Senior Human Resources Manager - Middle East

The Opportunity This is not a traditional HR role, nor is it a role centred on the direct management of an HR team. This is a senior, business-critical leadership position for a highly commercial senior HR leader who leads through influence, insight and personal credibility rather than through a large reporting structure. While operating as a key member of the regional leadership team, the successful candidate will be a hands-on practitioner who is deeply embedded in the business and personally drives strategic people initiatives across the region. The role partners directly with the Managing Director and senior leadership team of a substantial multi-country business employing several hundred people across the Middle East. As the business enters an ambitious growth phase, this individual will play a central role in shaping organisational capability, leadership effectiveness, culture, workforce strategy and transformation. Success in this position will come from building a deep understanding of the operation firsthand. You will spend significant time within the business, alongside operational leaders, commercial teams and frontline employees, understanding how customers are served, how revenue is generated, where operational challenges exist and what organisational capabilities are required to support future growth. Rather than leading a large HR function, you will operate as the senior HR subject matter expert for the region, personally identifying opportunities, diagnosing business challenges, shaping solutions and driving execution. You will leverage specialist Centres of Excellence and broader People teams where appropriate, but ownership, influence and delivery will sit firmly with you. As a trusted advisor to the Managing Director, you will provide support, challenge and strategic counsel to ensure people decisions accelerate business performance, strengthen leadership capability and deliver measurable commercial outcomes. Key Responsibilities • Partner directly with the Managing Director and regional leadership team to shape and execute business strategy. • Act as the senior People advisor to the regional business, influencing critical decisions on organisational capability, leadership, talent and culture. • Develop a deep understanding of the commercial, operational and customer dynamics of the business through regular engagement with operational sites, leaders and frontline teams. • Translate business insights into practical people strategies that improve performance, productivity, employee engagement and organisational effectiveness. • Personally lead and deliver organisational design, workforce planning, talent and capability initiatives that support growth and operational excellence. • Coach, challenge and support senior leaders to enhance leadership effectiveness and create a culture of accountability, inclusion and high performance. • Use commercial, operational and people data to identify risks, opportunities and future capability requirements. • Drive succession planning, talent development and leadership pipeline strategies across the region. • Lead significant transformation and change programmes across a geographically diverse and complex operating environment. • Partner with specialist HR functions to ensure solutions are aligned with business priorities and delivered effectively. • Build strong credibility across all levels of the organisation through visibility, pragmatism and a genuine understanding of how the business operates. • Operate as a hands-on strategic contributor, leading through expertise, influence and execution rather than direct line management responsibility. The Individual We are seeking an accomplished People executive who combines strategic thinking with a pragmatic, hands-on approach. You are likely to have spent your career partnering senior operational and commercial leaders in large, complex organisations where growth, transformation and performance are critical. You are equally comfortable operating in the boardroom, on customer sites or alongside operational teams, using business insight to influence strategic decisions and drive tangible outcomes. Most importantly, you are someone who leads through credibility, expertise and impact rather than hierarchy. You enjoy being close to the business, personally shaping solutions and owning delivery, rather than managing large HR teams. The successful candidate will bring: • A proven track record operating as a trusted advisor to Managing Directors, Country Managers, Business Unit Leaders or Executive teams. • Significant experience partnering senior leaders within large, complex and geographically dispersed organisations. • Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrated ability to link people strategy to financial and operational performance. • Experience operating in a senior individual contributor capacity, leading through influence rather than direct management responsibility. • A reputation for building deep business understanding and maintaining a visible presence within operational environments. • Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence, challenge and coach senior leaders. • Demonstrated success leading organisational transformation, organisation design and growth initiatives. • Strong understanding of operational, industrial, engineering, infrastructure, project-based or frontline environments. • Experience navigating complex, multi-country organisational structures and stakeholder groups. • Experience working across the Middle East region would be highly advantageous. • Fluency in both Arabic and English. 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Partner directly with the Managing Director and regional leadership team to shape and execute business strategy. Act as the senior People advisor to the regional business, influencing critical decisions on organisational capability, leadership, talent and culture. Develop a deep understanding of the commercial, operational and customer dynamics of the business through regular engagement with operational sites, leaders and frontline teams. Translate business insights into practical people strategies that improve performance, productivity, employee engagement and organisational effectiveness. Personally lead and deliver organisational design, workforce planning, talent and capability initiatives that support growth and operational excellence. Coach, challenge and support senior leaders to enhance leadership effectiveness and create a culture of accountability, inclusion and high performance. Use commercial, operational and people data to identify risks, opportunities and future capability requirements. Drive succession planning, talent development and leadership pipeline strategies across the region. Lead significant transformation and change programmes across a geographically diverse and complex operating environment. Partner with specialist HR functions to ensure solutions are aligned with business priorities and delivered effectively. Build strong credibility across all levels of the organisation through visibility, pragmatism and a genuine understanding of how the business operates. Operate as a hands-on strategic contributor, leading through expertise, influence and execution rather than direct line management responsibility.