Head of People

Job Description : Head of People & Culture. DUBAI This is for a financial services organization This is a leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering the people strategy, partnering closely with the executive team, and building a high- performing, compliant and future-ready HR function. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership ? Act as a strategic people advisor to the executive committee and senior leaders on organisational design, workforce planning and leadership matters ? Develop and execute a people and culture strategy aligned to business and growth objectives ? Lead the transformation of HR from a reactive support function to a proactive, value-adding business partner HR Governance, Policy & Compliance ? Design, implement and continuously improve HR policies, frameworks, systems and procedures in line with local labour law and regulatory standards ? Ensure robust HR governance, risk management and compliance across the organisation ? Prepare and present people-related insights, policies and recommendations to senior leadership Workforce Planning & Talent ? Lead workforce and manpower planning in partnership with business leaders ? Oversee recruitment, selection and onboarding processes across all levels ? Review and formalise job structures, role design and career pathways ? Build strong succession planning and talent development frameworks Reward, Compensation & Benefits ? Design and manage competitive and cost-effective compensation, incentive and benefits structures ? Conduct market benchmarking within financial services to ensure competitiveness ? Oversee job evaluation, grading and reward frameworks across the organisation Learning, Development & Leadership ? Lead learning and development strategy, including leadership development and executive coaching ? Identify capability gaps and design targeted development programmes ? Oversee induction, training delivery and programme evaluation Performance & Culture ? Design and oversee performance management frameworks, KPIs and appraisal processes ? Support leaders in driving accountability, engagement and high performance ? Champion a positive, inclusive and high-trust workplace culture Employee Relations & Engagement ? Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters, grievances and conflict resolution ? Lead employee engagement initiatives and communication strategies ? Ensure fair, consistent and equitable treatment across the organisation HR Operations & Systems ? Oversee HR operations including payroll, benefits administration and employee lifecycle management ? Lead and develop the HR team, providing coaching and direction ? Review and enhance HR systems and HRMS capabilities to support data- driven decision making Requirements Experience & Background ? Significant senior HR leadership experience within financial services or regulated environments ? Proven experience partnering with executive leadership on strategic people matters ? Strong understanding of labour law, compensation practices and HR governance Education & Qualifications ? Bachelor’s degree (any discipline) ? Master’s or MBA in Human Resources or related field preferred ? Professional HR certification (CIPD, SHRM, SPHR, PHR or similar) highly desirable

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