A diversified UAE-based HoldCo is appointing a Group HR Manager to lead the transformation and subsequent management of its human resources function.
The group employs approximately 350 people across a mixture of professional, technical, operational, and blue-collar roles. Its businesses operate across real estate, construction services, engineering, facilities services, and hospitality.
The initial priority will be to assess the current HR function, define a practical transformation programme, and build the team, systems, policies, and management disciplines required to support the organisation’s growth.
The successful candidate will then lead the function as it moves into business-as-usual operation, taking ownership of the full employee lifecycle across the group.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the HR function across the holding company and its operating businesses
- Review the existing HR operating model and develop a practical transformation plan
- Prepare the business case for the future HR team structure
- Build a consistent group HR framework while recognising the needs of different businesses
- Lead workforce planning, organisational design, job architecture, and headcount control
- Develop and implement HR policies, procedures, employee handbooks, and operating standards
- Ensure contracts, offer terms, employee files, onboarding, and records are properly controlled
- Lead performance management, probation, promotion, grievance, disciplinary, and exit processes
- Advise senior leadership on succession planning, organisational capability, and management development
- Establish compensation, benefits, grading, and retention frameworks
- Improve employee engagement, workplace conduct, internal communication, and management accountability
- Oversee HR systems, payroll interfaces, reporting, documentation, and data controls
- Support the effective use of SAP for payroll
- Support the implementation of new learning and people-management systems
- Ensure compliance with UAE labour law and relevant employment requirements
- Manage HR requirements across white-collar and blue-collar workforces
- Provide senior management with clear workforce reporting, risk flags, and practical recommendations
- Support the creation and scaling of new entities, business units, and teams
Candidate profile
Candidates must have substantial HR leadership experience within the UAE or wider GCC and strong working knowledge of UAE labour law.
The role requires experience across group, holding company, or multi-entity structures, together with exposure to both white-collar and blue-collar employee populations.
Candidates should have led an HR transformation, built an HR function, or significantly strengthened an underdeveloped people function.
Strong capability is required across organisational design, workforce planning, compensation and benefits, performance management, employee relations, HR operations, systems, payroll, reporting, and governance.
Candidates should hold a degree in human resources, business, management, law, psychology, or a related discipline. CIPD membership or an equivalent professional qualification would be preferred.
Package
The package includes:
- AED 30,000 to AED 40,000 per month, depending on experience
- Discretionary performance bonus of up to 15%
- Private medical insurance
- Relocation support for candidates moving to the UAE
- One annual economy flight to the employee’s home destination
How to apply
This appointment is being managed on a confidential basis. The identity of the employer will be disclosed to candidates selected for an initial discussion.
Please submit a one-page cover letter and CV through the advertised application channel.
