Head of Compliance Systems & Processes

Leru Partners; Dubai; On-site; AED 210,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Leru Partners in Dubai seeks an experienced Head of Compliance Systems & Processes to design, implement and embed a scalable control framework across pre-build, build and BAU operations.

This hands-on leadership role requires building from scratch and partnering with operational, technical and corporate teams to ensure practical, measurable governance programs in a rapidly scaling UAE business.

Qualifications

• Hands-on ownership of compliance, risk or controls frameworks.
• Experience building control libraries, risk registers and testing cycles.
• Proven ability to stand up framework from scratch in large organisations.
• Experience with GRC platforms such as Archer or ServiceNow is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the end-to-end compliance and control framework across pre-build, build and operational environments.
• Establish process architecture, control points, testing methodologies and evidence requirements.
• Develop and maintain control libraries, risk registers and compliance testing cycles.
• Establish governance, risk and compliance processes aligned with ISO 31000 and COSO.
• Lead the implementation and optimisation of GRC platforms including Archer/ServiceNow.
• Define ownership, escalation, reporting and remediation processes.
• Drive first-time framework implementations, certifications and control programmes.
• Embed processes across the organisation and transition them into sustainable BAU ownership.
• Partner with operational, technical and corporate stakeholders to ensure practical controls.

Skills

Compliance & GRC

Operational risk

Internal controls

Framework design & impl.

Stakeholder collaboration

Tools

Archer

ServiceNow

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Head of Compliance Systems & Processes to establish, implement and embed the compliance, risk and control infrastructure required to support a rapidly scaling organisation.

This is a hands-on leadership mandate for someone who has built frameworks and processes from the ground up, owned them end to end, and successfully transitioned them into business-as-usual operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement the end-to-end compliance and control framework across pre-build, build and operational environments.
• Establish process architecture, control points, testing methodologies and evidence requirements.
• Develop and maintain control libraries, risk registers and compliance testing cycles.
• Establish and implement governance, risk and compliance processes aligned with ISO 31000 and COSO principles.
• Lead the implementation and optimisation of GRC platforms, including Archer and/or ServiceNow.
• Define clear ownership, escalation, reporting and remediation processes.
• Drive first-time framework implementations, certifications and control programmes.
• Embed newly established processes across the organisation and transition them into sustainable BAU ownership.
• Partner with operational, technical and corporate stakeholders to ensure controls are practical, measurable and scalable.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong experience across compliance, operational risk, internal controls or GRC.
• Several years of end-to-end ownership of a compliance, risk or controls framework/programme.
• Demonstrable experience personally building and running control frameworks and testing cycles, rather than solely overseeing established programmes.
• Proven track record of standing up frameworks from scratch, such as a control library, risk register, GRC platform or first-time certification.
• Hands‑on experience establishing and implementing new processes within complex organisations.
• Experience with Archer, ServiceNow or comparable GRC platforms.
• Direct exposure to critical infrastructure, data centres/hyperscale, financial services or telecommunications.
• GCC experience is highly advantageous, particularly exposure to free zones, local licensing, data residency and tax-incentive regimes.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of the compliance systems and processes supporting a complex, rapidly scaling environment. You will have the mandate to build, implement and embed the framework rather than simply inherit an established function.