HR Director - FMCG

Client of Michael Page; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of Michael Page seeks a senior HR transformation leader to build and scale a global HR function from the ground up in a multinational environment. The role partners with board level stakeholders to define people strategy and drive governance across regions.

The candidate will lead cross-country transformation, design scalable policies, and implement operating models while aligning local requirements with group standards. Travel internationally is expected.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of HR experience across FMCG, food manufacturing, industrial, logistics, trading, agriculture or diversified family-owned groups.
• Extensive HR leadership experience in large, complex or multinational organisations.
• Proven success building, restructuring or transforming HR functions.
• Experience operating in family-owned, founder-led or evolving corporate environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with ability to navigate ambiguity and influence senior decision-makers.
• International exposure across multicultural and geographically dispersed workforces.
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on execution approach.
• Experience in compensation, grading, performance management and organisational design.
• Strong communication skills and confidence presenting to executive leadership.
• Willingness to travel internationally, including to regional operating locations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership and the board on people strategy, organisational effectiveness and governance.
• Lead the transformation and professionalisation of the HR function across multiple countries.
• Design and implement scalable HR policies, processes, systems and operating models.
• Establish job grading, compensation frameworks and performance management processes.
• Drive workforce planning, succession planning and leadership development initiatives.
• Lead organisational change, integration projects and culture-building programmes.
• Manage talent acquisition strategies for regional and international hiring needs.
• Oversee a geographically dispersed HR team and improve reporting controls and people analytics.
• Build alignment between local business requirements and group-wide HR standards.
• Serve as a trusted advisor within a complex stakeholder environment balancing entrepreneurial and corporate operating styles.

Job description

Role Overview

Lead a major international HR transformation. Build a global HR function from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership and the board on people strategy, organisational effectiveness and governance.
• Lead the transformation and professionalisation of the HR function across multiple countries.
• Design and implement scalable HR policies, processes, systems and operating models.
• Establish job grading, compensation frameworks and performance management processes.
• Drive workforce planning, succession planning and leadership development initiatives.
• Lead organisational change, integration projects and culture-building programmes.
• Manage talent acquisition strategies for regional and international hiring needs.
• Oversee a geographically dispersed HR team and improve reporting controls and people analytics.
• Build alignment between local business requirements and group-wide HR standards.
• Serve as a trusted advisor within a complex stakeholder environment balancing entrepreneurial and corporate operating styles.

Qualifications

15+ Years of HR experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, industrial, logistics, trading, agriculture or diversified family-owned groups. Extensive HR leadership experience within large, complex or multinational organisations. Demonstrated success building, restructuring or transforming HR functions. Experience operating within family-owned, founder-led or evolving corporate environments. Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and influence senior decision-makers. International exposure across multicultural and geographically dispersed workforces. Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on execution approach. Experience in compensation, grading, performance management and organisational design. Strong communication skills and confidence presenting to executive leadership. Willingness to travel internationally, including to regional operating locations.