HR Director- Middle East And Africa

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrows possible.

Thales has built a presence in the United Arab Emirates for over 35 years, and today has over 300 employees. Thales in the UAE is part of our Middle East business that has 1,800 people across Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE. Together we delivered technology for the Dubai metro, the longest driverless metro network in the world and a fare collection system that processes up to 250,000 transactions per day. We make UAE a safer place by providing secure electronic payment solutions, cyber security systems and communications as well as security systems for Dubai International Airport and air traffic management and navigation systems for Abu Dhabi’s airport.

JOB OBJECTIVE

Thales has built a presence in the Middle East and Africa region for over 50 years, and today has over 1,800 people across Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE. We make the region a safer place by providing secure electronic payment solutions, cyber security systems and communications as well as security systems.

Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems in the region. Thales is specialized in developing local defense and aerospace capabilities. The primary goal is to integrate into the local industrial ecosystem, generating economic value and offering unique and sovereign technology capabilities, to address both the domestic and the export markets. Thales operates several Centers of Excellence including radars, radio communications and defense services in the region.

The Human Resources Director (HRD) is the n°1 of the function, leading a team of 30 people, covering 20 countries, 1,800 employees organised in 3 Thales regions: Africa & Near East, KSA & Central Asia and UAE & Iraq.

In addition, the HRD is himself / herself in charge of HR for the largest country of this geographical scope: UAE (600 employees), a strategic country for Thales Towards 2030 strategy accomplishment.

In a context of strong development, the HRD is at the interface of the economic and human challenges of the regions. He/she supports managers and employees to help define and implement the short- and long-term strategy and performance of the entity within the Groups purpose and its policies (HR, compliance, ethics, etc.) according to the laws and regulations of his/her geographies.

Because of his/her dimension as an HR generalist, he/she is the preferred HR contact on all HR topics for the populations for which he/she has responsibility.

To do this, beyond the challenges he/she manages directly or with the HR teams, he/she relies on experts in the HR specialty areas in keeping with the HR Group business model. He/she guarantees the social climate of his/her organization, and is committed to providing a quality employee experience. He/she is responsible for developing the skills of his/her organization.

Roles & Responsibilities

• BUSINESS STRATEGY: The HR Director contributes to the Business strategy by activating the HR levers at his/her disposal (recruitment, learning, mobility, promotion, social relations, etc.), to the business performance of his/her entity and to his/her main issues (Trade, Operations, offers and projects, etc.). He/she contributes to developing the operational strategy of his/her organization. He/she takes into account the needs linked to development of activities, evolution of organizations and trades as well as transformation plans to draw up the appropriate HR action plans within his/her scope, in consultation with all stakeholders and in compliance with local legislation and social dialog.
• HR POLICY: The HR Director deploys the Groups HR policies and leads successful implementation of HR processes within his/her scope. He/she engages the HR policies and processes of the Group, as well as the HR projects specific to his/her Business area, coordinating the actions of local or shared HR teams (Pay/personnel administration, training, recruitment) internationally, while ensuring the quality of the deliverables.
• ADVICE & SUPPORT TO MANAGERS: The HR Director advises and supports the managers of his/her entity in their role toward the collective and the individual (development of skills, careers, individual and collective motivation, working environment, etc.). He/she guides the managers of his/her management committee toward management practices in line with the Lead@Thales model, he/she advises them in their organizational evolution and the support of change, social dialog and crisis management.
• WORK ENVIRONMENT, COMMITMENT: The HR Director is the preferred point of contact for employees in his/her entity on all HR topics. He/she provides them with direct answers or relies on HR specialty areas. He/she manages the individual working relationships related to HR for his/her population (listening to employees, conflict management, disciplinary law, ethics, etc.) He/she ensures a safe, inclusive work environment, of management practices conducive to diversity, commitment and performance. At the country/region level, he/she ensures consistency of practice across business lines.
• TALENT MANAGEMENT: The HR Director develops and directs actions to promote the attractiveness of the Group and the retention of talent within his/her scope. He/she organizes Talent Reviews, paying particular attention to succession plans, identification and monitoring of the organizations key talents (including top executives), as well as development of the skills within his/her scope. He/she builds the skills development paths of his/her employees and monitors their implementation. He/she manages the Human Resources aspects of his/her team (setting objectives, check-in, skills development, recruitment, etc.).
  
  
  

Work Experience Requirements

• In-depth experience of several disciplines of the HR profession and experience of 15 years in leading HR teams
• Experience in HR within Large International Group and / or in HR within Middle East, KSA, Africa regions is a plus.
  
  
  

Qualification, Certification & Educational Requirements

• Masters Degree in human resources management
• Ability to drive HR transformation projects with both strategic vision and operational execution.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written (capable of leading professional discussions and producing written deliverables), Arabic is a plus.
  
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with political acumen, adaptability and a strong field orientation.
  
  
  

HSE RESPONSIBILITIES*

• Ensure both your own safety and the safety of others at all times.
• Maintain an active role in achieving the objectives and adhering to the HSE Thales Policy
• Comply with local HSE laws and legislation.
• To use safety equipment (including PPE) as required and intended.
• Lead by example and actively encourage departments to look at ways to conserve water & energy, minimise the generation of waste, and encourage recycling.
• Everyone within Thales has the right to stop work if they believe that their activities may affect their health and safety or that of others. In this circumstance, such conditions must be reported immediately to their line manager and the HSE department.
  
  
  

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!

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