Head of HR

International Community Schools (ICSchools); Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and benefits per UAE Labour Law

Job summary

International Community Schools (ICS) is seeking a highly experienced Head of Human Resources to lead HR operations across its Abu Dhabi campuses. The role requires strategic workforce planning, organizational development, and a strong focus on employee engagement and governance.

You will advise the CEO and senior leaders, shape HR policies, manage executive recruitment, and drive HR digitalization and analytics to enable a high-performance culture across all branches in the UAE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or related discipline.
• Master's degree in HR Management, MBA, or professional HR certifications (CIPD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HR experience, including senior leadership roles.
• Experience in UAE education sector, multi-campus environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Labour Law, ADEK regulations, HR compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Group's HR strategy in alignment with organizational objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Serve as strategic HR advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team.
• Lead workforce planning, organizational restructuring, succession planning, and talent development across six branches.
• Establish standardized HR policies, procedures, and performance management frameworks across the Group.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to support executive-level workforce decisions.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategies for academic, administrative, and leadership positions.
• Oversee employee onboarding, contract management, renewals, and lifecycle processes.
• Oversee employee relations, grievances, disciplinary procedures, and conflict resolution.

Job description

WE ARE HIRING | HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES (HR)

International Community Schools (ICS)? Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
? Position: Head of Human Resources
? Industry: Education – Multi-Campus School Group
About International Community Schools

International Community Schools (ICS) is a well-established and growing educational group in Abu Dhabi, delivering high-quality British and American curricula across six school branches.

We are seeking a highly experienced, strategic, and results-driven Head of Human Resources to lead the Group's HR operations, strengthen organizational effectiveness, develop talent strategies, and build a high-performance workplace culture across all IDS branches.

This is a senior leadership position requiring a professional who can go beyond traditional HR administration to drive strategic workforce planning, organizational development, employee engagement, and HR transformation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and execute the Group's HR strategy in alignment with organizational objectives and long-term growth plans.


• Serve as a strategic HR advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team.


• Lead workforce planning, organizational restructuring, succession planning, and talent development across all six branches.


• Establish standardized HR policies, procedures, and performance management frameworks across the Group.


• Provide data-driven recommendations to support executive-level workforce and organizational decisions.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Management

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategies for academic, administrative, and leadership positions.


• Develop effective talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning programs.


• Ensure timely staffing and workforce readiness across all schools.


• Oversee employee onboarding, contract management, renewals, and employee lifecycle processes.


• Collaborate with school principals and department heads to identify staffing requirements and optimize workforce allocation.

HR Governance, Compliance & Employee Relations

• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law, ADEK requirements, and other applicable education-sector regulations.


• Oversee employee relations, grievances, disciplinary procedures, and conflict resolution.


• Maintain strong HR governance, confidentiality, and consistent policy implementation.


• Supervise employee documentation, visa-related coordination, payroll administration, and statutory HR requirements.


• Identify and mitigate HR-related legal, operational, and organizational risks.

Performance Management & Organizational Development

• Design and implement effective performance appraisal systems and measurable HR KPIs.


• Establish employee engagement, professional development, and leadership development initiatives.


• Strengthen employee accountability, productivity, and organizational culture.


• Develop compensation and benefits strategies aligned with market competitiveness and financial sustainability.


• Drive HR digitalization, HRMS/ERP optimization, automation, and process improvements.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop HR teams across all six branches.


• Collaborate closely with executive management, school principals, finance, operations, and other departments.


• Present HR performance reports, workforce analytics, strategic recommendations, and organizational risk assessments to senior leadership.


• Promote a professional, ethical, collaborative, and high-performance workplace culture across the Group.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline.


• Master's degree in HR Management, MBA, or professional HR certifications such as CIPD, SHRM-SCP, or SPHR are strongly preferred.


• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HR experience, including substantial experience in senior HR leadership positions.


• Previous HR leadership experience within the UAE education sector, particularly in a school group or multi-campus environment, is essential.


• Proven track record in strategic HR management, organizational development, workforce planning, and employee relations.


• Strong working knowledge of UAE Labour Law, ADEK regulations, and education-sector HR compliance.


• Demonstrated experience managing HR operations across multiple locations and diverse employee groups.


• Strong knowledge of HRMS/ERP systems, HR analytics, compensation management, and performance management frameworks.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Arabic language proficiency is a strong advantage.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a strategic HR leader, not simply an HR administrator — someone who demonstrates:

• Strong leadership capabilities with the confidence to make independent, well-informed HR decisions.


• A proactive and solution-oriented approach to workforce and organizational challenges.


• The ability to balance employee well-being, organizational effectiveness, and financial sustainability.


• Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder-management skills.


• The ability to introduce modern HR practices, challenge inefficient processes, and drive meaningful organizational transformation.


• High standards of professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.

Benefits

This is an opportunity to join an established and growing educational group, influence strategic leadership decisions, lead HR transformation across multiple school campuses, and contribute to building an exceptional workforce that supports educational excellence. Salary and benefits are as per UAE Labor laws and job title.