Government Relations & Protocol Manager – QATARI

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Scope and Objectives 

Help the Company meet legislative goals by creating policy proposals and working with government agencies and employees to manage and control the process of all activities that are related to the Government offices, visas and licenses.

Assure that responsibilities are executed in a timely manner and provide the management team with efficient reports that highlights opportunities and avoid obstacles.

Ambassador of the company’s wellness and sustainability culture promote its awareness amongst team members by leading by example and develop activities and programs that consistently embrace and reflect the company’s culture. Ambassador for the FO for Local and GCC VIP & VVIP guest welcoming committee.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees the immigration process for all employees and visitors. This includes visa acquisitions, blood typing, medical health screenings, and fingerprinting. 
• Provides Arabic translation services and on-call services for all governmental transactions letters and applications including but not limited to: traffic violations, arrests, incarcerations and traffic accidents.
• Ensures up to date communications to management on country’s local Labor, Governmental Laws and Qatar Tourism changes and new laws/decrees for staff (And their families), hotels and outlets.
• Provides counsel and recommendations to management when Qatar law & customs are involved.
• Maintains effective communication with all levels of the organization.
• Manages and maintain records for all GRP (Hotels, Staff and visitors) related letters, applications and transactions properly.
• Manage and Maintain all GRP (Hotels, Staff and visitors) related LSOPs as per ACCOR standards aligned with local laws and regulations.

• Promote a friendly, dynamic and collaborative work environment that includes, open communication, teamwork, participation, trust, respect, professionalism and fun.
• Attend and participate in meetings and committees as required.
• Work towards exceeding company’s business targets & Take positive/resourceful approach to every project.
• Set, Manage and deliver annual targets for GRP section.
• Manage and track allocated petty cash expenditure through maintaining original receipts and through timely preparation of expense report.
• Manage and oversee all government transactions and visits to government agencies in an efficient and timely manner to minimize cost and avoid penalties and additional fees.
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with key and operational government offices including but not limited to: Qatar Tourism, Medical Commission, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Interior (CID, Immigrations Office, Security and Safety Department), Municipality, Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Ministry of Business and Trade, Consumer Protection Department, Customs, Airport Authorities and other Ministries and agencies, in order to assist with the efficient processing and approval of requests and formalities.
• Liaise with all governmental offices and authorities in relation to setting up licenses including resort trade license, chamber of commerce certifications of registration, civil defense certificate, etc.
• Manage and Maintain all licenses LSOPs and files properly
• Conduct periodic internal audit to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations, and ACCOR LSOPs.
• Work closely with Talent & Culture and Administration teams to ensure the timely completion and execution of relevant government and administrative formalities.
• Keep the Talent & Culture team informed of significant changes and issues that may jeopardize the achievement of company goals, and those that are not being addressed adequately.
• Manage and maintain all visa documentation related to new hires, separations of employment, transfers of sponsorship, renewals files, applications, letters, etc.
• Organize attestation of certificates and legal translation of documents and other activities related to immigration and labor.
• Manage and maintain the sponsorship reports from immigration, labor office and sponsorships, and the re-submission to immigration and labor office with relevant support documents.
• Support and provide guidance to the GRP team with candidates in regard to the work permit documentation required and the process to follow.
• Support and provide guidance to the GRP team on obtaining necessary approval from management for issuing exit permits to staff as and when required.
• Manage, Resolve, record and highlight to management immigration related issues in a timely manner.
• Support and provide guidance to the GRP team in attending to employee queries regarding details of immigration formalities, and entitlements.
• Support and provide guidance to the GRP team with the process of the immigration requirements in the most effective and efficient manner to expedite on boarding of new employees including pre-approval of nationalities and gender for pre and post opening.
• Update relevant business areas with issues, risks, and statuses of immigration/government processes and provide relevant solutions on a timely manner.
• Ensure immigration processes are completed in minimal time including Resident Permits, Drivers Licenses, Visas, CID procedures etc.
• Maintain employee files and documents relevant to immigration and relevant forms for all types of immigration transactions.
• Manage and ensure all renewals transactions (Hotels, staff and guests) are processed on a timely manner.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of reports as are necessary to carry out the function of immigration.
• Prepare periodic reports to Executive Talent & Culture Director for management updates or relevant authorities, as necessary and as required.
• Manage and Monitor the implementation of an improvement process for all immigration and labor records to be tracked and maintained through the resort system.
• Provide practical/innovative solutions for GRP team LSOPs to ease and expedite the processes.
• Represent the hotel for all VIP and VVIP local and GCC arrival welcome.
• Help in attending to local and GCC guest complaints.
• Provide translation on all local and GCC guest complaints to QT.

Specific Job Knowledge, Skill and Ability

The Government Relations & Protocol Manager must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable adjustments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (Arabic and English)
• Ability to effectively deal with a variety of audience, some of whom will require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Strong computer literacy including knowledge of Windows XP and Microsoft Office Suite of products including Word

Minimum Competencies

• Working knowledge of Qatari culture, customs and laws
• Fluent in speaking, reading, and writing of Arabic and also English speaking.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Organizational and planning skills, including ability to prioritize work, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set goals and enforce deadlines, while maintaining flexibility to reassess and prioritize goals;
• Ability to function competently in a team environment;
• Ability to take initiative, reasoning and problem-solving skills;
• Working knowledge of Qatar Foundations