Human Resources Manager

HR Manager | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Supported by significant investment and a strong global footprint, we are seeking an HR Manager in Abu Dhabi to lead and develop the people strategy supporting a rapidly expanding shipbuilding and ship repair operation.

Your Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly scaling maritime business, aligned with long-term regional growth and global expansion.

As operations expand across ship repair, drydocking, and marine engineering projects, you will play a key role in building the workforce, systems, and HR infrastructure required to support large-scale operational delivery across operational and support functions.

Your Mandate

This is a leadership role where you will oversee the full HR function, ensuring the organisation is equipped to attract, mobilise, develop, and retain the workforce required to support a fast-paced shipyard environment.

Lead Recruitment & Workforce Mobilisation:

Manage recruitment campaigns across international markets, with a strong focus on skilled blue-collar hiring for shipyard, drydocking, and marine engineering operations.

Drive HR Operations & Compliance:

Oversee HR operations including onboarding, employee relations, performance management, policies, and compliance with UAE labour regulations and internal governance standards.

Support Organisational Growth:

Develop and implement workforce planning strategies aligned with operational expansion, ensuring manpower capability keeps pace with yard and project requirements.

Manage Stakeholder & Workforce Relations:

Partner closely with the senior leadership team, department heads, and external recruitment partners to ensure effective manpower planning, mobilisation, and employee engagement across the business.

Enhance HR Systems & Talent Development:

Implement processes, reporting structures, succession planning initiatives, and development programs to strengthen workforce capability, operational efficiency, and retention.

You

You are a HR leader: a good people manager; commercially aware; operationally focused - with experience supporting maritime environments.

Your Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field
• 8–10 years’ HR experience
• Experience in a shipyard, drydocking, offshore or shipbuilding environment.

Your Competencies:

You have proven experience managing overseas recruitment campaigns for skilled blue-collar workforces, alongside strong understanding of HR operations, workforce planning, employee relations, and UAE labour practices.

Your Attributes:

Naturally hands-on, adaptable, and delivery-focused, with the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and build strong relationships across multicultural teams.

Apply now

You will play a key role in shaping the workforce behind a rapidly growing maritime and shipyard operation, supporting large-scale expansion across one of the region’s most ambitious maritime platforms.