Head of Human Resources (Qatarization)

Head of Human Resources

Location: Doha, Qatar

About the Role

We are seeking an accomplished Head of Human Resources to lead and execute the organization's people strategy while serving as a trusted advisor to executive management.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a high-performance culture, attracting and retaining exceptional talent, strengthening organizational capability, and ensuring compliance with Qatar Labour Law and applicable regulatory requirements.

This is a strategic leadership role requiring an individual who can balance commercial priorities with people initiatives, enabling sustainable organizational growth while maintaining best-in-class HR governance.

Key Responsibilities

HR Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the organization's Human Capital Strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Management on workforce planning, organizational design, succession planning, and leadership capability.
• Drive cultural transformation and employee engagement initiatives.
• Lead the HR function, ensuring high-quality service delivery across all people-related activities.
• Establish HR policies, governance frameworks, and performance metrics.

Talent Acquisition

• Develop workforce plans aligned with business growth.
• Lead executive recruitment and strategic hiring initiatives.
• Build employer branding initiatives to attract top local and international talent.
• Enhance recruitment processes to improve quality, efficiency, and candidate experience.
• Develop relationships with executive search firms, universities, and professional networks.

Performance Management

• Design and continuously improve performance management frameworks.
• Drive objective setting, performance reviews, calibration, and succession planning.
• Support leadership in identifying and developing high-potential employees.
• Implement reward and recognition programs linked to organizational performance.

Learning & Leadership Development

• Develop leadership development and succession planning programs.
• Identify organizational capability gaps and establish targeted learning initiatives.
• Build career pathways and talent development frameworks.
• Promote continuous learning across the organization.

Compensation & Benefits

• Lead compensation reviews ensuring market competitiveness and internal equity.
• Design salary structures, incentive schemes, and long-term reward programs.
• Conduct market benchmarking across Qatar and the GCC.
• Oversee employee benefits and wellness initiatives.

Employee Relations

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and inclusion.
• Provide guidance on employee relations matters, investigations, grievances, and disciplinary actions.
• Support managers in managing performance and workplace issues.
• Promote employee wellbeing and engagement initiatives.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Qatar Labour Law and all applicable employment regulations.
• Maintain HR governance, policies, procedures, and employee records.
• Oversee payroll coordination, contracts, onboarding, offboarding, and HR administration.
• Manage relationships with government authorities regarding employment matters where required.

Organizational Development

• Lead organizational design and restructuring initiatives.
• Drive change management programs supporting business transformation.
• Improve organizational effectiveness through process optimization.
• Develop competency frameworks and career architecture.

HR Technology & Analytics

• Lead HR systems optimization and digital transformation initiatives.
• Utilize workforce analytics to support executive decision-making.
• Develop HR dashboards covering turnover, engagement, recruitment, diversity, and productivity.
• Improve automation across HR processes.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the HR team.
• Establish departmental objectives and KPIs.
• Manage departmental budgets and external service providers.
• Foster collaboration across all business functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD Level 7, or equivalent is highly desirable.

Experience

• 10–15+ years of progressive HR experience.
• Minimum 5 years leading an HR function.
• Experience within banking, financial services, investment management, professional services, or large multinational organizations is preferred.
• Proven experience partnering with executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation and change initiatives.

Technical Knowledge

• Qatar Labour Law and employment regulations.
• Talent acquisition and executive recruitment.
• Organizational design and workforce planning.
• Compensation and benefits.
• Performance management systems.
• Learning and leadership development.
• Employee engagement.
• HR governance and policy development.
• HRIS platforms such as SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, Microsoft Dynamics HR, Workday, or equivalent.
• HR analytics and reporting.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Executive presence
• Commercial acumen
• Leadership and influence
• Stakeholder management
• Organizational development
• Change leadership
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Communication and presentation skills
• Coaching and mentoring
• Problem solving
• High ethical standards and confidentiality

Success Measures

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Build a high-performing workforce aligned with business strategy.
• Improve employee engagement and retention.
• Reduce time-to-hire while improving quality of hires.
• Strengthen leadership capability across the organization.
• Ensure full compliance with employment legislation and governance requirements.
• Enhance organizational effectiveness through people, culture, and technology.
• Position HR as a strategic business partner supporting sustainable growth.

If this role is for an investment bank or regulated financial institution in Qatar (similar to the type of organizations you've worked with), I would elevate it further by incorporating:

• Human Capital Committee and Board reporting responsibilities.
• Regulatory interaction (e.g., governance expectations, fit-and-proper requirements, remuneration governance).
• Executive compensation and incentive plan design.
• Succession planning for senior executives and key control functions.
• Leadership of culture, conduct, and organizational risk initiatives.