Human Resources Director

Human Resources Director Workforce Operations & Corporate HR Location: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nationality Requirement: Saudi National Only (Mandatory) Geographic Scope: Kingdom-wide, with travel to operational sites Industry: Business Services / Multi-Site Operations Appointment: Senior Leadership Confidentiality: Strictly Confidential The Opportunity An established organisation operating within Saudi Arabia's business services sector is seeking an accomplished Saudi National Human Resources Director to lead its integrated HR function across a large, geographically distributed workforce. This is a senior leadership appointment combining operational workforce management with corporate HR strategy. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring workforce readiness, strengthening organisational capability, maintaining regulatory compliance and developing scalable HR practices that support sustainable business growth. The organisation operates with a predominantly frontline and blue-collar employee population (approximately 80%), alongside a professional, managerial and corporate workforce (approximately 20%). The appointment requires a commercially astute, hands-on HR leader who can operate effectively across both employee populations. Key Responsibilities 1. Workforce Operations & Mobilisation Lead workforce planning, recruitment and mobilisation across multiple operational locations. Partner closely with Operations and Commercial teams to ensure appropriate manpower availability, deployment and contractual service continuity. Oversee high-volume recruitment, onboarding, workforce transfers and demobilisation. Improve employee retention, attendance management and frontline HR service delivery. Establish effective employee relations, grievance handling, disciplinary procedures and workforce welfare standards. Strengthen site-level HR capabilities and operational management accountability. 2. Corporate HR Strategy & Organisational Development Lead corporate talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning and performance management. Develop organisational structures, capability frameworks and people policies aligned with business priorities. Support executive leadership on organisational effectiveness, workforce productivity and change management. Enhance employee engagement, management capability and retention of critical talent. Oversee compensation, benefits and reward practices in partnership with Finance and senior leadership. 3. HR Governance, Compliance & Workforce Controls Ensure compliance with Saudi labour legislation, employment regulations and applicable Saudization requirements. Maintain robust HR governance, employment documentation, employee records and statutory processes. Strengthen payroll-related controls, workforce reporting and HR operational standards. Oversee HR systems, workforce analytics, management dashboards and reporting accuracy. Partner with Finance and Operations to manage workforce-related costs, recruitment efficiency and approved manpower budgets. 4. Executive Partnership & HR Leadership Serve as a trusted adviser to executive leadership on workforce strategy, organisational risks and people-related business decisions. Lead and develop the HR function, ensuring effective coordination between corporate HR teams and site-level HR operations. Build strong relationships with Operations, Finance, Commercial and other business functions. Drive practical HR improvements that deliver measurable operational and organisational outcomes. Candidate Profile Mandatory Eligibility Saudi National — this is a mandatory requirement for the appointment. Essential Experience Demonstrated senior HR leadership experience within a large, labour-intensive or multi-site organisation. Proven accountability for substantial frontline or blue-collar employee populations. Strong experience managing both operational workforce requirements and corporate HR functions. Measurable achievements in high-volume recruitment, workforce mobilisation, employee retention and HR operational effectiveness. Experience working closely with executive leadership and operational stakeholders. Strong working knowledge of Saudi employment regulations, Saudization requirements and local labour practices. Proven capability in leading HR teams, implementing HR governance frameworks and improving HR systems and processes. Preferred Industry Background Candidates with relevant leadership experience in the following sectors will be particularly well suited: Business Process Outsourcing and Support Services Manpower and Workforce Services Industrial and Technical Services Infrastructure and Contract-Based Operations Logistics and other labour-intensive, multi-site service environments Facilities Management Education & Professional Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related discipline. Postgraduate qualifications or recognised professional HR certifications are advantageous. Strong communication, executive stakeholder management and organisational leadership skills. Arabic and English communication capabilities are advantageous. Leadership Attributes The ideal candidate will demonstrate: Operational Credibility: Ability to engage directly with operational teams and resolve complex workforce challenges. Strategic Perspective: Ability to connect organisational objectives with workforce planning, talent and capability requirements. Commercial Acumen: Understanding of workforce economics, contractual service delivery and operational profitability. Sound Judgement: Demonstrated integrity, discretion and fairness in handling sensitive employee matters. Executive Influence: Ability to advise and challenge senior stakeholders constructively. Transformation Capability: Track record of implementing sustainable improvements across complex organisations. Measures of Success Success in this appointment will be demonstrated through improved workforce availability and mobilisation, reduced avoidable attrition and absenteeism, stronger regulatory and payroll controls, improved corporate talent management and effective, measurable HR service delivery. The successful candidate will bring an appropriate balance of hands-on workforce operations expertise and strategic corporate HR leadership. Experience in one area alone will not be sufficient. Confidentiality Notice This executive appointment is being managed on a strictly confidential basis. The identity of the hiring organisation and further details of its operating structure will be disclosed selectively during the recruitment process. Candidates are expected to exercise appropriate professional discretion throughout all discussions. Show more Show less