Principal – HR Transformation

Company:

Description:

Mercer is looking for an exceptional candidate to join our HR Transformation practice in Riyadh or Dubai as:

Principal – HR Transformation

Why this role?

This is a unique opportunity to join a high-performing regional team and work with some of the most respected organizations across the Middle East and beyond. As a Principal, you will play a key role in helping clients reimagine their HR function, shape transformation agendas, and deliver meaningful, lasting impact.

You will work closely with senior leaders and a diverse network of consultants, bringing Mercer’s proven methodologies, insights, and innovation to complex HR challenges. This role offers the chance to lead strategic client conversations, drive major transformation programs, and contribute to Mercer’s continued growth in the region.

What you can expect

• A chance to work on high-impact HR transformation projects for leading organizations across the region.
• Exposure to a broad range of clients and industries, including large, complex, and multinational businesses.
• A collaborative, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment where your expertise will be valued.
• The opportunity to influence strategy, shape operating models, and help clients build more agile, effective, and future-ready HR functions.

What you will do

Business Development

• Partner with senior consultants and client leaders to identify and pursue HR transformation opportunities across the market.
• Lead client discussions on Mercer’s HR Transformation offerings and value proposition.
• Prepare compelling proposals and present Mercer’s capabilities to executive-level stakeholders.
• Support deal closure, including negotiation of engagement terms, SOWs, and engagement letters.

Project Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of HR transformation engagements as program manager and trusted client advisor.
• Deliver projects spanning HR strategy, operating model design, organizational design, shared services, process redesign, technology enablement, vendor selection, readiness assessments, and implementation support.
• Manage project economics, timelines, and budget while ensuring high-quality outcomes.
• Guide and mentor delivery teams, ensuring strong analysis, clear insights, and impactful recommendations.
• Oversee research, benchmarking, data analysis, and deliverables that support client decision-making.

Practice Contribution

• Contribute to Mercer’s thought leadership, methodology development, and sales pipeline.
• Serve as a mentor and role model for junior team members.
• Help strengthen Mercer’s presence and value proposition across the region.

What we are looking for

• 10+ years of consulting experience in HR transformation, either in external consulting or internal advisory roles.
• At least 5 years of experience leading large-scale programs with multiple workstreams.
• Strong expertise in at least three of the following: HR strategy, HR technology, organizational design, operating models, process redesign, organizational effectiveness, or employee experience.
• Broad understanding of the full HR lifecycle, including talent, rewards, performance, and related disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of HR systems such as Workday, SAP, SuccessFactors, or Oracle.
• Experience with technologies supporting HR functions such as recruitment, time and attendance, payroll, rewards, learning, and talent management.
• Demonstrated ability to write persuasive proposals and present confidently to senior executives.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to design practical, innovative solutions for complex business challenges.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Arabic.

What will make you stand out

• Experience working across multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to connect HR solutions to broader business outcomes.
• Excellent listening and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and influence senior stakeholders.

Why Mercer?

At Mercer, we are committed to building brighter futures — for our clients, our people, and the communities we serve. You’ll join a culture that values collaboration, growth, inclusion, and innovation, with the opportunity to make a real difference in the region.

Mercer is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Mercer, visit mercer.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.