Human Resources Director

About the Company

Independent Food Company is a prominent operator of renowned hospitality brands such as SALT, Somewhere, Parker's, Shalwa, and Public within the region. The company is rapidly expanding its portfolio through both organic growth and acquisitions, targeting regional and international markets. The quality of talent remains central to their growth ambitions.

Role Overview

The Human Resources Director holds an executive leadership position responsible for designing and implementing the organization's people strategy, driving cultural alignment, and leading organizational transformation initiatives in line with long-term business goals. Reporting as part of the Executive Leadership Team, this role collaborates closely with the COO and senior management to foster a high-performing and scalable workforce across multiple business units and territories.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the long-term HR strategy to support business growth, transformation, and expansion.
• Act as a strategic advisor to top management on workforce performance, leadership development, succession planning, and organizational culture.
• Utilize workforce analytics and organizational insights to inform executive decisions and improve people strategies.
• Lead the HR function as a strategic business partner focused on enhancing organizational performance beyond transactional operations.
• Prepare the organization for rapid regional and international expansion through future-ready talent strategies.
• Instill a culture of high performance emphasizing accountability, ownership, agility, and excellence.
• Steer enterprise-wide transformation including restructuring, acquisitions, and change management initiatives with clear governance and leadership engagement.
• Design scalable organizational structures, governance models, and job architectures aligned with business needs.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership development to build robust internal talent pipelines.
• Translate corporate objectives into measurable goals and implement KPI and performance management frameworks.
• Drive talent acquisition strategies and Emiratization programs that comply with regulatory requirements and national targets.
• Champion leadership development, learning management systems, and organizational capability enhancement initiatives.
• Develop competitive compensation and total rewards strategies ensuring market alignment and internal equity.
• Foster a positive work culture through employee engagement, retention strategies, and wellbeing programs.
• Ensure legal compliance in employee relations and HR governance aligned with UAE labor laws and employment regulations.
• Manage HR operations, payroll, and digital transformation efforts to optimize efficiency and data governance.
• Prioritize workplace health, safety, and employee mental wellbeing as strategic imperatives.
• Lead people strategy during mergers, acquisitions, and international expansions, facilitating integration and operational readiness.
• Provide HR governance reporting and present workforce insights and risks to executive leadership and board as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or related field; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Over 18 years of progressive Human Resources experience with a minimum of 7 years in senior executive HR leadership roles.
• Proven track record in managing HR strategies across large, multi-brand, multi-entity, or regional organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in leading organizational transformation, restructuring, and growth initiatives.
• Expertise in Total Rewards strategy, organizational design, and executive talent management.
• In-depth understanding of UAE labor legislation, Emiratization policies, and international HR best practices.
• Preferred certifications include SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD Level 7, or equivalent qualifications.