JOB SUMMARY
The HR Business Partner serves as the primary point of contact for all businesses operating under the Ghobash brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, providing strategic and operational HR support across multiple Ghobash Group business units. The role leads end-to-end recruitment assignments, takes full ownership of Saudization and nationalization quotas, and partners closely with business heads and senior management to drive organisational effectiveness and people excellence. The incumbent brings solid experience in HR practices, employee management, and Saudi Labour Law, ensuring all HR activities are executed in alignment with Group policies, service level agreements, and KSA regulatory requirements.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Talent Acquisition & Recruitment
- Serve as the primary HR point of contact for all businesses operating under the Ghobash brand in KSA, ensuring consistent and high-quality HR service delivery across all business units.
- Lead end-to-end recruitment assignments across multiple Ghobash Group business units in KSA, managing the full hiring lifecycle from requisition through to offer acceptance.
- Establish recruitment requirements through close collaboration with Line Managers and the Group Recruitment Manager.
- Create and refine Job Descriptions as required to support hiring activities and role clarity.
- Build applicant pipelines by researching and posting on relevant job portals and professional networks.
- Screen, interview, and evaluate applicants using a consistent and structured competency-based framework.
- Arrange and coordinate management interviews for shortlisted candidates.
- Adhere to Group recruitment policies and procedures at all times.
- Build and maintain a comprehensive database of KSA national talent.
Nationalization & Saudization Quota Management
- Take full ownership of Saudization strategy, nationalization targets, and visa quota management for all GBS and Ghobash Group business units within KSA.
- Manage all Saudization portals, including Qiwa and Nitaqat, ensuring the company maintains the required Nitaqat colour band at all times.
- Work with senior management and the HR/PRO Department to ensure employee files and visa quotas are maintained and kept up to date.
- Develop manpower plans using workforce forecasting to ensure visa quota compliance with KSA Labour Law requirements.
- Collaborate with Line Managers on Saudization strategy and ongoing manpower planning.
- Ensure compliance with localization policies and nationalization targets across all business units.
- Monitor and report on Saudization metrics, escalating risks or compliance gaps to relevant stakeholders in a timely manner.
Onboarding & Manpower Planning
- Oversee employee onboarding to ensure a consistent and compliant experience aligned to Group standards.
- Conduct research and analysis to remain current on industry trends and best practices in onboarding and manpower planning.
- Liaise with Corporate HR and the General Manager to develop succession plans and retention strategies for key talent and critical positions.
- Liaise with Corporate HR and General Manager to develop and execute Learning & Development plans equipping individuals with the necessary skills.
- Formulate and implement performance improvement plans to address performance issues or facilitate exit from the organisation.
Performance Management
- Define and set KPIs for employees that meet business needs, in collaboration with Line Managers.
- Develop Job Descriptions and conduct role mapping for grading and compensation benchmarking.
- Facilitate performance review cycles and provide coaching support to managers and employees.
Employee Relations
- Ensure all employee requests are addressed within defined HR SLAs and in line with company policy.
- Respond to all employee queries clearly and in a timely manner.
- Monitor employee absence and leave applications, verifying causes for staff absences as required.
- Reinforce a culture of meritocracy, performance-focus, and diversity at all times.
- Ensure compliance with KSA Labour Law and Group policy throughout the entire employee lifecycle.
- Communicate and implement changes to HR policies and procedures effectively across all business units.
- Ensure the disciplinary procedure is correctly and consistently applied.
Business Partnering
- Act as a trusted business partner, advisor, and coach to General Managers and senior line management across all Ghobash Group businesses in KSA.
- Consult and support Group HR community members on local HR matters, ensuring a joined-up approach.
- Measure employee engagement across business units and drive initiatives to improve it.
- Act as a change agent and facilitate organisational transitions effectively.
- Communicate with senior leaders to present new ideas and propose solutions, factoring in budget constraints and company culture.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Master's Degree in Human Resources, Psychology, or Business Management.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of relevant HR experience.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Saudi Labour Law and Saudization requirements.
- Proven recruitment experience across multiple roles and levels.
- 5+ years in an HRBP or HR generalist role supporting multiple business units.
- Experience within a diversified group or conglomerate operating in KSA.
- Track record of managing Nitaqat compliance and nationalization quotas.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Skills & Abilities
- Strong knowledge of Saudi Labour Law and KSA employment regulations.
- Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrable experience with HR metrics and reporting.
- Excellent verbal and written communication in English.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Arabic language proficiency (spoken and written).
- Hands-on experience with Qiwa, Nitaqat, and other KSA government HR portals.
- Experience with HRMS or Oracle systems.
- Proven ability to coach and influence senior leadership.