Human Resources Director

About the Company

The Independent Food Company proudly operates several well-known hospitality brands across the region, such as SALT, Somewhere, Parker's, Shalwa, and Public. Positioned for rapid expansion through acquisitions and new market entries, the company prioritizes exceptional talent as a foundation for growth.

Role Overview

The Human Resources Director is a senior executive responsible for shaping and implementing the people strategy, driving organizational transformation, and nurturing company culture in alignment with long-term business goals. Reporting to the COO and collaborating with senior leadership, this role leads initiatives in talent strategy, organizational design, leadership development, performance management, compensation, workforce planning, governance, and HR operations across various units and countries.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive HR strategy aligned with business growth, transformation, and geographic expansion plans.
• Act as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on organizational effectiveness, people strategies, succession planning, and performance management.
• Utilize workforce analytics and organizational insights to influence executive decisions.
• Promote HR as a strategic partner enabling organizational excellence rather than a transactional service provider.
• Drive culture of high performance emphasizing accountability, agility, and operational excellence.
• Lead enterprise-wide transformation projects including restructuring, acquisitions, and expansion, managing change with minimal disruption.
• Design scalable organizational structures with clear governance, roles, career paths, and competency models.
• Plan and implement performance management systems and enterprise KPIs aligned with corporate and departmental goals.
• Oversee talent acquisition strategies, executive recruitment, Emiratization compliance, and workforce planning for sustainable growth.
• Develop leadership and talent management programs encouraging internal mobility and career advancement.
• Implement comprehensive learning and development initiatives using LMS technology and leadership academies.
• Manage total rewards, including compensation, benefits, incentives, employee recognition, and wellbeing programs ensuring market competitiveness and internal equity.
• Champion employee engagement, workplace culture, and employee experience, steering engagement surveys and action plans.
• Ensure legal compliance with UAE labor laws, Emiratization regulations, and corporate governance; handle employee relations and dispute resolutions.
• Oversee HR operations, payroll governance, digital transformation in HR technologies, data security, and continuous process improvements.
• Promote workplace health, safety, mental wellbeing, and compliance with occupational health standards.
• Lead people strategy in mergers and acquisitions, organizational integration, and new country entries supporting multi-national operations.
• Establish robust HR governance, provide executive reporting, and present workforce analytics to senior leadership and board.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Over 15 years of progressive HR experience including at least 7 years in senior HR leadership roles.
• Proven expertise managing HR strategy for large, multi-brand, regional or multi-entity organizations.
• Successful track record leading organizational restructuring, transformation, and growth initiatives.
• Experience in total rewards design, organizational architecture, and executive talent management.
• In-depth knowledge of UAE labor laws, Emiratization requirements, and international HR best practices.
• Familiarity working with Executive Leadership Teams and Board-level reporting.
• Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD Level 7 are highly desirable.