At AlixPartners, we solve the most complex and critical challenges by moving quickly from analysis to action when it really matters; creating value that has a lasting impact on companies, their people, and the communities they serve. By understanding, respecting, and honouring the needs of our employees, clients, and communities, AlixPartners actively promotes an inclusive environment. We strongly believe in the value that diversity brings to our experiences and are committed to the perpetual enhancements of initiatives, policies, and practices. We hold ourselves accountable by providing the space for authenticity, growth, and equity for everyone.
AlixPartners has embraced a hybrid work model to provide flexibility and support our employees’ work-life integration. Our hybrid model combines a mix of in-person (at client site or AlixPartners office) and remote working. Travel is part of this position, but the frequency may vary based on client, team, and individual circumstances.
What you’ll do
The Senior People Business Partner will work closely with the Middle East leadership team to shape and deliver a commercially focused people strategy. Operating within a global matrix, the role will balance regional priorities with EMEA and global frameworks. The role requires an integrated approach across performance and talent management, career development, succession planning, leadership capability, workforce planning, engagement, reward, organisational effectiveness and diversity and inclusion.
The Senior People Business Partner role supports our Middle East region and may be based in the UAE or KSA, the role reports to the EMEA Head of People.
- Primary point of contact for client services leaders and colleagues on people, talent and organisational topics; recognised as a trusted subject matter expert by senior leadership
- Partner with the Country Leader and Partner Managing Directors (PMDs) to shape, plan and execute the people agenda in support of the local region market strategy and the firm’s overarching strategy, ensuring alignment between business priorities and people decisions
- Partner with business leadership to strengthen engagement, retention and performance by providing data-led insight, challenge and advice, and supporting the execution of targeted actions and interventions
- Lead organisational change and transformation initiatives by advising leaders on organisation design, ways of working and change management, embedding effective and scalable people practices across the region
- Enable progress against diversity and inclusion objectives by partnering with leaders to translate firm-wide D&I strategy into local action, providing expertise, governance and challenge, and contributing to EMEA and/or global D&I initiatives
- Act as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders, enhancing leadership effectiveness and providing pragmatic guidance across the full employee lifecycle
- Provide thoughtful challenge and risk-based guidance on people decisions, ensuring alignment with firm values, policies, strategy and governance requirements
- Oversee the delivery of effective performance and talent management processes, ensuring high-quality goal setting, differentiation, promotion decisions and timely interventions where required
- Advise on reward and pay decisions, ensuring they align with performance outcomes and firm principles, and working closely with global teams to apply firm-wide compensation frameworks and benchmarking insight in local contexts
- Contribute to and lead EMEA-wide PBP initiatives and projects, sharing best practice, driving consistency where appropriate and strengthening the overall PBP community.
This description is not designed to encompass a comprehensive listing of required activities, duties or responsibilities.
What you’ll need
The successful candidate will be a commercially minded, collaborative and team-oriented People professional with strong judgement, emotional intelligence and excellent communication skills. They will bring a strong understanding of the Middle East market and a demonstrable record of operating effectively within it. The role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced and evolving environment, can manage competing priorities, and has the credibility and gravitas to influence and engage a diverse group of senior stakeholders.
- Significant HR experience, ideally 8+ years, including substantial experience operating as a strategic People or HR Business Partner
- Recent experience working within a multinational, matrixed organisation; experience in consulting, professional services or a partnership environment is strongly preferred
- Strong working knowledge of UAE and KSA employment law and local employment practices; knowledge of DIFC employment law is advantageous
- Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to coach and constructively challenge senior leaders
- Strong track record of handling complex and sensitive employee relations matters with sound judgement, discretion and appropriate risk awareness
- Strong analytical capability, with experience using people data and insight to identify trends, shape recommendations and support decision-making
- High cultural awareness and the ability to build trusted relationships across diverse, international and cross-functional stakeholder groups
- You will hold valid residency for the UAE or KSA, or be able to obtain it. Administrative support will be provided by AlixPartners to obtain the relevant permits. You must also be able to obtain any permits required to travel and work across EMEA.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic language capability is advantageous
- Ability to work full time in an office and remote environment
- Must become familiar with, and promote and abide by, our Core Values as defined by the AlixPartners’ Code of Conduct and foster an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organisation
Office Location: KAFD, Riyadh
Office Location: DIFC, Dubai
KSA Working hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm, Sunday to Thursday, hybrid model
UAE Working hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, hybrid model
The firm offers market-leading benefits that provide flexible options to support our employee’s needs, you can read more about the AlixPartners benefits here.
This advert will be removed once a suitable candidate has been identified.
AlixPartners is an equal opportunity employer.
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Skills Required
- Significant HR experience, ideally 8 or more years, including substantial strategic People or HR Business Partner experience
- Recent experience working within a multinational, matrixed organization
- Strong understanding of UAE and KSA employment law and local employment practices
- Experience in consulting, professional services, or a partnership environment
- Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience coaching and constructively challenging senior leaders
- Strong track record handling complex and sensitive employee relations matters
- Strong analytical capability and experience using people data and insights
- High cultural awareness and ability to build relationships across diverse international stakeholders
- Valid UAE or KSA residency, or ability to obtain it
- Ability to obtain permits required to travel and work across EMEA
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
- Arabic language capability
- Ability to work full time in office and remote environments
- Knowledge of DIFC employment law
AlixPartners Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AlixPartners and has not been reviewed or approved by AlixPartners.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Pay is positioned as market-competitive to above-market in core consulting tracks, with sizable variable pay that can meaningfully lift total compensation in strong years. Total compensation is also described as especially competitive within restructuring/turnaround relative to many generalist peers, even if comparisons versus top strategy firms can vary by level and year.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is described as up to 12 weeks of bonding leave in addition to birth-related short-term disability, which is competitive in U.S. consulting. Family-building support is highlighted via fertility/IVF, surrogacy, and adoption assistance, plus programs to support new parents and caregivers.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — A Value Accumulation Plan (VAP) provides equity-linked units after tenure thresholds, giving eligible employees long-term upside that is uncommon below the partner level in consulting. This ownership-like component is positioned as a distinctive wealth-building differentiator beyond standard salary and bonus.
AlixPartners Insights
What We Do
For more than forty years, AlixPartners has helped businesses around the world respond quickly and decisively to their most critical challenges – circumstances as diverse as urgent performance improvement, accelerated transformation, complex restructuring and risk mitigation. These are the moments when everything is on the line – a sudden shift in the market, an unexpected performance decline, a time-sensitive deal, a fork-in-the-road decision. But it’s not what we do that makes a difference, it’s how we do it. Tackling situations when time is of the essence is part of our DNA – so we adopt an action-oriented approach at all times. We work in small, highly qualified teams with specific industry and functional expertise, and we operate at pace, moving quickly from analysis to implementation. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients until the job is done, and only measure our success in terms of the results we deliver. Our approach enables us to help our clients confront and overcome truly future-defining challenges. We partner with you to make the right decisions and take the right actions. And we are right by your side. When it really matters. Recent Awards & Recognition: - Best Firm to Work For – Consulting Magazine, 2023 - Best Places to Work For LGBTQ+ Equality – Human Rights Campaign, 2022 - Best Management Consulting Firms – Forbes, 2021 - Ranked in the Top 10 in UHLALA Group’s Pride Index
