People Operations Specialist

Role Overview: A Strategic Guide

The People Operations Specialist (HRIS Focus) is the foundational backbone of the modern Human Resources function, moving beyond traditional HR administration to focus on the end-to-end employee experience powered by technology and data integrity. Operating primarily within a Shared Services or Tech environment, this specialist ensures every employee transaction is executed with precision, compliance, and discretion.

Strategic Impact and Core Focus:

Employee Lifecycle Management: The primary responsibility is to manage all personnel actions throughout the employee lifecycle—from new hire onboarding and processing transfers and promotions to handling exit documentation and terminations—all within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
HRIS System Custodian: The Specialist acts as the owner and primary user of the HRIS (e.g., Workday, BambooHR). This involves ensuring the system remains the single source of truth for all employee data, including tracking leave balances and updating records.
First Line of Support: This role serves as the crucial first point of contact for all employee inquiries regarding HR policies, benefits, and standard processes, providing timely and accurate information while maintaining high levels of customer focus.
Compliance and Audits: A critical function is maintaining confidentiality and integrity of HR records. The Specialist conducts periodic audits of HR data and processes to ensure strict adherence to company policies and Egyptian Labor Law.

This role requires a unique combination of administrative precision, technical HRIS proficiency, and a commitment to positive employee support.

Financial Insight: Local Salary & Earning Potential in General

The compensation for a People Operations Specialist in Cairo is competitive for a high-demand, specialized role in the high-growth Shared Services and Tech sectors, reflecting the blend of data management and employee support required.

HR Operations Specialist Compensation Benchmark in Cairo:

Competitive Annual Package: For a specialist with 1 to 3 years of relevant experience and HRIS proficiency, the total gross annual compensation typically ranges from EGP 144,000 – EGP 216,000 (EGP 12,000 – EGP 18,000 gross monthly). This places the role at the competitive entry-to-mid level for HR professionals in multinational environments.
HRIS Specialization Premium: Expertise in specific HRIS platforms (like Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM) commands a premium, as businesses rely heavily on these systems for automated processes and data reporting.
Benefits and Growth: Working in a structured, often multinational, environment provides excellent non-cash benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, professional development budgets, and direct access to mentorship from senior HR leaders.

Tips for Maximizing Earning Potential:

Master the HRIS: Focus on achieving super-user status on the primary HRIS. Expertise in system configuration, reporting, and mass data changes (EIBs) is a critical, high-value skill.
Obtain Local Law Certification: Deep knowledge of Egyptian Labor Law (especially in relation to social insurance, contracts, and termination) is invaluable and elevates the specialist from an administrator to a compliance expert.
Lead a Process Improvement: Proactively lead and document an initiative to improve an HR process (e.g., streamlining the onboarding documentation process or automating a manual report), showcasing efficiency gains.

The Mandatory Skills for Success

Success as a People Operations Specialist requires meticulous attention to detail, a strong ethical compass, and proficiency in the technologies that drive modern HR.

1. Technical and System Expertise (HRIS):

HRIS Proficiency: Proven, hands-on experience using at least one HRIS (Human Resources Information System) for executing personnel actions, running reports, and maintaining data accuracy.
Data Integrity and Auditing: Strong attention to detail and analytical skills required to conduct audits, reconcile data, and ensure that all records are complete, correct, and legally compliant.
MS Office Mastery: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel for compiling detailed and accurate HR metrics and reports (e.g., turnover, headcount, leave utilization) and PowerPoint for presenting data.

2. Core HR and Behavioral Competencies:

Confidentiality and Integrity: Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive employee information (personal data, salaries, disciplinary actions) with the highest level of discretion, professionalism, and ethical integrity.
Local Labor Law Knowledge: A working understanding of Egyptian Labor Law related to hiring, termination, leave, and social insurance, ensuring all administrative actions comply with local regulations.
Problem-Solving and Customer Focus: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to act as a solution-oriented first point of contact, patiently guiding employees through policies and resolving basic HR queries.

The Career Leap: Path to Senior HRIS Analyst / HR Shared Services Team Lead

The People Operations Specialist role is the perfect launchpad for specialization in HR systems or leadership within the rapidly expanding HR Shared Services model.

Key Progression Tracks:

Senior HRIS Analyst: This highly technical path focuses exclusively on the HRIS. The Senior Analyst is responsible for system configuration, managing security roles, deploying system updates, and designing complex reporting dashboards for the entire HR organization.
HR Shared Services Team Lead: This leadership track involves supervising a team of People Operations Specialists, managing the service delivery queue, overseeing SLAs (Service Level Agreements), ensuring process standardization across the team, and reporting on the overall efficiency of HR service delivery.
HR Generalist / HR Business Partner (HRBP): By leveraging the administrative and compliance foundation, a specialist can transition into a Generalist or HRBP role, where they partner directly with a specific business unit to handle higher-level strategic issues like performance management and talent development.

Tips for Preparing for the Leap:

HR Certification: Pursue recognized certifications such as the PHR or SHRM-CP, or specialized HR certifications focused on Compensation & Benefits or Labor Relations.
Project Leadership: Take ownership of a cross-functional HR project (e.g., rolling out a new performance management module or implementing a new time-off policy), demonstrating end-to-end execution.
Mentorship: Actively mentor and coach new hires or junior team members, demonstrating the leadership and knowledge transfer skills required for a Team Lead position.

How to Ace the Interview for People Operations Specialist (HRIS Focus)

The interview will assess your reliability, discretion, technical fluency with HR data, and your attitude towards supporting employees.

5 Essential Interview Preparation Tips:

The Confidentiality Test: Prepare a detailed STAR method answer describing a time you had to handle extremely sensitive employee information or a colleague who attempted to breach confidentiality. Your focus must be on adherence to policy and maintaining trust.
HRIS Troubleshooting Scenario: Expect a question that tests your system knowledge. Example: “An employee reports their leave balance is incorrect in the HRIS. Walk me through the steps you would take to investigate and correct the discrepancy.” (Focus on audit trails, data input verification, and system knowledge).
Labor Law Compliance Check: Be ready to briefly discuss a key aspect of Egyptian Labor Law relevant to your role, such as the process for Form 1/Form 6 social insurance updates or mandatory annual leave regulations.
Customer Service in HR: Prepare a story about a time you handled a challenging employee inquiry (e.g., a complex benefits question or a frustrated employee). Highlight your patience, clear communication, and problem-solving focus.
Process Improvement Example: Discuss a specific manual process in a previous role that you identified as inefficient and how you used Excel or an HRIS feature to automate or streamline it, emphasizing the time/cost savings.

Final Verdict & Why This Career is Growing

A career as a People Operations Specialist in Cairo offers a secure and high-impact path within a rapidly modernizing function. By mastering HRIS systems and local compliance, you become an indispensable strategic asset.

Key Drivers Securing This Career Path:

HR Digital Transformation (HRIS Focus): Global companies are investing heavily in HRIS centralization and automation. The demand for HRIS Specialist Egypt professionals who can manage these complex systems and ensure data integrity is non-stop.
Shared Services Hub Growth: Egypt is a major hub for HR Shared Services, attracting large multinationals that require dedicated, multilingual People Operations Jobs Cairo specialists to support their regional workforce.
Focus on Employee Experience: Modern HR is moving beyond basic administration to prioritize the employee experience. Your role is central to this shift, guaranteeing continuous demand for professionals who can deliver accurate, timely, and empathetic support.
Compliance and Risk Management: Regulatory complexity in areas like local Labor Law makes the administrative role a critical risk-mitigation function, ensuring your expertise is constantly in demand and financially valued.

Job Purpose

At Unilever, we believe in bringing your purpose to life through the work you do—creating a better business and a better world. If you’re passionate about managing employee records, supporting the full employee lifecycle (JML), and building strong relationships with key stakeholders to drive operational excellence, then this role is perfect for you!

Key Responsibilities

Service Management:

Actively manage and resolve HR-related tickets, ensuring efficient and accurate service delivery.
Validate approvals and verify documents against requests.
Address and resolve any pending tickets to avoid breaches.
Meet C-SAT targets while ensuring high-quality service standards.
Handle escalations and ensure IT support tickets are managed properly.

Employee Records Management:

Maintain and update employee records throughout their lifecycle, addressing any system issues with relevant stakeholders.
Conduct monthly data validations before the monthly closing to ensure the accuracy of information across linked systems and prevent incorrect payments.
Ensure the accurate setting of return-to-work dates after employee leave periods.
Manage mass data uploads for large-scale requests.

Bonus Plan Administration:

Oversee the maintenance of bonus plans during the Annual Pay Review (APR) process, ensuring alignment with HR teams.

Reporting & Audits:

Generate reports for stakeholders as needed and assist with internal and external audits by providing relevant HR system data.

Stakeholder Interaction:

Collaborate with senior stakeholders to resolve HR-related matters and inform them of any changes.
Cultivate strong relationships and foster effective communication.

Process Simplification & Data Accuracy:

Keep up-to-date with industry best practices and internal process changes.
Drive process improvements within HR operations, promoting data-driven decision-making.

Document Handling & Compliance:

Manage the JML process, including preparing contracts, promotions, and salary increase letters.
Ensure compliance with data security and GDPR requirements.
Validate visa and Right to Work (RTW) documents during global employee movements.

Accuracy & Compliance Audits:

Conduct audits to ensure HR data accuracy and maintain compliance within the team.

Vendor Management:

Manage Purchase Orders for third-party services and handle receipt triggers for goods and services.

Benefits Administration:

Ensure accurate and timely processing of transactions across various local platforms.

What You Need to Succeed

Experience & Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field.
Fluent in English with strong Microsoft Office skills.
Ability to adapt to evolving markets and work independently or as part of a collaborative team.
A keen interest in new technologies and tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to deliver high-quality customer service.
Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks with varying deadlines and complexities.
Experience working with remote clients is a plus; knowledge of Workday is advantageous.

Skills:

A purpose-driven mindset with strong data literacy and technology proficiency.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Attention to compliance and legal requirements.
Strong problem-solving skills and a focus on process improvement.
An employee-centric approach with a high level of empathy.
Exceptional attention to detail and analytical skills.

Leadership:

Driven by results and resilience, always striving to improve and engaging with others to find better ways of doing things.
Responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high-quality work, focusing on understanding and meeting the needs of consumers.
Demonstrates PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE by taking ownership and using data-driven insights to make decisions.
Practices PERSONAL MASTERY by maintaining high personal standards and building resilience.
Has a CONSUMER LOVE mentality, continually seeking better ways to serve customers and investing in understanding their needs.
Understands PURPOSE & SERVICE and leads with humility, viewing leadership as a service to others.
Exhibits AGILITY, exploring the world around them and continuously learning and developing their skills.

Ready to launch your high-impact career as a People Operations professional, focusing on HR technology and employee experience?

Apply today and become the foundation of our efficient HR Shared Services team.

[CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW]
Official Application URL: Find this opportunity at wehire.click/human-resources-cairo/people-operations-specialist/

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your expertise in HRIS and People Operations Jobs Cairo!