Head of HR – Saudi Arabia & Central Asia

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 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. We have been present in Saudi Arabia for 40 years and with over 600 employees to date, we are growing rapidly. Together we are delivering our signalling, control and train protection systems for the North –South Railway (NSR), the longest system of it’s kind in the world. Together we are key suppliers of In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems as well as air traffic management solutions in Saudi. We are making Saudi Arabia a safer place by securing the country’s critical infrastructure and e-security solutions that secure the country’s electronic payment systems. Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems for the Army, the Saudi Arabia National Guards and the Air Force.

Head of HR – Saudi Arabia & Central Asia

Riyadh, KSA

Thales is a trusted partner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with a presence of over half a century. The Group provides advanced solutions in Defence & Security, Space & Aerospace, Transportation and Digital Identity & Security.

Thales has built a strong relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through solid partnerships. This has allowed Thales to expand its footprint at a local level and meet ever-evolving customer demands. Thales has been actively supporting the KSA Vision 2030, since its launch, making strides in localisation of defence equipment and systems, development of local and cultural attractions, as well as digital transformation.

We are actively recruiting a high criticality role for a Head of Human Resources. This role will be central to our growth aspirations in KSA, this includes significant scaling up of our business operations in collaboration with key clients in KSA.

We can only accept applications from Saudi Nationals for this position.

Role overview

As Head of HR, you will report into the HR Director – ME, Africa, Saudi Arabia & Central Asia Region and VP – Saudi Arabia & Central Asia region. The role will lead a team of 6 and be part of the Company Directors of Saudi Arabia and Central Asia region.

Key deliverables in the role will include:

• Leading the Human capital management: including but not limited to: Talents attractiveness, development and retention. The objective is to double the current Human Capital in Saudi Arabia within 3 years : total headcount of about 350 employees (today)
• Leading the people agenda, enabling the delivery of business strategy, and supporting a high-performance culture within the HR function perimeter.
• Connecting with senior stakeholders of Saudi Arabia & Central Asia countries, Regional HR team members and also HR teams from different Business Units of Thales (based in France) to ensure people initiatives helps the business to attract, develop, engage and retain employees including lead standardisation of policy, process and recruitment in KSA.
• To manage the scope of hiring Saudi nationals as per objectives for Thales in Saudi Arabia.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Manage HR team both in hierarchical and Matrix mode to define and deploy adhoc HR plans to meet Growth, Delivery, Lead and Protect pillars of the group objectives as Saudi Arabia is expected to be among the top 3 contributor countries.
• Implement the HR strategies and drive associated action plans to support business performance and the ability to attract, develop, engage and retain employees in partnership with the leadership team of Saudi Arabia & Central Asia countries.
• Build strategy to hire Saudi nationals & strengthen relationship with local universities & Industrial partners for long-term association.
• Support identifying and building leadership and technical capability and growth of a talent pipeline aligned to future business strategy.
• Understand and apply organizational effectiveness and development tools in the business while collaborating with the broad HR organization.
• Support the business on transformation organizational projects.
• Coach, challenge and advice the management team under his/her perimeter to ensure business objectives are delivered.
• Influence business decision-making to ensure HR issues and risks are considered at the earliest possible point.
• Provide data-driven insights to the management team under his/her perimeter that support people related decision-making.
• Collaborate with regional HR Shared services team members on the topics of Talent management, Learning, Compensation and Benefits & Talent Acquisition.
• Partner with other Global Business Unit’s HRBPs on the implementation of people related actions that will support the success of the business in Saudi Arabia & Central Asia countries.
• Advice employees on policies and processes, grievance management, develop a positive work environment in different Thales sites of Saudi Arabia & Central Asia countries.
• Coach & develop HR Team members of Saudi Arabia & Central Asia countries & up skill them to adapt to business needs.
• Coordinate with Head of HR of Thales Joint Venture companies & align HR policies.

Experience, Skill and Knowledge required

We’re looking for an accomplished HR professional with experience working within Multi-nationals organisations based in Saudi Arabia who has experience in human resources in the areas of staffing, performance management, change management, compensation and benefits, organization development, employee relations, training and knowledge of Saudi Arabia labour law.

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of progressive HR practices.
• Successful track record of initiating People strategies to support business growth and change.
• Strong capability in managing dynamic and matrix relations with different stakeholders.
• Excellent influencing, communication, and presentation skills
• Result orientation with high productivity; strong desire for success
• Experience of working across projects, including knowledge of Project Life Cycle.
• Working in a complex, multidisciplinary, multi-site organization

Qualification, Certification and Educational requirements

Preferably an MBA from a reputed institute, majoring in HR; with significant experience in the HR domain with appropriate experience in the HR generalist function in multi-national organizations.

Arabic & English speaker is a must

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