Location: Dubai, UAE
Employment Type: Full-time
Industry: Financial Services
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of People to lead our People function in Dubai and support the company's continued growth across the Middle East and international markets.
The role will work closely with senior management to develop and execute people strategies, build a high-performing organization, and oversee key areas including HR operations, talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, organizational development and employee relations .
The ideal candidate is a strong HR leader with excellent business acumen, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural and international environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. People Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement People strategies aligned with business objectives and organizational growth.
- Partner with senior management on workforce planning, organizational structure and people-related decisions.
- Lead and develop the HR / People team in Dubai.
- Establish and continuously improve HR policies, processes and systems.
- Provide strategic HRBP support to business leaders and management.
2. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Lead regional and international recruitment strategies based on business requirements.
- Develop talent pipelines for critical and leadership positions.
- Partner with hiring managers to improve hiring quality, efficiency and candidate experience.
- Support workforce planning and organizational expansion across different markets.
- Strengthen employer branding and talent attraction initiatives.
3. Performance & Talent Management
- Develop and manage KPI / OKR and performance management frameworks.
- Oversee probation, confirmation, performance reviews and performance improvement processes.
- Develop career development, succession planning and talent management programs.
- Identify high-potential employees and support leadership development.
4. Employee Relations & Engagement
- Oversee employee relations, grievances, disciplinary matters and workplace conflicts.
- Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives.
- Build a professional, collaborative and performance-driven culture.
- Ensure consistent application of company policies and values.
5. Compensation & Benefits
- Review and develop compensation and benefits structures.
- Support salary review, bonus and incentive programs.
- Conduct market benchmarking and provide recommendations to management.
- Ensure compensation practices remain competitive and aligned with business needs.
6. HR Operations & Compliance
- Oversee HR operations including onboarding, probation, attendance, leave, payroll coordination and offboarding.
- Ensure HR practices comply with applicable UAE employment laws and company policies.
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee records.
- Work with external HR, legal and professional advisors when required.
7. Organizational Development
- Support organizational expansion, restructuring and change management initiatives.
- Identify organizational gaps and recommend practical people solutions.
- Develop training and development initiatives to strengthen employee capabilities.
- Build scalable HR processes to support the company's international growth.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or above in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management or a related field .
- 15+ years of HR / People experience , with at least 8-10 years in a senior HR leadership role .
- Experience working in Dubai / UAE or a multinational environment is highly preferred.
- Experience in FinTech, financial services, trading, technology or other fast-paced industries is an advantage.
- Strong experience in HRBP, talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations and organizational development .
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English with strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong understanding of HR operations and UAE employment practices.
- Strong leadership, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
- High level of integrity and confidentiality.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multicultural and international environment.
What We Offer
- International and multicultural working environment
- Regional and global exposure
- Senior leadership and career development opportunities
- Opportunity to build and shape the People function
- Competitive compensation and benefits
- Dynamic and collaborative working culture
If you are an experienced HR leader who is passionate about building high-performing teams and shaping organizational culture, we would love to hear from you.
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