HR Director

Client of Teach East; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Teach East seeks an experienced HR Director to lead the HR function, shaping people strategy and delivering HR services across the organisation.

The role acts as trusted advisor to senior leadership, championing a high-performance, compliant and inclusive culture. On-site presence in Dubai is required, engaging with senior management and cross-functional teams to drive people-centred outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR/Business Administration or related field; master's preferred.
• Professional HR certification such as CIPD or SHRM-SCP is desirable.
• 10+ years progressive HR experience with at least 5 in a senior leadership role, ideally UAE/GCC.
• Strong knowledge of UAE labour law and local regulations.
• Experience with HRIS and using HR analytics to drive business outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership with collaborative, results-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overarching HR strategy aligned with business goals and values.
• Lead talent acquisition, employer branding and workforce planning to attract high-calibre professionals.
• Oversee performance management, succession planning and leadership development.
• Design and manage compensation and benefits frameworks ensuring market alignment and internal equity.
• Ensure compliance with UAE labour law and local regulations, managing policies and contracts.
• Provide strategic employee relations advice and handle complex investigations.
• Drive organizational design, change management and cultural initiatives.
• Use HR analytics to inform decision-making and report workforce trends to executives.
• Lead, mentor and develop the HR team; promote best practice across HR operations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic HR planning

Employee relations

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business Admin

Master's degree (advantage)

Tools

HRIS (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors)

HR analytics tools

Job description

We are seeking an experienced HR Director to lead the HR function, drive people strategy and ensure the effective delivery of HR services across the organisation. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and will champion a high-performance compliant and inclusive culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overarching HR strategy aligned with business goals and the organisation s values
• Lead talent acquisition, employer branding and workforce planning to attract and retain high-calibre professionals
• Oversee performance management, succession planning and leadership development programmes to build internal capability
• Design and manage competitive compensation and benefits frameworks ensuring market alignment and internal equity
• Ensure compliance with UAE labour law and local regulations, managing employment policies, contracts and outsourced legal support where required
• Provide strategic employee relations advice, handle complex investigations and foster a positive employee experience
• Drive organisational design, change management and cultural initiatives to support business transformation
• Use HR analytics and metrics to inform decision-making and report on workforce trends to the executive team
• Lead, mentor and develop the HR team, promoting best practice and continuous improvement across HR operations
• The role requires an on-site presence in Dubai and the ability to engage directly with senior management and cross-functional teams to drive people-centred outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related discipline; a master s degree is an advantage.
• Professional HR certification such as CIPD, SHRM-SCP or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years progressive HR experience with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, ideally within the UAE or GCC region.
• Strong knowledge of UAE labour law and regulations, with experience managing compliance and employment matters locally.
• Proven track record in strategic workforce planning, talent management and organisational development.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills at executive level.
• Experience implementing HRIS solutions and using HR metrics to drive business outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities with a collaborative, results-oriented approach and high ethical standards.