Head of Compensation & Benefits

Our client is one of Abu Dhabi's most prominent trading families, significantly contributing to the emirates economic progress. With a diverse portfolio of companies and ventures, they mirror Abu Dhabi's growth and align with its ambitious development goals.

Our client is now seeking a Head of Compensation & Benefits to lead the design, implementation, and management of compensation and benefits programs across the organization. This is a new, strategic role that will report directly to the Senior Director of HR and will have one direct report. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in managing large-scale C&B programs globally, particularly in the GCC region, and should be equipped with certifications from recognized bodies such as Hays and Mercer.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Groups compensation and benefits strategy, ensuring it aligns with the companys objectives and market trends.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and market analysis using data from GCC-specific sources.
• Ensure that all compensation and benefits programs are compliant with regional labour laws, particularly in the UAE and GCC.
• Oversee the annual salary review process, bonuses, and incentive programs.
• Design executive compensation packages and manage long-term incentive plans.
• Collaborate with the leadership to support company-wide change management initiatives, ensuring that C&B programs drive employee engagement and retention.
• Oversee the performance management system, ensuring that it ties into compensation programs such as merit increases, promotions, and incentive structures.
• Support the management in enhancing and streamlining performance evaluation frameworks.
• Conduct job evaluations and analyses to ensure internal equity and proper job grading.
• Work closely with Hays and Mercer frameworks for salary benchmarking and job analysis.
• Implement and manage competency-based frameworks that support talent development and career progression within the organization.
• Ensure that competency frameworks are integrated with performance management and compensation systems.
• Lead the C&B team, ensuring effective collaboration across HR functions and other departments.
  
  
  

Key Qualifications & Skills

• 12-15 years of progressive experience in Compensation & Benefits, with at least 3 years of experience in the UAE & GCC region.
• Hays or Mercer certifications in Compensation & Benefits, Job Evaluation, or Salary Benchmarking.
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams and collaborating with senior stakeholders to drive organizational goals.
• Proficient in compensation tools, HRIS, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities, with the capacity to translate business goals into effective C&B policies.
• Familiarity with Organizational Development, Performance Management Systems, and Competency Frameworks.