Director - Employee Relations, Policy & Governance

Client of Michael Page; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of Michael Page is seeking a senior Employee Relations and Governance professional to lead group-wide governance transformation, own critical employee relations agendas, and manage complex escalation cases across multiple entities.

You will develop, write and enforce group-wide people policies, provide expert guidance on investigations and disciplinary matters, and drive compliance with employment laws and governance standards.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in employee relations, governance, compliance and policy development.
• Proven background managing sensitive investigations, grievances, disciplinary processes and escalations.
• Experience creating and implementing policies from first principles within large-scale organisations.
• Strong understanding of employment law and regulatory compliance; legal qualifications are advantageous.
• Experience operating within complex, matrixed or multi-entity environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior executives and provide credible challenge where required.
• Highly structured, detail-oriented and methodical approach.
• Resilient and comfortable managing difficult conversations and high-pressure situations.
• Agile mindset with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Exposure to transformation, automation or digital HR initiatives is highly desirable.
• UAE or GCC experience preferred.
• HR qualifications such as CIPD, SHRM or equivalent are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead group-wide governance transformation across the enterprise.
• Own critical employee relations agenda and senior escalation for complex cases.
• Govern policy development and ensure consistency across entities.
• Provide expert guidance on investigations, grievances, disciplinary matters and risk.
• Drive compliance with employment legislation and internal governance standards.
• Partner with senior leadership on workforce-related risk and transformation initiatives.
• Support automation and AI-enabled people transformation programmes.
• Establish reporting controls, escalation processes and case management frameworks.
• Influence senior stakeholders and challenge non-compliant behaviours when required.
• Lead and develop a small employee relations function while advising the wider organisation.

Skills

Employee relations

Governance

Policy development

Investigations

Grievances handling

Disciplinary processes

Employment law

Regulatory compliance

Multi-entity environments

Stakeholder management

Agile mindset

Digital HR

Education

HR qualifications (CIPD/SHRM)

Job description

Responsibilities

Lead group-wide governance transformationOwn critical employee relations agendaLeading diversified enterprise operating across multiple businesses and sectors Act as the senior escalation point for complex sensitive and high-risk employee relations cases Lead employee relations governance across multiple business entities ensuring consistency compliance and best practice Develop write implement and enforce group-wide people policies and governance frameworks Provide expert guidance on employee relations investigations grievances disciplinary matters and organisational risk Drive compliance with employment legislation and internal governance standards Partner with senior leadership on workforce-related risk organisational change and transformation initiatives Support organisation-wide automation and AI-enabled people transformation programmes Work closely with change management and transformation teams to identify efficiencies and improve ways of working Establish robust reporting controls escalation processes and case management frameworks Influence senior stakeholders and challenge non-compliant behaviours when required Operate effectively within a lean corporate structure balancing strategic priorities and operational delivery Lead and develop a small employee relations function while providing expert advisory support to the wider organisation

Qualifications

• Significant experience in employee relations, governance, compliance and policy development.
• Proven background managing sensitive investigations, grievances, disciplinary processes and complex escalations.
• Experience creating and implementing policies from first principles within large-scale organisations.
• Strong understanding of employment law and regulatory compliance; legal qualifications are advantageous.
• Experience operating within complex, matrixed or multi-entity environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior executives and provide credible challenge where required.
• Highly structured, detail-oriented and methodical approach.
• Resilient and comfortable managing difficult conversations and high-pressure situations.
• Agile mindset with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Exposure to transformation, automation or digital HR initiatives is highly desirable.
• UAE or GCC experience preferred.
• Professional HR qualifications such as CIPD, SHRM or equivalent are advantageous.