People Partner

Lean is scaling fast, with 130+ employees across our markets, and our People function is evolving to match that growth. We're hiring a senior People Partner to take ownership of areas such as org design, manager enablement, and performance management, and ensure our leadership and teams are set up to thrive as we grow.

You'll partner directly with cross-functional department heads, support high-quality decision-making around team structure and talent, and lead the development of frameworks that drive performance, clarity, and culture. Based in Dubai or Riyadh, this role is also critical in providing senior HR presence in our largest offices and most complex teams.

You'll be joining a small, lean team: this is not a layered HR function. You'll work closely with senior leaders, and your ability to build trust, influence decisions, and operate with autonomy will be essential to success.

The Moment

Lean has tripled in size over the past twelve months. We're on track to triple again next year. What started as the region's pioneering Open Finance platform is now becoming something bigger: a multi-product infrastructure company powering payments, data, and lending across MENA. We're expanding into new markets, opening offices, acquiring businesses, and building capabilities that didn't exist here before.

We've processed billions of dollars in transactions. We're trusted by 350+ clients - from Binance and Careem to Etisalat - and backed by General Catalyst, Sequoia, and Shorooq. Our $67.5M Series B was just the beginning.

What you'll own

• Act as a strategic HR partner to department heads across business and tech
• Design org structures, team models, and job architecture to support growth
• Lead manager enablement programs, including toolkits, training, and resources
• Support performance cycles from end-to-end (timeline, calibration, execution)
• Drive promotion processes, growth planning, and succession strategies
• Advise on high-trust people matters, including ER cases, terminations, and policy interpretation
• Own engagement survey execution and follow-up, ensuring action at the manager level
• Identify people-related risks and propose clear, data-informed solutions
• Collaborate cross-functionally to build scalable, repeatable People frameworks

What we're looking for

• 5+ years of experience as a People Partner or HR Business Partner in fast-paced environments
• Proven track record in org design, performance management, and leadership support
• Strong project ownership and stakeholder management across departments
• Able to coach and influence senior managers with confidence and credibility
• Analytical mindset with comfort using data to shape People strategies
• Excellent communication skills: clear, structured, and tactful
• Comfortable working in hybrid and distributed teams across markets
• Experience in a tech company or high-growth startup environment
• Regional exposure to UAE and/or KSA labor laws and employment practices
• Built frameworks or programs from scratch (e.g. L&D, engagement, growth mapping)
• Strong judgment in handling sensitive and complex People issues