HR Director Construction Industry

The Greater Change; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and engineering firm is seeking an HR Director to develop and execute a human capital strategy that supports business growth and sustainability. This strategic role involves enhancing employee engagement and ensuring compliance with UAE labor laws while managing a large multicultural workforce. The ideal candidate will possess over 15 years of HR leadership experience and a strong business-driven mindset. The position offers an executive-level compensation package aligned with UAE market standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of HR leadership experience within construction or engineering organizations.
• Strong knowledge of UAE labor law and GCC HR practices.
• Proven experience managing large, multicultural workforces.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term HR strategy aligned with corporate goals.
• Lead recruitment strategies for executive, technical, and operational positions.
• Design and implement performance management frameworks.
• Enhance employee engagement, retention, and organizational culture.
• Ensure compliance with UAE labor law and Emiratization policies.
• Lead HRIS implementation and HR automation initiatives.

Skills

Strategic and business-driven mindset

Strong leadership

Communication abilities

Negotiation abilities

High integrity

Professionalism

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

Industry: Construction, Engineering & Infrastructure
Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Role Purpose

The HR Director is a strategic business leader responsible for developing and executing the organization’s human capital strategy to support business growth, project excellence, and long-term sustainability. The role ensures alignment between people strategy, organizational capability, leadership development, and workforce performance across all business units.

The HR Director will foster a high-performance culture while ensuring strict compliance with UAE labor law, Emiratization policies, and international HR best practices in a complex, multi-project contracting environment.

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and execute long-term HR strategy aligned with corporate goals.
• Translate business objectives into workforce planning, organizational design, and talent strategies.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on succession planning, leadership development, and people risk management.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Lead recruitment strategies for executive, technical, and operational positions.
• Strengthen employer branding within the construction and engineering sector.
• Oversee manpower planning, mobilization, and demobilization across multiple projects.

Performance, Learning & Development

• Design and implement performance management frameworks.
• Lead leadership development and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive continuous learning, competency development, and capability building.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Enhance employee engagement, retention, and organizational culture.
• Manage grievance handling, disciplinary procedures, and investigations.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing initiatives.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with UAE labor law, WPS, visas, and Emiratization.
• Maintain HR policies, procedures, and audit readiness.
• Oversee HR risk management and governance reporting.

Digital HR Transformation

• Lead HRIS implementation and HR automation initiatives.
• Utilize HR analytics for data-driven workforce decisions.

Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

Minimum 15 years of HR leadership experience within construction or engineering organizations.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field.

Strong knowledge of UAE labor law and GCC HR practices.

Proven experience managing large, multicultural workforces.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic and business-driven mindset.
• Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation abilities.
• High integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality

Compensation & Benefits

• Executive-level compensation package aligned with UAE market standards.