Abwaab | Head of People
Senior Manager / Director, People & Culture
(Title flexible based on experience; not a C-level role)
Location: Amman
Type: Full-time
About the Role
We are seeking a strong, pragmatic senior HR leader to own and scale the People function as our company grows. This role is designed for someone who can operate independently, execute decisively, and build structure without over-engineering.
The role reports to the VP/Senior Director of Shared Services and will be the most senior dedicated HR leader in the business, with accountability for people strategy, execution, and risk management in a startup environment.
This is a hands-on leadership role, not a ceremonial or purely strategic position.
Reports to: Director of Finance, HR, Legal & Admin
Manages: HRBPs / People Ops / external vendors (as applicable)
Scope: Global / multi-region (depending on company footprint)
Develop and execute a practical people strategy aligned with business priorities
Translate growth plans into workforce, org design, and capability plans
Balance speed, cost, and risk appropriate for a scaling startup
Partner closely with Finance, Legal, and Leadership on people decisions
Own and oversee all core HR activities, including:
Hiring support & workforce planning (in partnership with hiring managers)
Onboarding and offboarding
Performance management cycles
Compensation and benefits frameworks
Employee engagement and retention initiatives
HR systems, tools, and vendors
👉 Expected to design and execute, not just delegate.
Coach and support managers on:
Performance issues
Feedback and development
Difficult conversations
Build manager capability rather than absorbing people problems
Help scale culture intentionally as the company grows
Maintain clarity, fairness, and consistency without bureaucracy
Own people-related risk and escalation handling
Partner with Legal on employee relations issues and investigations
Ensure compliance across applicable jurisdictions
Maintain policies that are fit-for-purpose, not overbuilt
Build and manage a lean HR team as needed
Define what is handled internally vs outsourced
Manage payroll, benefits, legal, and HR tech vendors
Ensure service quality, cost control, and scalability
Own HR budgets and people cost inputs
Partner with Finance on headcount planning and forecasting
Track and report on key people metrics
Drive efficiency through systems and process simplification
Not a C-suite or title-driven role
Not a passive advisory position
Not an HR admin role only
Not a heavily layered enterprise HR environment
This is a builder role in a startup, with real accountability.
10–15+ years of progressive HR experience
Prior experience as Senior HR Manager, HR Director, or Head of People
Experience in startups or fast-scaling companies strongly preferred
Comfortable operating as a team of one initially, if required
Experience working closely with Finance and Legal a strong plus
Strong execution mindset with strategic judgment
Deep understanding of HR fundamentals without over-complexity
Confident handling employee relations and sensitive matters
Able to influence leaders without relying on hierarchy or title
Commercially aware and cost-conscious
Hands-on, resilient, and pragmatic
Comfortable with ambiguity and change
High integrity and discretion
Calm under pressure
Builder mentality — prefers creating over maintaining
Clear, scalable HR operating model in place
Managers increasingly self-sufficient on people matters
Reduced people risk and clearer escalation paths
Improved hiring, onboarding, and performance consistency
Strong partnership with Finance, Legal, and leadership
This role is for a senior HR leader who wants real ownership, influence, and impact in a startup environment — without a C-level title.