Manager Talent Management

DP World; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

DP World KSA is seeking a senior HR leader to design and drive an integrated Talent Lifecycle strategy. You will align Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Succession Planning, Leadership Development, Saudization, and Workforce Planning within the People & Sustainability agenda for DP World KSA.

You will lead strategic initiatives across talent management, internal mobility, and HR analytics, partnering with senior leadership to mitigate talent risks and build sustainable pipelines for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field.
• 10+ years in HR with Talent Management or Organizational Development.
• 5-7 years of people management experience.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Labor Law and HR compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated talent lifecycle strategy aligned with Saudization and business goals.
• Oversee succession planning, leadership development, and HiPo programs.
• Drive internal mobility and career pathways across DP World KSA.
• Manage talent analytics, metrics, and governance.
• Direct end-to-end talent acquisition operations, including outsourcing and visas.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

HR analytics

KPI development

Mass recruitment

Arabic/English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Business

Master’s degree preferred

Saudi labor law knowledge

Tools

CIPD/SHRM

Performance management framework

Job description

Responsible for designing, leading, and executing an integrated end-to-end talent lifecycle strategy that ensures DP World KSA attracts, develops, retains, and deploys the right talent to meet current and future business needs. Partners closely with senior leaders to align Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Succession Planning, Leadership Development, Saudization, and Workforce Planning within the People & Sustainability strategy and operational priorities across DP World KSA. Plays a critical role in building strong talent pipelines, strengthening leadership and capability development, enhancing internal mobility, and positioning DP World as an Employer of Choice.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Strategic Responsibilities
• Develop and execute an integrated Talent Management and Talent Acquisition strategy aligned with the People & Sustainability goals and business objectives.
• Align workforce planning, recruitment, succession, and development initiatives with future skills requirements, operational growth, and Saudization targets.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify short-, medium-, and long-term talent risks and propose proactive mitigation strategies.
• Define and oversee talent acquisition strategies for critical, technical, leadership, and national roles.
• Build sustainable talent pipelines through proactive sourcing, employer branding, early career programs, and strategic partnerships.
• Ensure recruitment strategies support diversity, inclusion, and national workforce development objectives.

Succession Planning & Critical Roles

• Lead the annual succession planning process across all business units.
• Ensure identification of critical roles and ready-now / ready-for future successors.
• Develop frameworks to assess leadership readiness, bench strength, and role criticality.
• Recommend strategic actions to close succession gaps and enhance internal mobility.
• Design and govern HiPo identification processes using best-practice tools (e.g., 9-Box, leadership assessments).
• Develop structured development pathways, fast-track, and leadership acceleration programs.
• Lead the Learning & Development to deliver long-term leadership capability strategies.

Employer Value Proposition (EVP) & Retention

• Contribute to EVP development and ensure alignment with attraction and retention priorities.
• Design targeted retention strategies for critical, high-performing, and national talent.
• Strengthen DP World's positioning as an Employer of Choice in the local market.

Talent Analytics & Insights

• Establish and govern talent analytics frameworks covering recruitment, succession, mobility, HiPo retention, and capability gaps.
• Provide leadership with data-driven insights to support workforce and talent decisions.

Learning & Development (L&D)

• Own and manage the Learning & Development function, ensuring alignment with Talent, Workforce Planning, and business strategy.
• Defining and deliver learning priorities based on talent reviews, succession plans, performance outcomes, and capability gaps.
• Oversee leadership, technical, and functional development programs aligned with future skills and operational needs.
• Integrate L&D initiatives with succession, HiPo development, career pathways, and Saudization objectives.
• Ensure effective use of learning platforms, external providers, and measurable learning outcomes.
• Maintain governance, budget oversight, and compliance with DP World global standards.
• Operational Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition Operations

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment processes, ensuring quality, speed, compliance, and candidate experience.
• Manage sourcing strategies, assessment tools, interview frameworks, and selection methodologies.
• Ensure strong partnership with Talent Acquisition teams and hiring managers for effective demand planning.
• Manage outsourcing and overseas recruitment, including agreements with external agencies, and overseeing visa and Government Relations processes to ensure compliance and smooth operations.

Talent Review & Assessment

• Manage along with Organizational Development Team, assessment tools, psychometrics, and capability evaluations.
• Plan and execute team building and employee engagement activities.
• Facilitate calibration sessions with leadership to ensure fairness, consistency, and accountability.
• Ensure alignment between Talent Management and Performance Management processes.
• Support managers in identifying development needs and talent gaps based on performance outcomes.
• Design and implement templates and frameworks for gap analysis, utilizing HR systems and AI-driven insights to identify skill gaps, optimize workforce planning, and support strategic talent development.

Succession & Development Execution

• Maintain and regularly update succession plans.
• Track development actions for successors and HiPo employees.
• Monitor progress and elevate risks related to readiness or retention.

Career Pathing & Capability Building

• Design and maintain career pathways for operational, technical, and corporate roles.
• Lead the L&D to implement capability and skill development programs aligned with business growth.
• Ensure alignment with global DP World competency and capability frameworks.

Internal Mobility & Talent Deployment

• Enable internal movement, job rotations, and cross-functional opportunities.
• Support workforce optimization initiatives in collaboration with HR Business Partners.
• Promote internal talent deployment as a key retention and development mechanism.

Performance & Talent Integration

3. Saudization & National Talent Development

• Lead and support structured development programs for Saudi nationals aligned with Saudization strategy.
• Build national talent pipelines through partnerships with universities, training institutes, and government entities.
• Ensure recruitment, development, and succession plans actively support national workforce objectives.

4. Stakeholder Partnership & Governance

• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, Organizational Development and HR Services teams to deliver an integrated talent lifecycle.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders on recruitment, succession, leadership development, and talent retention.

5. Reporting, Compliance & Governance

• Maintain accurate talent data, dashboards, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, local labor laws, and DP World global frameworks.
• Continuously review and improve talent processes based on best practices and business feedback.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, specializing in Talent Management, Leadership Development, or Organizational Development, including 5-7 years of people management experience, with a proven ability to lead, develop, and engage teams.
• Experience in operational environments (Ports & Terminals, Logistics, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing) is highly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CIPD or SHRM, Certified Job Evaluation, and HR analytics or workforce planning certifications are desirable and formal training in mentoring & coaching.
• Certified in Performance Management Framework and Job Evaluation.
• Strong expertise in KPIs development, tracking, and performance measurement.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Labor Law and HR compliance.
• Proven capability in organizational design, workforce planning, talent development, and employee relations.
• Excellent stakeholder management, analytical skills, and ability to influence senior leaders.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, conflict management, and attention to details.
• Proven ability to manage mass recruitment and crowd management effectively.
• Strong Arabic and English (spoken and written).