AVP – People Operations

Job Title: AVP People Operations

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: SVP Human Resources

About the Role:

We are seeking a strategic and people-first HR leader to join Emirates Flight Catering as Assistant Vice President People Operations. In this pivotal role, you will drive the planning, execution, and continuous enhancement of key HR functions, including Manpower Optimisation, Talent Acquisition, Contingent Workforce, and Mobilisation. Acting as a trusted partner to both senior business leaders and the HR leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping a high-performance culture rooted in transparency, efficiency, and people-centricity. You will build and lead scalable frameworks that not only support operational goals but also reflect market best practices and local UAE labour laws.

Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in the UAE and those who bring strong domain expertise from retail, FMCG, food, or hospitality sectors, where operational scale, fast-paced hiring, and frontline engagement are core to business success.

What Youll Be Responsible For:

• Design and deliver the people operations strategy across key HR functions to enable EKFC's business goals through a high-impact, data-informed, and delivery-driven HR approach.
• Implement a scalable, efficient HR framework that supports talent needs across the business, fostering a culture of trust, compliance, and accountability.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior stakeholders on HR-related matters, including workforce optimisation, hiring, and mobilisation, ensuring both agility and consistency.
• Establish a robust KPI and reporting framework to track the effectiveness of HR strategies and create a measurable impact across business units.
• Promote a culture where talent is a driver of business success by ensuring quality recruitment, timely onboarding, and efficient workforce planning.
• Provide hands-on support and coaching to HR teams and business leaders in navigating critical people-related challenges.
• Champion the use of HR analytics to support evidence-based decision-making across workforce-related matters.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to support organisational change, process improvements, and build strategic people capabilities.
• Anticipate future workforce needs and proactively shape strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent while ensuring compliance with changing regulatory requirements.

The Environment Youll Thrive In:

Youll be joining a large, diverse, and fast-paced organisation that sits at the intersection of aviation, food production, and logistics. With over 13,000 employees, our business is people-driven at its core. This role offers the opportunity to shape EKFC's evolving workforce model, where strategic HR practices must meet the pace and scale of a dynamic, high-performing environment.

Qualifications and Professional Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field (required)
• Graduate degree or HR professional certification (preferred)

Experience:

• Minimum 9 years in progressive HR leadership roles, with deep expertise in manpower planning, recruitment, and workforce mobilisation
• Strong understanding of HR Centres of Excellence and business partnering models
• Prior experience working in the UAE (preferred)
• Background in retail, FMCG, food service, or hospitality industries (preferred)

Core Competencies:

• People-centric leadership with a strong sense of fairness, empathy, and integrity
• High resilience and ability to navigate complex, high-stakes challenges
• Proven ability to think strategically, mentor teams, and manage competing priorities
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across stakeholder levels
• Analytical mindset with strong command of data to drive decision-making
• Attention to detail and a quality-driven approach to execution