Director - Employee Relations, Policy & Governance

QatarYello; Dubai International Financial Centre; On-site; AED 450,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

QatarYello seeks a senior Employee Relations leader to act as the escalation point for complex cases and governance across multiple entities in the UAE/GCC. You will develop group-wide policies, guide investigations, and ensure compliance with employment law while partnering with senior leadership on workforce risk and transformation initiatives.

You will also drive automation in HR programmes, lead a small ER team, and establish robust reporting and case-management frameworks to balance

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading employee relations governance and policy development.
• Experience managing sensitive investigations, grievances and disciplinary processes.
• Knowledge of UAE/GCC regulations and multi-entity corporate environments.
• Ability to partner with senior leadership and drive automation or digital HR initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior escalation point for complex employee relations cases.
• Lead employee relations governance across multiple entities.
• Develop and enforce group-wide people policies and governance frameworks.
• Provide guidance on investigations, grievances, disciplinary matters and organisational risk.
• Drive compliance with employment legislation and internal governance standards.
• Partner with senior leadership on workforce risk and transformation initiatives.
• Support automation and AI-enabled HR programmes.
• Identify efficiencies with change management teams and improve ways of working.
• Establish reporting, controls, and case management frameworks.
• Influence senior stakeholders and challenge non-compliant behaviours.
• Lead and develop a small ER function and advise the wider organisation.

Skills

Employee relations

Governance

Compliance

Policy development

Investigations

Grievances

Disciplinary matters

Stakeholder management

Change management

HR transformation

Transformation programs

Multi-entity experience

Education

CIPD/SHRM or equivalent HR qualification

Job description

Leading 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.

• 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.