HR Director

Taaleem, one of the largest education providers in the UAE, is seeking a dynamic HR Director to lead our people strategy and help us become the employer of choice in the education sector.

About the Role

Reporting to the CEO, the HR Director will be responsible for the creation and execution of HR strategy that aims to make Taaleem one the best places to work in the education sector and offer talents further capacity to grow and develop their career. Deliver cost-effective, efficient solutions to attract and retain outstanding staff and leaders in support of the education and the success of our Schools and administration (including Central Office), staying within the Board-approved Budget and 5-Year Strategic Plan. Creating an HR approach that is aligned to the overall business strategy and long-term goals.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Development and HR Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of HR strategies aligned with Taaleem’s vision, business and strategic plan, and budget.
• Ensure HR policies and frameworks support educational outcomes, operational efficiency, and compliance.
• Produce key HR data for informing management and stakeholders to monitor HR performance across the company, translate key data into an effective and commercially focused HR and People Strategy, working with senior management and influencing them on the best course of action.
• Oversee organisational design and structure to meet evolving business needs, objectives and annual budget,
• Drive change management initiatives across schools and Central Office.
• Identify and manage HR-related risks and support business continuity planning.
• Lead the HR department, ensuring cross-campus alignment and cohesion.

Recruitment

• Provide strategic oversight of recruitment strategies to ensure access to top talent regionally and globally.
• Guide partnerships with recruitment agencies and universities.
• Monitor recruitment performance metrics, including alignment with approved budgets, and present trends and risks to SEB and RemCom.
• Oversee the use and optimisation of Taaleem’s e-Recruitment system.
• Ensure safeguarding and student wellbeing, as well as compliance with UAE labour Law, are embedded in all recruitment processes.

Engagement

• Promote a culture of high performance, recognition, and open communication.
• Lead the analysis of engagement data and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Oversee development and review of the Reward Strategy to remain competitive and responsive to the market.
• Serve as a key HR representative with external legal and advisory partners.
• Build strong partnerships with Principals and Central Office leaders to ensure aligned HR solutions.

Performance Appraisal

• Ensure visibility and relevance of KPIs that link to budget and strategic objectives.
• Oversee the annual performance appraisal cycle, including 360 feedback where appropriate.
• Monitor and report HR data such as absenteeism, retention, and development ROI to SEB.
• Drive continuous improvement in performance management processes.

Talent Management

• Develop and lead a Talent Management Strategy in collaboration with SEB and school leaders.
• Oversee the implementation of learning and development programmes aligned with career growth and organisational priorities.
• Promote internal talent development and succession planning for key roles.
• Provide regular reports on talent initiatives, learning activities, and leadership pipeline

Systems and Information Management

• Ensure Taaleem’s HR Management System (HRMS) is robust, compliant, and aligned with operational needs.
• Oversee accurate HR reporting and dashboards for SEB and Executive Committee use.
• Monitor HR performance through feedback and service metrics, and lead improvements as needed.
• Manage the HR budget and monitor expenditure in line with strategic priorities.
• Lead regular policy reviews and ensure company-wide communication of updates.

Qualifications and Experiences

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline at a minimum and ideally an industry related designation (i.e. HR or project management professional designation).

Skills and Knowledge: Employment Law and commercial application, qualifications frameworks.

Experience: Minimum 10 years’ experience in a similar role and setting (employee base of at least 1,000), preferably within the UAE or GCC and a broad international mix of employees, and ideally experience within the education sector.

Core Competencies

• Strategic HR Leadership: Proven ability to apply leading-edge HR and business practices to develop and implement high-impact strategies, policies, and initiatives.
• Compliance & Governance: Strong understanding of UAE labour law, regulatory frameworks, and the ability to enforce and embed HR compliance across a multi-site organisation.
• Service Excellence: Track record of driving operational improvements and HR transformation through innovative, customer-focused service delivery models.
• Commercial Acumen: Ability to manage budgets, analyse cost efficiency, and oversee third-party HR service providers and contracts.
• Project Management: Skilled in leading complex, cross-functional projects including restructures, systems upgrades, and cultural change initiatives.
• People Management: Experience in leading and developing HR teams, managing departmental functions such as budget, recruitment, and performance management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Strong consultation and influencing skills to engage and align Principals, senior leaders, and Central Office teams to shared HR goals.
• Talent Advocacy: Ability to promote a high-performance culture through talent development, succession planning, and reward strategy.

Key Attributes

• Inspiring leadership style with excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills.
• High energy and passion for education, people, and performance excellence.
• Collaborative mindset with the confidence to influence at C-suite level.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach with a track record in delivering measurable outcomes.
• Comfortable working with complex data and numbers, interpreting trends, and supporting teams in using analytics for decision-making.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with attention to detail on operational matters (e.g. reporting, audits, school advisory).
• Integrity, discretion, and emotional intelligence when managing sensitive matters.

Desired (Non-Essential) Skills

• Understanding of the governance and reporting requirements of listed companies or organisations preparing for IPO.
• Experience with HR’s role in financial audits, due diligence, and investor relations.
• Strong numeracy and financial awareness, with the ability to align HR decisions to budget, ROI, and long-term financial plans.
• Experience operating in or supporting cross-border education networks or multi-country HR functions.
• Knowledge of Oracle or similar enterprise HR systems, including HRIS optimisation and reporting tools.

Application Process

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role through our careers page.

Candidates who best meet the requirements outlined in the job description will be shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by our recruitment team regarding the next steps in the selection process.

About Taaleem

Taaleem is one of the largest, most respected education providers in the United Arab Emirates and the only publicly listed Education Provider in the UAE. Taaleem (which means ‘education’ in Arabic’) was established in 2004 and now has over 30,000 students attending our diverse portfolio of private international and public-private partnership schools across the UAE. Taaleem is also one of the Middle East’s leading IB workshop providers for PYP, MYP, DP and IBCP. We began training in 2009 and have enrolled over 7000 participants to date.

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. At Taaleem, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks.