Director of People Development & Effectiveness

About the role

The Director of People Development & Effectiveness will lead Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City’s people capability, organizational effectiveness and business partnership agenda. Reporting to senior leadership, the role ensures staff are skilled, engaged and empowered to deliver clinical and service excellence.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement and continuously improve the performance management framework, ensuring fairness, forward‑looking metrics and alignment with SSMC values and the EX = PX principle.
• Oversee the full annual performance cycle – goal setting, mid‑year check‑ins, year‑end calibration and rating distribution – and partner with People Rewards & Governance to link outcomes to compensation and career progression.
• Develop and run the High Potential Identification Programme, targeting 60 % bench strength for critical and senior leadership roles by FY2027, and maintain quarterly succession plans.
• Lead the Emirati Accelerated Leadership Programme in partnership with DOH, ADEK and UAE hiring bodies to meet Emiratization targets.
• Guide the learning ecosystem across clinical competency, functional excellence and leadership, creating digital‑first, bite‑size learning programmes.
• Champion employee wellbeing and organizational effectiveness initiatives, embedding the EX = PX formula throughout the workforce.
• Manage the People & Organization Business Partnership Team, providing strategic HR support to operational leaders.

Required profile

• Extensive senior‑level experience in human resources, talent development and organizational effectiveness, preferably within a healthcare setting.
• Proven track record of designing performance management systems and high‑potential talent programmes.
• Strong partnership skills with senior leaders and ability to influence culture and change.
• Understanding of Emiratization goals and experience working with UAE government bodies is an advantage.

Required skills

• Performance management framework design
• Succession planning and high‑potential identification
• Learning & development program design
• Employee wellbeing and organizational effectiveness