Global HR Director — Kuwait, UAE & Turkey

Zad; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 37,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

ZAD is seeking a Human Resources Director to lead the HR function across Kuwait, Turkey and the UAE. You will shape people strategy, own payroll and reward, and manage executive and regulated hiring while building scalable HR processes.

This build-and-lead role requires cross-border experience, strong regulatory know-how, and a hands-on leadership style to establish the framework as ZAD expands beyond Kuwait and embeds in new markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in HR, business administration, law or related field; postgraduate preferred.
• Professional HR certification such as CIPD, SHRM SCP or SPHR preferred.
• Twelve or more years of HR experience, including at least five leading an HR function.
• Proven experience managing HR across more than one country, ideally GCC.
• Knowledge of Kuwait Labor Law; exposure to UAE/ADGM and Turkish labor law is a strong advantage.
• Background in financial services, fintech, banking or a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ownership of compensation structures, payroll governance and organizational design.
• Experience setting up or scaling the HR function of a new entity or branch.
• Fluent in English; Arabic an advantage.
• Comfortable operating strategically and hands on in the same week.

Responsibilities

• Own the company's people strategy across Kuwait, Turkey and the UAE, and translate it into an annual HR plan with clear priorities, owners and deadlines.
• Ensure employment practice in each location complies with Kuwait Labor Law, ADGM Employment Regulations and Turkish Labor Law.
• Lead workforce planning and organizational design, maintain the structure, grading and leveling framework, and advise Executives on organization needs.
• Own recruitment across all locations, including executive, regulated, and hard-to-fill hiring.
• Own compensation and benefits, including salary structures, benchmarking across three markets, annual review cycle and insurance arrangements.
• Oversee payroll and end of service across all entities, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Own the performance management cycle, link to reward and development, and build succession and career frameworks.
• Set HR policy for the group and adapt for local law changes.
• Build and lead the HR team across locations and set work standards.
• Act as senior HR partner to Executives and department heads on structure, talent, conduct and employee matters.
• Own employee relations at escalated level, including grievances and investigations, ensuring lawful handling.
• Own HR systems and data, drive automation and reporting to Executives and Board.
• Own the HR budget and manage people costs.
• Lead employee engagement, culture and internal communication across locations.

Skills

Cross-border HR leadership

Regulatory awareness

Compensation and benefits design

Business partnering with executives

Employee relations judgment

Data literacy and HR analytics

Discretion and integrity

Change management

People strategy development

Education

Bachelor degree in HR, Business Admin, or Law

HR certification (CIPD/SHRM/SPHR)

Job description

ZAD is seeking a Human Resources Director to lead the HR function across Kuwait, Turkey and the UAE. You will shape people strategy, own payroll and reward, and manage executive and regulated hiring while building scalable HR processes.

This build-and-lead role requires cross-border experience, strong regulatory know-how, and a hands-on leadership style to establish the framework as ZAD expands beyond Kuwait and embeds in new markets.