Onboarding Executive & Government Relations Officer

Working with us

Together, Cognita schools provide a uniquely global education that goes beyond grades, developing academic excellence alongside adaptability, agency, and the positive attitudes that prepare young people to grow, thrive, and find success in a rapidly evolving world.

Cognita Middle East has 14 schools within its portfolio, across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they’re starting from. We protect what’s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger; ensuring they get an education that’s, quite literally, world class.

We are seeking a highly organised and people-focused Onboarding Executive & Government Relations Officer to deliver a seamless, compliant, and engaging onboarding experience for new employees across our KSA schools. This role is pivotal in ensuring every new joiner feels supported from offer acceptance through to their first day, while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, safer recruitment, and regulatory accuracy. The role also plays a key part in maintaining relationships with the local government offices to ensure our schools remain compliant with KSA regulations.

Job Overview

As the Onboarding Executive & Government Relations Officer, you will own the end-to-end onboarding journey, acting as the main point of contact for new hires and coordinating closely with internal stakeholders to ensure all requirements are completed efficiently and accurately. You will play a key role in shaping a positive first impression of Cognita, ensuring consistency, professionalism, and alignment with our values across all onboarding touchpoints.

What you’ll do

• Own and manage the onboarding process from offer acceptance through to the employee’s start date
• Prepare and issue all new hire documentation accurately and within required timelines
• Act as the primary point of contact for new employees, providing guidance and responding to queries throughout the onboarding journey
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure all visa, regulatory, and compliance requirements are completed prior to start date
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date personnel records in line with safer recruitment and audit requirements
• Update and manage onboarding progress within applicant tracking systems and HRIS platforms
• Deliver a positive, consistent, and engaging new joiner experience aligned with Cognita standards
• Prepare onboarding reports and provide updates to stakeholders as required
• Support onboarding projects, process improvements, and ad-hoc tasks as directed by management
• Act as liaison with government entities including Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, General Directorate of Passports, and General Organization for Social Insurance
• Manage all Iqama, visa, and immigration processes (issuance, renewal, transfer, and cancellation)
• Ensure compliance with Saudi Labor Law and Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements
• Maintain and update company and employee records on systems such as Qiwa platform, Absher Business, and Muqeem system
• Handle company registrations, licenses, and official documentation (CR, municipality, Chamber)
• Monitor and resolve government fines, violations, and legal matters
• Coordinate GOSI registration, updates, and compliance with payroll requirements
• Track Saudization ratios and support compliance initiatives
• Support onboarding and offboarding in line with government regulations
• Prepare reports on compliance, visa status, and government-related matters
• Stay updated on regulatory changes and ensure implementation

Location & Working Pattern

This role is based across our schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What we’re looking for

About You

You will be detail-oriented, highly organised, and confident managing multiple onboarding processes simultaneously, with a strong commitment to delivering an excellent employee experience while ensuring that the school remains aligned with local labour regulations.

Requirements:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a high-volume onboarding environment (education sector preferred)
• Working knowledge of recruitment policies, procedures, and best practices
• Understanding of KSA employment laws (wider GCC knowledge is an advantage)
• Experience using HRIS and applicant tracking systems
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong attention to detail and organisational capability
• Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to support employees from diverse backgrounds
• Experience within the education sector is desirable
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Labor Law and government regulations
• Hands-on experience with platforms such as Qiwa platform, Absher Business, Muqeem system, and GOSI portal
• Familiarity with Saudization (Nitaqat) program and compliance requirements
• Experience dealing with government entities such as Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and General Directorate of Passports
• Strong understanding of company licensing processes (CR, municipality, Chamber of Commerce)
• The company reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process.

Cognita is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.