Robert Walters
Head of HR – Financial Services (People & Culture)
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 28/02/2026
Job overview
Date posted
14/01/2026
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
28/02/2026
Job description
The Head of HR – Financial Services role is a senior leadership position responsible for shaping and delivering the people and culture strategy for a mid-sized financial services organisation operating within a regulated environment. The role partners closely with the executive committee and senior leaders to advise on organisational design, workforce planning, leadership matters, and long-term people strategy aligned with business growth objectives. The position leads the transformation of HR into a proactive, value-adding business partner, ensuring robust HR governance, compliance with local labour laws and regulatory standards, and effective risk management. Responsibilities include designing and continuously improving HR policies, frameworks, systems, and procedures; overseeing recruitment, onboarding, job structures, career pathways, succession planning, and talent development; managing compensation, incentives, and benefits structures; conducting market benchmarking; leading learning, development, leadership development, and executive coaching initiatives; designing and overseeing performance management frameworks and KPIs; managing employee relations, engagement initiatives, and internal communications; overseeing HR operations including payroll, benefits administration, employee lifecycle management, and HRMS systems; and leading, coaching, and developing the HR team to support data-driven decision making and organisational effectiveness.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Act as a strategic people advisor to the executive committee and senior leadership on organisational design, workforce planning, and leadership matters
- Develop and execute a people and culture strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans
- Transform HR into a proactive, value-adding business partner function
- Design, implement, and continuously improve HR policies, frameworks, systems, and procedures in line with labour law and regulatory standards
- Ensure robust HR governance, risk management, and compliance across the organisation
- Prepare and present people-related insights, policies, and recommendations to senior leadership
- Lead workforce and manpower planning in partnership with business leaders
- Oversee recruitment, selection, and onboarding processes across all organisational levels
- Review and formalise job structures, role design, grading, and career pathways
- Build and manage succession planning and talent development frameworks
- Design and manage compensation, incentive, and benefits structures and conduct financial services market benchmarking
- Lead learning and development strategy, including leadership development and executive coaching
- Identify capability gaps and design targeted development programmes
- Design and oversee performance management frameworks, KPIs, and appraisal processes
- Support leaders in driving accountability, engagement, and high performance
- Champion an inclusive, high-trust, and high-performance workplace culture
- Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters, grievances, and conflict resolution
- Lead employee engagement initiatives and internal communication strategies
- Oversee HR operations including payroll, benefits administration, and employee lifecycle management
- Review and enhance HR systems and HRMS capabilities to support data-driven decision making
- Lead, coach, and develop the HR team
Experience & skills
- Demonstrate significant senior HR leadership experience within financial services or regulated environments
- Show proven experience partnering with executive leadership on strategic people and culture matters
- Maintain strong understanding of labour law, compensation practices, and HR governance
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- Possess a Master’s degree or MBA in Human Resources or related field, preferred
- Hold a professional HR certification such as CIPD, SHRM, SPHR, PHR, or equivalent