Senior Director – Organizational Development & HR Strategy

Construction & Infrastructure · UAE · Executive HR Leadership

About the role

We are a leading construction and infrastructure company operating across the UAE, delivering large-scale projects that shape the built environment. As we expand our workforce and strengthen our organizational foundations, we are seeking an exceptional Senior Director of Organizational Development & HR Strategy to lead the people architecture of our business.

This is a rare senior leadership opportunity for a seasoned HR and OD executive with deep construction-sector experience. You will be the strategic architect of our people systems designing org structures, building leadership pipelines, driving cultural transformation, and aligning human capital strategy to project delivery cycles and business growth ambitions. You will work directly with the C-suite and project leadership to ensure the right people, structures, and capabilities are in place at every level of the organization.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive HR and organizational development strategy aligned with the company’s construction growth agenda and project pipeline
• Lead organizational design initiatives — restructuring business units, defining reporting lines, role clarity, and workforce planning across project and corporate functions
• Develop and execute leadership development programs tailored to construction executives, project directors, site managers, and functional heads
• Drive succession planning and high-potential talent identification across all levels of the organization
• Lead large-scale change management programs — mergers, restructuring, new market entry, or ERP/HRIS implementations
• Build and embed a high-performance culture aligned to the company’s values, safety standards, and operational excellence ethos
• Design and oversee competency frameworks, job architecture, and grading structures across white-collar and blue-collar workforces
• Partner with the CHRO and CEO on workforce planning — headcount modeling, skills gap analysis, and strategic hiring for large project mobilizations
• Oversee employee engagement strategy — surveys, action planning, and culture measurement across multi-site and multinational project teams
• Ensure HR strategy compliance with UAE Labour Law, MOHRE regulations, Emiratization (Nafis) targets, and relevant construction industry standards
• Lead the design and governance of performance management frameworks — KPIs, appraisal cycles, and calibration processes
• Manage relationships with external OD consultants, executive coaches, leadership academies, and training providers

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a senior OD or HR Strategy leadership role
• Mandatory: substantial experience in the construction, infrastructure, EPC, or contracting sector in the UAE or MENA region
• Proven expertise in organizational design, change management, and leadership development at enterprise scale
• Deep knowledge of UAE Labour Law, MOHRE regulations, WPS, and Emiratization (Nafis) compliance
• Experience managing large, diverse, multi-nationality workforces
• including blue-collar and site-based employees
• Strong business acumen able to translate organizational strategy into commercial outcomes
• Excellent executive presence and stakeholder management skills up to Board level
• Proficiency in HRIS platforms (SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, or similar)
• Fluent in English; Arabic is a significant advantage
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or Organizational Psychology Master’s or MBA strongly preferred

Nice to have

• Experience at a Tier 1 UAE or MENA region contractor (ALEC, Arabtec, Multiplex, Laing O’Rourke, BESIX, or similar)
• Track record of leading Emiratization strategy and achieving Nafis targets in a construction environment
• Experience designing HR frameworks for Joint Ventures, PPP projects, or consortium arrangements
• Exposure to NEOM, Expo-scale, or giga-project workforce planning
• Coaching or executive facilitation accreditation (ICF, CCE, or equivalent)

What we offer

• Executive compensation package with a competitive tax-free base salary and annual performance bonus
• Family or bachelor housing allowance, annual flights, and comprehensive medical insurance
• A strategic leadership role with direct influence on the company’s people and organizational agenda
• Exposure to landmark UAE infrastructure and construction projects
• A collaborative executive team that values people-led growth and operational excellence
• Professional development support — executive coaching, CIPD/SHRM sponsorship, and leadership programs