Head of HR & Emiratization

Role Purpose

The Head of HR & Emiratization leads the Group's human resources function and owns its national talent agenda. The role sets HR strategy, policy and governance across the holding company and its subsidiaries, and builds a strong pipeline of Emirati talent that meets and exceeds Emiratization targets. The successful candidate is a hands-on leader who can design practical policies and processes, run a competitive and fair compensation and benefits framework, and develop Emirati professionals into the Group's future leaders.

Key Responsibilities

HR Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute the Group HR strategy in line with business objectives and growth plans.
• Design, implement and regularly review Group-wide HR policies, procedures and the HR manual, ensuring consistency across subsidiaries.
• Ensure full compliance with UAE Labour Law, MOHRE requirements and other applicable regulations.
• Provide trusted advice to the CEO, Board and subsidiary leadership on people matters, organizational design and workforce planning.
• Drive HR digitization, HRIS adoption and data-driven reporting (headcount, attrition, cost, diversity, Emiratization KPIs).

Emiratization

• Own the Group Emiratization strategy and ensure compliance with MOHRE / Nafis targets and any sector-specific requirements across all entities.
• Build sourcing partnerships with universities, Nafis, government entities and national talent programs to attract Emirati talent.
• Lead the hiring, onboarding and retention of Emirati employees at all levels, including graduates, experienced professionals and future leaders.
• Design and run development programs for Emirati talent, including graduate and internship programs, mentoring, leadership pipelines and succession plans.
• Monitor Emiratization performance, report progress to senior management and relevant authorities, and manage audits and inspections.
• Promote an inclusive workplace where Emirati employees can grow into meaningful, high-impact roles.

Compensation & Benefits

• Design and maintain the Group's grading structure, salary scales and total rewards framework.
• Benchmark pay and benefits against the market and recommend adjustments to stay competitive.
• Oversee annual salary reviews, bonus and incentive schemes, allowances, and benefits (including pension/GPSSA contributions for nationals, medical and end-of-service).
• Manage payroll governance and HR budgets in partnership with Finance.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Handle employee relations, disciplinary and grievance matters fairly and in line with policy and law.
• Champion Group values and culture and lead engagement initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop the Group HR team and guide HR leads in subsidiaries.
• Manage the HR function's budget, vendors and service quality.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• UAE National (mandatory).
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Significant senior-level HR experience (typically 15+ years), including leadership of an HR function in a multi-entity or group environment.
• Proven hands-on experience developing and implementing HR policies and processes.
• Proven experience in compensation and benefits , including grading, benchmarking and reward design.
• Demonstrated experience hiring and developing Emirati talent , with a track record of meeting Emiratization targets.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Labour Law, MOHRE regulations and Emiratization requirements.
• Proficiency in HRIS and HR analytics tools.
• Fluent in English and Arabic.

Preferred

• Professional certification such as CIPD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR or equivalent.
• Experience in a holding company or diversified group with multiple business sectors.
• Experience working with government and semi-government entities on national workforce programs.