing policy conflicts.
- Directed HR operations for NHG Group, enhancing recruitment efficiency and streamlining onboarding and payroll processes.
- Developed and launched HR analytics dashboards to provide insights into workforce trends and enhance decision-making capabilities for leadership.
- Spearheaded development and implementation of culture initiatives to enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.
- Facilitated the development of an inclusive workplace culture through strategic training and development efforts.
- Developed and implemented culture initiatives promoting employee engagement and satisfaction.
- Fostered inclusive workplace environments through targeted training and development programs.
People & Culture Manager
Shams Services
Sharjah, UAE
01.2024 - 04.2025
- Implemented Zoho HRMS, eliminating manual HR processes and improving operational efficiency by 40%.
- Developed the first organization-wide employee engagement strategy, resulting in higher participation and improved morale.
- Introduced and executed succession planning for critical roles, improving leadership pipeline readiness.
- Established DEI initiatives that strengthened inclusive culture across the organization.
- Standardized HR policies and procedures, improving regulatory compliance and cross-unit cohesion.
- Sharjah Media City
Assistant Manager – Talent & Performance Management
Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC)
Dubai
01.2023 - 10.2023
- Implemented LinkedIn Learning Hub, increasing employee up skilling adoption by 40% within 6 months and generating actionable learning analytics for department heads.
- Developed and rolled out competency frameworks, talent policies, and performance systems adopted across all departments, ensuring standardized capability and performance measurement.
- Designed succession planning roadmap for 20+ critical positions, reducing leadership and capability risk by 30% and strengthening the internal talent pipeline.
- Built and launched talent analytics dashboards (performance, potential, attrition risk, workforce analytics), improving data-driven promotion and development decisions by 50%.
- Introduced a cross-department knowledge‑sharing platform, improving collaboration and knowledge flow by 20% and reducing information gaps identified in engagement surveys by 35%.
- Led implementation of operational procedures to enhance efficiency across customs processes.
Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP)
PCFC
Dubai
01.2020 - 12.2022
- HR Business Partner for 8 business units, ensuring strategic alignment with corporate goals.
- Reduced recruitment turnaround time by 30% through process optimization and improved stakeholder collaboration.
- Conducted workforce planning & restructuring analyses, providing recommendations that improved productivity.
- Implemented the HRBP governance model—now used as a standard across the corporation.
- Built strong partnerships with C-level leaders, improving HR’s role in strategic planning and decision-making.
- Corporate Support Centre
Assistant Manager – Compliance & Engagement / HR Executive
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA)
Dubai
10.2013 - 12.2020
- Received the DMCA Award of Appreciation for leading the Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, 27001).
- Managed HRMS, payroll, recruitment, performance management, and OD programs with high accuracy and compliance.
- Developed and delivered internal training on strategy, performance, and excellence.
- Improved HR compliance and governance by strengthening policy enforcement and risk management.
- Supported development of Value Score Cards (VSC) and performance metrics for organizational units.
HR & Administration Manager
AIL Industries & Tekab Co. Ltd
Sharjah, UAE
04.2008 - 10.2013
- Established the HR function from the ground up for two business units, designing and implementing HR policies, recruitment workflows, training systems, and performance management frameworks for both white‑collar and blue‑collar workforces, ensuring scalable and compliant HR operations.
- Implemented performance management systems across two organizational levels, increasing transparency, accountability, and alignment to KPIs, and improving performance cycle completion rates.
- Enhanced hiring efficiency by optimizing recruitment workflows, reducing hiring timelines by 20–30%, and strengthening employee relations through structured engagement programs and proactive issue resolution.
- Mentored and developed HR teams, introducing talent development initiatives that increased internal HR capability, improved service delivery quality, and built a more agile and future‑ready HR function.
- Designed grading structure for both white‑collar and blue‑collar workforces
Education
MBA - Human Resource Management
SSM Swiss School of Management
Dubai, United Arab Emirates08-2025
Bachelor of Science - Business & Management (Foundation)
LSE Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates09-2003
Associate of Science - Software Engineering
Aptech
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates01-2001
Skills
- HR Strategy & Transformation
- HR Business Partnering (HRBP)
- Talent Management & Succession Planning
- Performance Management Systems
- Organizational Development (OD)
- Employee Engagement & Retention
- Workforce & Manpower Planning
- Workload Analysis & Workforce Optimization
- Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Strategy
- HR Operations & Service Delivery
- HR Policies, Procedures & SOP Development
- UAE Labor Law Compliance
- HRIS Implementation & Digital HR
- Change & Culture Transformation
- Leadership Development & Capability Building
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) – HR Perspective
- Compensation, Benefits & Job Evaluation
- HR Analytics, Metrics & KPI Dashboarding
- Stakeholder Management & Executive Reporting
- Data-driven decision making
- Innovative thinking
- Diversity and inclusion
- Budgeting and financial management
Certification
- SHRM HR Business Partnering
- Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- PwC Enterprise Risk Management
- Job Analysis & Evaluation
- Rewards Management
- Succession Planning
- Strategic Workforce Planning
- Performance Management
- Generative AI in HR
- UAE Light Vehicle
- Motorcycle
- Marine Craft
Languages
English
Arabic
Urdu
Target Roles
- HR Manager
- HRBP
- HR Director
- People & Culture Manager
- Head of HR
Timeline
People & Culture Manager (Consulting)
UpNext HR Consulting
04.2025 - Current
People & Culture Manager
Shams Services
01.2024 - 04.2025
Assistant Manager – Talent & Performance Management
Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC)
01.2023 - 10.2023
Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP)
PCFC
01.2020 - 12.2022
Assistant Manager – Compliance & Engagement / HR Executive
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA)
10.2013 - 12.2020
HR & Administration Manager
AIL Industries & Tekab Co. Ltd
04.2008 - 10.2013
MBA - Human Resource Management
SSM Swiss School of Management
Bachelor of Science - Business & Management (Foundation)
LSE Dubai
Associate of Science - Software Engineering
Aptech