Human Resources Development Specialist

Atif Abdulhakam Idress Salih

Abu Dhabi, UAE +971-********* ********@*****.***

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/atifwaad

HR Director Strategic HR Leadership Organizational Development MENA Expertise

Professional Summary

Strategic and results-driven Human Resources Director with over 13 years of experience leading HR operations Advisor & Advocate, CRM for employees across the Middle East and Africa. Proven track record in organizational transformation, post-merger integration, compensation strategy, and leadership development. Recognized for driving operational excellence, enhancing employee engagement, and improving HR systems in Construction, FMCG, etc and Government sectors. Open to regional leadership roles across the Middle East & Africa.

Core Competencies

• Strategic HR Leadership * Employees Advisor & Advocate *Change Management Effort

*Organization Design & workforce Planning *HR Process Policy & Compliance CRM

• Compensation & Benefits

• Organizational Development

• Performance Management& Employee Relation Specialist

• Employee Relations & Engagement, Performance, engagement, Process

• Talent Acquisition & Retention

• M&A Integration

• HRIS & Payroll Systems

• Government Compliance & ISO Standards

Professional Experience

Director, Corporate HR – Mepcon Group (Group Industries International)

Abu Dhabi, UAE Jan 2010 – PresentDefine and execute the HR technology strategy, centred around SAP SuccessFactors and aligned with broader enterprise digital goals.

*Act as the key interface between People & Culture and IT, ensuring technology initiatives reflect business priorities and workforce needs.

*Drive structured change management plans in collaboration with HR and Communication teams to ensure successful user adoption of new tools, systems, and ways of working.

*Lead large-scale transformation initiatives, including the rationalisation of HR systems and the integration of AI, automation, to ensure a right-fit solution aligned with business and workforce requirements across the HR lifecycle

*Champion a design thinking approach to employee experience, ensuring HR technologies are user-centric, accessible, and personalized to the workforce.

* Founded the Executive HR Support (EHS) unit to focus on executive compensation and succession planning — led to 35% retention increase (FY2016).

• Cut recruitment costs by 25% by optimizing sourcing strategies and implementing

*Develop HR Department's objectives, operational plans, and performance indicators; continuously monitor and measure them.

*Contribute to achieving the overall objectives of the HR Department and guide the team toward service excellence in terms of quality, accuracy, and efficiency.

*Participate in developing and documenting HR policies, procedures, and systems; ensure compliance across the department.

*Monitor HR performance against KPIs and ensure corrective actions are taken as needed.

*Prepare and oversee the department's annual budget and ensure adherence.

*Identify HR Department staffing needs and make recommendations regarding promotions, transfers, appointments, and rewards.

*Design, implement, and improve the performance management framework aligned with business objectives. Oversee goal setting, competency assessments, and feedback mechanisms to drive employee success. Support managers in evaluating performance and implementing Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).

*Design and launch lifecycle and loyalty journeys to boost retention, engagement, and reward program performance.

*Leverage CRM tools and first-party data to create personalised, multichannel campaigns.

standardized regional recruitment process• Enhanced HR operational efficiency by 22% via outsourcing and HRIS optimization.

• Led HR integration post-acquisition across UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Africa.

Senior HR Expert – Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MPA)

Abu Dhabi, UAE Apr 2006 – Oct 2009

• Designed and rolled out Project OCT (Organizational Capability Transformation), integrating two R&D units with 850 employees.

• Decreased employee turnover from 15% to 5% through structured engagement initiatives

• Led cross-functional HR teams in regional policy harmonization and leadership training.

Design, implement, and improve the performance management framework aligned with business objectives

Oversee goal-setting, competency assessments, and feedback mechanisms to drive employee success.

Support managers in evaluating performance and implementing Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).

Group HR Consultant – Bin Hafeez General Contracting (LLC)

UAE Jan 2003 – Aug 2006

• Developed and executed comprehensive Job Evaluation and Salary Grading System.

• Implemented ISO 9001 certification and quality systems across multiple departments.

• Enhanced payroll accuracy and compliance across UAE labor laws and pension systems.

Education

• BSc, International HR Strategic Management, University of Northampton, UK (2009)

• BSc, Economics, Al Nilain University, Sudan (1996)

• ISO Auditor Certification (ISO 9001/24000), UKAS / Lloyds Register (2008)

Technical Skills

• HRIS & Payroll Systems (Oracle, ERP)

• ISO Quality Systems (9001 Certified Auditor)

• ICDL Certified

• MS Office Suite

Certifications & Achievements

• Organized and implemented ISO 9001 programs for 2 companies

• Designed and published 3 HR Training & Development Manuals

• Successfully implemented KPIs for 256 employees

• Introduced visual and on-the-job training programs improving workforce performance

Personal Details

• Nationality: Sudanese

• Passport: B0890203 Valid till Dec 2026

• UAE Driving License: Valid till Jul 2026

• Languages: English, Arabic

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