Group Head - Reward

Role overview

Strategy and total rewards

• Define and lead group reward, performance, workforce-planning, and organization-design strategies aligned with business objectives and financial sustainability.
• Oversee salary structures, benefits, allowances, recognition, and incentive programmes to ensure competitiveness, equity, and affordability.
• Lead executive remuneration and short- and long-term incentive design; advise senior leadership and relevant board committees.
• Lead salary reviews, market benchmarking, bonus programmes, benefits and insurance renewals, and reward-policy development.

Performance and workforce planning

• Lead performance management, including objective setting, reviews, calibration, moderation, governance, and alignment between performance and reward.
• Translate business plans into staffing, capability, workforce, and manpower-budget requirements.
• Drive workforce productivity and cost efficiency through capacity analysis, scenario modeling, and workforce insights.
• Lead organization design and restructuring, advising on operating models, structures, management layers, and accountabilities.

Analytics and leadership

• Oversee job evaluation, grading, job architecture, workforce analytics, and market benchmarking.
• Provide insights on pay, performance, headcount, manpower costs, and organizational effectiveness.
• Coach leaders and managers on reward, performance, and workforce matters; guide and develop the reward team.
• Lead initiatives from design through implementation, measurement, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Experience

• Senior HR leadership experience at Senior Manager level or above in an organization of 1,000 or more employees, including direct team leadership.
• At least five years of reward experience, or at least seven years of generalist HR experience with strong expertise in reward, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Proven job-evaluation experience using a recognized methodology such as Hay or WTW.
• Experience leading company-wide compensation reviews, performance initiatives, workforce planning, incentives, and reward programmes.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders in complex, matrix organizations and managing UAE benefits and insurance programmes.
• Middle East experience is desirable, UAE experience is preferred, and education or service-sector experience is preferred.

Skills and expertise

• Strong compensation benchmarking, pay analysis, workforce analytics, organization design, and advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent English communication, presentation, analytical, relationship-building, and project-management skills.

Preferred qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or a related discipline is desired; formal reward study or training is noted.
• A globally recognized HR qualification such as CIPD or SHRM, WorldatWork certification, or related professional training is preferred.

About the employer and offer

• Aldar Education operates schools and education services in the UAE and describes professional development, coaching, training, and an attractive remuneration package.
• The employer states a commitment to equal opportunity, inclusion, and safeguarding; appointment is subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.