Head of HR

International Community Schools; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

International Community Schools in Abu Dhabi invites an experienced Head of Human Resources to lead HR operations across six campuses. The role requires strategic workforce planning, talent development, and a strong focus on governance and compliance with UAE Labour Law and ADEK requirements.

You will shape policy, drive HR digitalization, oversee recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and employee relations, and partner with senior leadership to build a high-performance culture across the group.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, or related field.
• Master's degree or professional HR certifications preferred (CIPD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR).
• 12–15 years of progressive HR experience, with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR strategy and policies for six branches.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Ensure UAE Labour Law and ADEK compliance.
• Drive HR transformation, analytics, and digitalization.
• Develop compensation and benefits aligned with market.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic HR

Stakeholder management

HR compliance

HR analytics

Communication

Arabic language

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/related

Master's degree in HR/ MBA or CIPD/SHRM/SPHR

Tools

HRMS/ERP systems

Payroll management

Job description

International Community Schools | Non Academics

Head of HR

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 10/14/2026

Welcome to International Community Schools Abu Dhabi! At IC, our unwavering commitment is to provide a stimulating and intellectually challenging environment that empowers our students to become innovative thinkers, creative problem solvers, and inspired learners, fully prepared to thrive in the 21st Century. Renowned for our outstanding, holistic education and the development of future leaders, we have earned an enviable reputation in the region for delivering high-quality private education to students from FS/KG to Year 13/Grade 12. We offer a diverse range of curriculum, including both the British and American programs, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Advance Placement (AP), and Ministry of Education (MOE) programs, exceeding minimum expectations and covering a wide array of subjects.

Job Description

WE ARE HIRING | HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES (HR)

International Community Schools (ICS)

? Position: Head of Human Resources

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 ISC 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.

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.