HR and People Director

HR and People Director

Location: Dubai, UAEAre you a forward-thinking HR leader who knows how to build an environment where people can develop, progress, and build long-term careers?We are recruiting an experienced HR and People Director for an established organisation in Dubai, with operations across the UAE and international markets.

This is an opportunity to lead the people strategy across multiple countries, introduce scalable HR frameworks, and create meaningful career development pathways that support individual growth and business performance.Working closely with senior leadership, you'll play a central role in building a high-performing, engaged workforce, with a particular focus on talent development, succession planning, and long-term employee retention.What You'll Be DoingShape and deliver the people strategy across the UAE and international operations, developing scalable HR frameworks, policies, and processes that support business objectives, operational efficiency, and long-term organisational growth.Build meaningful career development programmes, introducing structured learning, development, and progression pathways that help employees build new capabilities and advance their careers within the organisation.Drive succession planning and internal talent development, identifying future leaders, creating individual development plans, and establishing frameworks that support long-term retention and internal mobility.Improve employee engagement and retention, developing initiatives, performance frameworks, and incentive programmes that resonate with a multi-generational workforce and reflect changing employee expectations.Partner with senior leadership across multiple locations, advising on organisational design, workforce planning, change management, and the development of high-performing teams within a collaborative, relatively flat management structure.Strengthen HR operations and governance across different markets, overseeing compensation and benefits, employee relations, regulatory compliance, HR systems, budgets, and vendor relationships, while using people analytics to measure effectiveness and guide decisions.About YouExtensive experience in a senior HR leadership role, ideally within a large-scale or multinational organisation, with a proven ability to develop and execute people strategies aligned with business objectives.Proven experience leading HR activities across multiple countries or regions, with an understanding of how to implement consistent people strategies while adapting to different local employment regulations, cultures, and business environments.Experience operating within modern, progressive organisations, where collaborative leadership, relatively flat structures, and employee empowerment are central to the working environment.A strong track record of designing and implementing structured employee development frameworks, including career progression pathways, leadership development, succession planning, and long-term retention initiatives.Demonstrable experience building employee engagement and performance programmes that appeal to different generations, particularly emerging talent seeking clear development opportunities and long-term career growth.Strong understanding of HR governance, compensation frameworks, HR systems, and people analytics, with the ability to influence executive stakeholders, lead organisational change, and translate people strategy into measurable outcomes.What's in It for You?This is an opportunity to have a meaningful influence on how an organisation develops, engages, and retains its people across its UAE and international operations.You'll have the opportunity to:Shape the international people agenda, developing the frameworks, systems, and programmes that support consistent HR practices and sustainable growth across multiple markets.Make a measurable impact on employee development and retention, creating an environment where people can see a future for themselves and progress through different stages of their careers.Work closely with executive leadership, influencing decisions around organisational structure, culture, performance, and succession planning.Receive a competitive executive remuneration package reflecting the seniority and strategic importance of the position.Take the Next Step in Your CareerIf you're an experienced HR leader with international exposure who is passionate about developing people, creating clear career pathways, and building progressive HR functions that deliver measurable business results, we'd like to hear from you.Whether you're ready to take on this HR and People Director opportunity or would simply like to explore the role in more detail, we welcome a confidential discussion.Please apply now to start a confidential conversation with our executive search team. We'll support you through every step of the process and ensure this move adds real value to your career.