A fast-growing financial services company in Dubai is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of People to lead its People function and support continued growth across the Middle East and international markets. The role works closely with senior management to develop and execute people strategies and build a high-performing organization.
About the Role — Strategic HR Leadership
Core Scope: Leading HR operations, talent acquisition, performance management and employee relations
Strategic Partnership: Working closely with senior management on workforce planning and people decisions
Global Reach: Supporting expansion across the Middle East and international markets
Cultural Fit: Operating effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural, international environment
Career Opportunity & Leadership Impact
Function Ownership: The opportunity to build and shape the entire People function
Global Exposure: Regional and international exposure within a growing financial services company
Career Growth: Senior leadership and career development opportunities
Culture: A dynamic, collaborative working culture with competitive compensation
Position Overview
This Head of People role involves developing and implementing People strategies aligned with business objectives, leading regional and international recruitment strategies, developing performance management and talent frameworks, overseeing employee relations and engagement initiatives, reviewing compensation and benefits structures, managing HR operations and UAE employment law compliance, and supporting organizational development, restructuring and change management initiatives.
Why This Role Matters: As Head of People, you shape the entire people strategy behind a growing financial services company’s regional and international expansion, partner directly with senior leadership on workforce planning and organizational decisions, build talent pipelines and performance frameworks that drive business results, lead employee relations and engagement initiatives that shape company culture, and take real ownership of building and scaling the People function from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
People Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement People strategies aligned with business objectives and growth
- Partner with senior management on workforce planning and organizational structure decisions
- Lead and develop the HR/People team in Dubai; provide strategic HRBP support
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Lead regional and international recruitment strategies
- Develop talent pipelines for critical and leadership positions
- Strengthen employer branding and talent attraction initiatives
Performance & Talent Management
- Develop and manage KPI/OKR and performance management frameworks
- Oversee performance reviews, succession planning and leadership development
Employee Relations & Engagement
- Oversee employee relations, grievances, disciplinary matters and workplace conflicts
- Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives, building a performance-driven culture
Compensation, HR Operations & Organizational Development
- Review compensation and benefits structures and conduct market benchmarking
- Oversee HR operations including onboarding, payroll coordination and compliance with UAE employment laws
- Support organizational expansion, restructuring and change management initiative
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or above in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management or a related field
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) noted as a requirement by the job poster
Experience Requirements
- 15+ years of HR/People experience, with at least 8-10 years in a senior HR leadership role
- Experience working in Dubai/UAE or a multinational environment highly preferred
- Experience in FinTech, financial services, trading, technology or other fast-paced industries an advantage
Essential Skills
- Strong experience in HRBP, talent acquisition, performance management and organizational development
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English with strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strong understanding of HR operations and UAE employment practices
- Strong leadership, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
- High level of integrity and confidentiality
About This Financial Services Opportunity
This Head of People role sits within a fast-growing financial services company in Dubai, supporting continued expansion across the Middle East and international markets. The position offers real ownership of the People function, from strategy and talent acquisition to compensation and organizational development, within a dynamic, multicultural environment backed by competitive compensation and genuine career growth potential.
Career Excellence: Lead and shape the People function for a growing financial services company in Dubai.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior HR Leaders: With 15+ years of HR experience, including 8-10 years in leadership
- Mandarin-English Bilingual Professionals: With strong stakeholder management skills
- FinTech/Financial Services HR Specialists: Comfortable in fast-paced, international environments
- HRBP & Talent Acquisition Leaders: Experienced building talent pipelines and performance frameworks
- Organizational Development Experts: Skilled in change management and scalable HR processes
