Human Resources Director

Human Resources Director

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Director to lead the HR function for a growing construction business based in Dubai. This role will focus heavily on talent acquisition, workforce planning, compensation and benefits strategy, and building scalable HR frameworks to support project-based operations across the UAE and wider region.

The HR Director will act as a strategic partner to executive leadership, ensuring the organisation attracts, develops, and retains top-tier talent while maintaining compliance with UAE labour laws and industry regulations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy aligned with business growth and project pipeline demands.
• Lead high-volume recruitment across technical, engineering, project management, and corporate functions.
• Build strong talent pipelines for critical construction roles (e.g., project directors, engineers, quantity surveyors, site managers).
• Establish employer branding initiatives to position the company as an employer of choice within the construction sector.
• Oversee recruitment partners, agencies, and international hiring campaigns where required.
• Implement workforce planning models to ensure manpower forecasting aligns with project timelines.

2. Compensation & Benefits

• Design and implement competitive compensation and benefits frameworks aligned with market benchmarks in the UAE construction industry.
• Lead salary benchmarking exercises and ensure internal equity across roles and geographies.
• Develop incentive schemes linked to project performance and business outcomes.
• Oversee benefits administration including health insurance, allowances, bonuses, and expatriate packages.
• Ensure compliance with WPS (Wage Protection System) and UAE Labour Law requirements.

3. HR Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute the overall HR strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Establish HR policies, procedures, and governance frameworks suitable for a project-driven environment.
• Lead organisational design initiatives to support business expansion.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership on people-related matters.

4. Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with UAE Labour Law and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee employee relations matters including disciplinary processes and conflict resolution.
• Develop retention and engagement strategies to reduce turnover across site-based and corporate employees.

5. Performance Management & Development

• Implement performance management frameworks aligned with KPIs and project milestones.
• Support leadership development and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, and high performance.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within construction, engineering, or infrastructure sectors.
• Strong expertise in talent acquisition within project-based environments.
• Proven experience designing compensation and benefits frameworks in the UAE market.
• In-depth knowledge of UAE Labour Law and HR compliance requirements.
• Experience managing multi-site or geographically dispersed workforces.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Professional HR certification (CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent) preferred.