RAHUL KUMAR
Dubai
Summary
Strategic HR leader with 15+ years of progressive HR leadership across IT, hospitality, and retail sectors spanning UAE, India, and Southeast Asia. Proven architect of scalable people systems, organizational transformation, and workforce optimization initiatives that drive measurable business outcomes. Expert in aligning human capital strategy with enterprise growth objectives, leading culturally diverse workforces of 1,800+ employees, and deploying HR technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency by up to 80%. Recognized for building high-performance cultures, embedding employer brand excellence, and partnering with C-suite executives to deliver sustainable competitive advantage.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
HR CONSULTANT
Freelance
Dubai
12.2025 - Current
- Assist in providing freelance HR consulting services across hospitality, retail, and technology sectors.
- Support organisations with strategic workforce planning and HR policy development.
- Aid in organisational transformation initiatives aligned to business growth objectives.
- Facilitate HRIS evaluation and implementation processes for clients.
- Contribute to the design of performance management frameworks and adoption of OKR methodologies.
- Help clients develop talent acquisition strategies and employer branding guidance.
- Engage in designing employee engagement programmes for diverse business environments.
- Provide compliance advisory on UAE labour law and multi-jurisdiction HR regulations.
- Collaborate with senior leadership teams on HR technology roadmaps and AI-powered HR automation.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR HR
Eatopia Holding Ltd
Dubai
10.2023 - 12.2025
- Architected and executed regional HR strategy across UAE, India, and Southeast Asia for 35+ multi-brand restaurant locations, driving alignment between people initiatives and aggressive business expansion goals in a culturally diverse, high-growth environment.
- Designed and institutionalized proprietary 4P Performance Management System (Product, Prospect, Process, People) incorporating quarterly reviews, structured goal-setting, and cross-functional KPI alignment, resulting in enhanced accountability and business-driven performance outcomes.
- Led enterprise-wide HRIS implementation, automating payroll, attendance, compliance, and employee lifecycle management-achieved 80% reduction in manual processes, significantly improved data integrity, and ensured regulatory adherence across multiple jurisdictions.
- Standardized HR operations across geographies through comprehensive SOP development for onboarding, transfers, confirmations, exits, and disciplinary actions, ensuring operational consistency and legal compliance in multi-country operations.
- Partnered with CFO and executive leadership on strategic workforce planning, developing outlet-level labor budgets with monthly variance tracking that delivered measurable year-over-year labor cost optimization while maintaining service excellence.
- Spearheaded employer branding initiatives including the 'Under Forty' campaign showcasing internal career progression stories, strengthening organizational positioning as a premier employer and career development platform.
- Facilitated organizational culture transformation by leading values alignment workshops with founders and senior leadership, embedding core values enterprise-wide and cultivating unified leadership philosophy.
SENIOR MANAGER HR
Zycus Infotech
Dubai
10.2017 - 09.2023
- Served as strategic HRBP for global operations across APAC, MEA, and US markets, developing region-specific HR policies, managing international assignments, ensuring multi-jurisdiction compliance, and enhancing global employee experience while serving as primary liaison for cross-border workforce matters.
- Deployed AI-powered HR automation for performance appraisal, time tracking, and productivity analysis, creating an HR chatbot to elevate new hire experience and implementing OKR methodology with supporting technology to enhance transparency and connect individual contributions to organizational objectives.
- Led comprehensive talent development ecosystem including Induction Acceleration Programs, continuous learning initiatives, manager and leadership development programs, high-potential employee advancement tracks, and targeted performance improvement plans-driving capability building at all organizational levels.
- Implemented robust performance management framework utilizing OKR methodology, manager 1:1 meetings, structured reviews, and performance improvement protocols-trained managers on best practices while delivering data-driven insights to senior leadership for strategic workforce decisions.
- Executed sophisticated employee engagement strategy incorporating stay interviews, pulse surveys, skip-level meetings, exit interviews, and recognition programs-analyzed feedback data to develop targeted action plans, organized company-wide engagement initiatives, and delivered training programs to enhance retention and motivation.
- Elevated employer brand perception and Glassdoor ratings through strategic LinkedIn presence management, social media brand promotion, collaboration with marketing teams, and brand ambassador development programs.
- Managed complete employee lifecycle from onboarding through exits including induction, confirmation, transfers, international assignments, offboarding, salary benchmarking, payroll cost management, SOC/ISO audit compliance, employee relations, grievance resolution, and legal risk mitigation.
- Orchestrated organizational response to COVID-19 pandemic including vaccination programs, insurance coverage expansion, comprehensive support initiatives, and successful transition management between remote and office-based work arrangements.
MANAGER HR
Foodlink Restaurants India Pvt Ltd
Mumbai
03.2016 - 10.2017
- Directed HR operations for 1,800 employees across 12 restaurants, 2 catering units, and corporate office, managing team of 12 HR professionals across multiple locations while overseeing recruitment, manpower planning, budgeting, and cost-effective workforce strategies.
- Revamped talent acquisition processes across Operations, Production, and Support functions, implementing quality-focused hiring strategies for new restaurant openings and launching 'Aarambh' comprehensive induction program organization-wide.
- Standardized HR processes for leaves, travel, accommodation, transfers, succession planning, and exits while deploying biometric attendance system with facial recognition technology and implementing enterprise-wide rewards and recognition framework.
- (Pizza Hut, KFC Franchisee)
DEPUTY MANAGER HR
Barbeque Nation Hospitality
Bangalore
11.2013 - 03.2016
- Led HR operations and business partnering for 1,700 employees across 26 stores in South India (n120Cr revenue), managing team of 8 HR professionals while executing comprehensive hiring strategies including mass recruitment, campus placements, and C-suite talent acquisition.
- Implemented structured interview frameworks, Quest & Thomas psychometric assessment tools, internal job posting processes, goal-setting exercises, mid-year and year-end performance reviews, and retention programs for high performers-managed safety and risk cases for workplace incidents.
AREA MANAGER HR
Max Fashion India, Landmark Group
Bangalore
07.2012 - 11.2013
- Managed end-to-end HR operations for 350 employees across 7 Karnataka stores (n80Cr revenue), executing HR policies, performance management, succession planning, employee engagement, and grievance management.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE HR
Future Group
Bangalore
04.2010 - 07.2012
- Led HR operations for 200 employees across 6 stores (n45Cr revenue), standardizing recruitment processes, managing campus placements, controlling attrition, and executing mass recruitment for new store launches.
- Promoted from HR Trainee to Senior Executive within 3 months. Awarded Best HR South India 2012.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Human Resources & Marketing
Institute of Business Management
Bangalore, India01-2010
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
Hindu College
New Delhi, India01-2004
Skills
- Strategic Workforce Planning
- Employer Branding
- Organizational Transformation
- Leadership Development
- HR Technology & HRIS Implementation
- OKR Methodology
- Performance Management Systems
- HRIS Implementation & Automation
- Talent Acquisition & Development
- AI-Powered HR Tools
- Employee Engagement & Retention
- Data Analytics & Workforce Planning
- Change Management
- HR Compliance Management
- Cross-Cultural Leadership
- Psychometric Assessment Tools (Quest, Thomas)
- Compliance & Risk Management
- LinkedIn Talent Solutions
- Labor Cost Optimization
- ISO & SOC Audit Management
Certification
- OKR Certified
- SHRM-SCP, Pursuing
Languages
English
Hindi
Custom Section
- TOA Award, Zycus Infotech, 2021, 2023, Recognized for exceptional contributions to organizational success
- Best HR South India Award, Future Group, 2012, Excellence in HR operations and talent management
- Rapid Career Advancement, Promoted from HR Trainee to Senior Executive within 3 months at Future Group based on exceptional performance
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
linkedin.com/in/rahulkumar-94b44b60
Timeline
HR CONSULTANT
Freelance
12.2025 - Current
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR HR
Eatopia Holding Ltd
10.2023 - 12.2025
SENIOR MANAGER HR
Zycus Infotech
10.2017 - 09.2023
MANAGER HR
Foodlink Restaurants India Pvt Ltd
03.2016 - 10.2017
DEPUTY MANAGER HR
Barbeque Nation Hospitality
11.2013 - 03.2016
AREA MANAGER HR
Max Fashion India, Landmark Group
07.2012 - 11.2013
SENIOR EXECUTIVE HR
Future Group
04.2010 - 07.2012
Master of Business Administration - Human Resources & Marketing
Institute of Business Management
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
Hindu College