Senior HR Manager - Near & Middle East (f/m/d)

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Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Entry date: immediately
Still accepting applications
Full Time (Permanent)
Job-Ref.: 557282
DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH
Human resources
Academic Professionals

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DB Group is one of the world’s leading mobility and transportation organisations, employing around 230.000 people globally, with a strong presence across Europe and beyond. Within the Group, DB Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C) is the international engineering and consulting arm, delivering infrastructure, mobility and transport solutions in Germany and around the world. DB E&C itself has over 6,200 employees from nearly 90 nations, contributing specialised expertise to complex rail and infrastructure projects globally. In the context of the NME region, our team is currently comprised of approximately 60 professionals actively driving regional delivery and growth. The region is highly profitable and continues to experience strong growth, offering significant opportunities for further expansion and development.

Role Purpose: The Senior HR Manager - Near & Middle East acts as the extended arm of the Managing HR Business Partner in the Headquarter based in Berlin, Germany and carries full operational responsibility for the implementation, governance and local execution of all HR strategies, frameworks and initiatives. The role requires a high degree of personal accountability and independent operational leadership, capable of translating global HR strategy into effective, compliant and culturally appropriate regional and country-level execution across the Near & Middle East. Based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the position serves as the central interface between the global HR strategy defined at the German headquarters and local/regional business realities, ensuring alignment with global standards while safeguarding compliance with local labor laws and maintaining operational excellence.

Relocation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is mandatory for this position.

Responsibilities:

Deliver comprehensive operational HR services, including leadership and employee development and manage all administrative processes related to the employee life cycle in Near Middle East & Africa, in collaboration with DB E&C Headquarters:
Lead and manage the HR functions (including Talent Acquisition) across Near Middle East and Africa, acting as the regional interface to International HR
Serve as the primary HR contact for managers and employees, ensuring guidance on policies, regulations and processes in line with central standards and local labor laws
Responsible for managing salary negotiations in ongoing projects and bids, ensuring alignment with standard market salary structures while maintaining the company’s economic goals
Ensure accurate, timely and legally compliant data management in the HR systems including the legally required platforms in the region (especially Qiwa and Gosi in Saudi Arabia), payroll and benefits administration, maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality and audit readiness
Hold full end-to-end accountability for labor law compliance and HR governance across the region, acting as regional expert for employment and immigration frameworks (especially Saudi Arabia and the GCC) while interacting directly with local authorities
Execute workforce planning under the functional leadership of International HR and own the regional implementation of nationalization and localization programs (e.g., Saudization, Emiratization)
Manage HR-related activities for bids, market entries, country setups and closures, in alignment with International HR where required
Support and coordinate internal and external audits within the region, ensuring full compliance and transparency
Collaborate closely with International HR on key initiatives, maintain transparent reporting, proactively share country-specific legal updates and align regional HR strategy and resource planning with corporate goals and operational needs

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (mandatory), Master’s degree or international HR certification (e.g., CIPD Level 7, SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred
Minimum 15 years of progressive HR experience in multinational environments, including at least 5 consecutive years in a senior HR leadership role within a Multinational Company, with a proven track record of operationalizing global HR strategy in complex regional settings
Ownership-driven and execution-focused mindset, demonstrating a high degree of personal accountability, independence and decisiveness in translating global HR strategy into disciplined, high-quality operational delivery across complex regional environments
Culturally intelligent and politically astute leader, able to balance global standards with local realities, navigate sensitive regulatory and stakeholder landscapes and act as a credible bridge between International HR in Berlin and diverse Near & Middle Eastern business operations
Trusted, resilient and pragmatic executive, exhibiting strong judgment, integrity and professionalism, with the ability to influence senior leaders, manage ambiguity and drive results through collaboration, structure and calm authority
Languages: Arabic and English are mandatory (fluent written and spoken); German is considered a strong asset