Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Overview

A large-scale, high-growth organization in Saudi Arabia (6,000+ employees) is entering a critical phase of transformation.

The business has scaled rapidly and is now prioritizing organizational control, governance, and people effectiveness. This role is not a traditional HR leadership position — it is a turnaround and stabilization mandate at the core of the business.

The successful candidate will be tasked with restoring structure, accountability, and performance across the organization, while building the foundation for future group-level capability.

Key Responsibilities

The Mandate

This role carries a clear and immediate priority:

Fix the organization. Stabilize it. Then build for scale.

Key focus areas include:

• Establishing strong HR governance and authority frameworks
• Regaining control over hiring, approvals, and decision rights
• Addressing talent disengagement and retention risks
• Enforcing organizational discipline and accountability
• Activating and embedding HR systems (ERP) and processes
• Partnering with leadership to ensure clarity of structure and reporting lines
• Supporting operational leaders in transitioning from informal to structured execution

Key Challenges

The environment is complex and requires a leader who can operate under pressure:

• Rapid growth without matching governance maturity
• Inconsistent hiring practices and approval structures
• Talent frustration due to lack of empowerment and clarity
• Underutilized systems and manual HR processes
• Functions operating beyond defined authority limits

This is a hands-on leadership role, not a purely strategic or policy-driven position.

Group HR Strategy & Governance

• Define and implement the group-wide HR strategy aligned with business objectives
• Establish HR governance frameworks across all subsidiaries
• Standardize core HR policies, while allowing flexibility for business units

Organizational Design & Workforce Planning

• Design and optimize organizational structures across the group
• Lead workforce planning and headcount strategy
• Ensure alignment between business strategy and organizational capability

Leadership & Talent Management

• Build and implement leadership development frameworks
• Oversee succession planning for critical roles
• Partner with executives on talent decisions at senior levels

Performance & Culture

• Establish a group-wide performance management system
• Drive accountability, productivity, and performance culture
• Align culture across companies while respecting business differences

Compensation & Rewards

• Design and implement compensation and grading structures
• Ensure internal equity and market competitiveness
• Oversee incentives, bonus structures, and executive compensation frameworks

HR Operations & Systems

• Oversee HR operations across the group
• Ensure efficient HR systems, reporting, and data-driven decision-making
• Drive HR transformation and automation initiatives

Compliance & Saudization

• Ensure compliance with Saudi labor laws and regulations
• Lead Saudization strategy across the group
• Maintain strong governance in HR practices

Requirements

• 12–18+ years of experience in HR, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role (CHRO)
• Experience in holding groups, multi-entity organizations, or complex structures
• Strong background in organizational design, HR governance, and transformation
• Proven ability to partner with C-level executives and boards
• Experience in Saudi Arabia is essential
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders

Preferred Profile

• Experience building HR functions from the ground up
• Exposure to logistics, operations, or large workforce environments
• Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution

Benefits

• Opportunity to shape and build the HR function at group level
• Direct impact on leadership, structure, and long-term growth
• Work closely with executive leadership on critical strategic initiatives