Head of HR

Role overview

Strategic HR leadership

• Develop and execute HR strategy aligned with organizational objectives and long-term growth.
• Advise the CEO and senior leaders on HR matters and workforce decisions.
• Lead workforce planning, restructuring, succession planning, and talent development across branches.
• Establish standardized HR policies, procedures, and performance management frameworks.

Recruitment and workforce management

• Oversee recruitment strategies for academic, administrative, and leadership roles.
• Develop talent acquisition, retention, and succession programs and ensure staffing readiness.
• Oversee onboarding, contracts, renewals, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Work with school leaders to identify staffing requirements and optimize workforce allocation.

Governance and employee relations

• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law, ADEK requirements, and applicable education regulations.
• Oversee employee relations, grievances, disciplinary procedures, and conflict resolution.
• Supervise employee documentation, visa coordination, payroll administration, and statutory HR requirements.
• Maintain HR governance and confidentiality and mitigate HR-related risks.

Performance and organizational development

• Design performance appraisal systems and measurable HR KPIs.
• Develop employee engagement, professional development, and leadership development initiatives.
• Develop compensation and benefits strategies aligned with market competitiveness and financial sustainability.
• Drive HR digitalization, HRMS/ERP optimization, automation, and process improvement.

Leadership and reporting

• Lead, mentor, and develop HR teams across six branches; collaborate with executive management and school stakeholders.
• Present HR performance reports, workforce analytics, recommendations, and risk assessments to senior leaders.
• Promote a professional, ethical, collaborative, high-performance workplace culture.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR leadership.
• UAE education-sector HR leadership experience in a school group or multi-campus environment is essential.
• Experience in strategic HR management, organizational development, workforce planning, employee relations, and multi-location operations.
• Working knowledge of UAE Labour Law, ADEK regulations, HRMS/ERP systems, HR analytics, compensation, and performance management.

Preferred qualifications and attributes

• A master's degree in HR Management, MBA, or CIPD, SHRM-SCP, or SPHR certification is strongly preferred.
• Arabic proficiency is an advantage.
• The employer seeks a strategic, proactive leader with strong communication, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and stakeholder-management skills.

Opportunity

• Opportunity to influence strategic leadership decisions and lead HR transformation across multiple school campuses.
• Salary and benefits are stated to be in accordance with UAE labor laws and the job title; no compensation cadence is specified.