Director, Middle East People Lead

Alvarez & Marsal Deutschland GmbH; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consulting firm is seeking a Director, Middle East People Lead in Dubai. This role involves advising senior leadership, driving employee engagement, and overseeing HR initiatives across the region. Ideal candidates will have extensive HR leadership and regional experience, fluency in Arabic and English, and a solid understanding of labor laws in the Middle East. This position promises a dynamic environment and significant growth opportunities.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Employee well-being resources

Performance rewards

Qualifications

• 10+ years of HR experience with 5 years in leadership roles managing multi-regional teams.
• Experience in matrixed, international business with regulatory exposure in the Middle East.
• Significant regional experience in professional services.

Responsibilities

• Serve as advisor on all people-related matters.
• Design and implement people strategies aligned with business goals.
• Oversee compliance with labor laws and best practices.

Skills

Progressive HR experience

Leadership

Fluency in Arabic and English

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Communications skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Overview

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 11,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients' problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are why our people love working at A&M.

The Team

A&M is rapidly growing in the Middle East and is recruiting a Director, Middle East People Lead within our Global People Organisation (GPO) to be based in the Dubai office. This person will report to our EMEA People Lead and work closely with senior leadership, advising and leading people-centric initiatives across the region. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving employee engagement, workforce planning, and operational excellence while ensuring compliance with all relevant labour laws and regulations. This is a high-impact role for a strategic, commercially minded HR leader who thrives in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.

How you will contribute

As the Director, Middle East People Lead, your key responsibilities will include :

• Serving as the trusted advisor to senior leaders on all people-related matters, including all elements of the employee life cycle.
• Collaborating with global and regional People leadership teams to design, implement, and execute comprehensive People strategies that support business goals and enhance employee performance and development within the region.
• Designing and executing key People projects specific to the Middle East region.
• Overseeing the professional development of the regional People teams through coaching and mentorship.
• Developing and enforcing people policies, procedures, and best practices across the region in partnership with global and regional leadership.
• Ensuring compliance with local labour laws, industry standards, and organisational policies, mitigating legal and operational risks.
• Advising the local People team on employee relations matters, with support from global or regional leadership as necessary.
• Fostering a culture aligned with A&M’s global vision and values, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and innovation tailored to the local work environment.
• Overseeing People operations, including Workday (our HRIS system), payroll, and queries, in alignment with SLAs.
• Supporting automation of workflows and operational efficiency improvements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in leadership roles managing multi-regional teams.
• Experience working in a matrixed, international business with exposure to complex regulatory environments in the Middle East.
• Significant Middle East regional experience, ideally in the professional services sector.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is essential.
• Bachelor\'s degree in HR, Business, or related field; Master\'s degree preferred.
• Professional HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) highly desirable.
• Proven track record of success in global HR operations and service delivery.
• Strong understanding of HR practices and labour laws across multiple Middle Eastern countries.
• Experience in change management and organisational development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in diverse environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Your journey at A&M

We recognize that our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we prioritize an employee experience that fosters each person’s unique professional and personal development. Our robust performance development process promotes continuous learning, rewards your contributions, and fosters a culture of meritocracy. With top-notch training and on-the-job learning opportunities, you can acquire new skills and advance your career.

We prioritize your well-being, providing benefits and resources to support you on your personal journey. Our people consistently highlight the growth opportunities, our unique, entrepreneurial culture, and the fun we have together as their favorite aspects of working at A&M. The possibilities are endless for high-performing and passionate professionals.