Senior Director Human Resources

Position Title: HR Director (UAE National)

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The HR Director will lead and oversee the Human Resources function across the hospitality portfolio, ensuring the alignment of HR strategies with business objectives. The role is responsible for talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, learning and development, compensation and benefits, Emiratization initiatives, succession planning, and compliance with UAE labor laws.

The successful candidate will act as a strategic business partner to senior leadership, fostering a high-performance culture while ensuring exceptional employee engagement and operational excellence across all hospitality operations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and implement the organization's HR strategy in alignment with corporate objectives and growth plans.
• Partner with executive leadership to drive organizational effectiveness and workforce planning initiatives.
• Lead change management and transformation projects across the organization.
• Establish and monitor HR KPIs and workforce analytics to support strategic decision-making.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategies for corporate, operational, and leadership positions.
• Develop talent pipelines to support business expansion and succession planning.
• Lead Emiratization initiatives and ensure achievement of national workforce targets.
• Build employer branding strategies to attract top talent within the hospitality sector.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Foster a positive employee experience and high-performance culture.
• Lead employee engagement, retention, and recognition programs.
• Manage employee relations matters, investigations, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being initiatives.

Performance Management & Talent Development

• Design and oversee performance management frameworks.
• Establish leadership development and succession planning programs.
• Identify organizational capability gaps and implement learning and development initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement and talent management programs.

Compensation & Benefits

• Oversee compensation, benefits, and reward programs to ensure market competitiveness.
• Conduct salary benchmarking and workforce cost analysis.
• Ensure effective budget planning and management of HR expenditures.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law and all relevant employment regulations.
• Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Oversee HR audits and ensure compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage relationships with government authorities and relevant stakeholders.

Hospitality Operations Support

• Partner with operational leaders to address workforce challenges and staffing requirements.
• Support pre-opening and expansion projects from an HR perspective.
• Ensure HR practices support service excellence and customer experience objectives.

Qualifications

• UAE National (Family Book required).
• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or related field.
• Master's Degree or MBA is preferred.
• Professional HR certifications such as CIPD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent are highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HR experience.
• At least 5 years in a senior HR leadership role.
• Prior experience within the Hospitality, Hotels, Resorts, Leisure, or Tourism sector is essential.
• Proven experience leading large and diverse workforces in a multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Labour Law and Emiratization programs.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Workforce Planning & Talent Management
• Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution
• Organizational Development
• Change Management
• Performance Management
• Compensation & Benefits
• Stakeholder Management
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Strong Communication and Influencing Skills
• Commercial Acumen
• Budget Management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Employee Engagement Scores
• Staff Retention Rates
• Time-to-Fill Critical Positions
• Emiratization Targets Achievement
• Training & Development Effectiveness
• Leadership Succession Readiness
• HR Budget Compliance
• Employee Relations Resolution Metrics
• Compliance and Audit Results

Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary package commensurate with experience, including family benefits, annual bonus, medical insurance, and other company benefits.