Senior Manager HR Business Partnering

Job Description

Synopsis. The Senior Manager HR Business Partnering role provides high-impact, senior-level HR partnership to assigned business portfolios within Etihad Airways. Acting as a trusted advisor to Directors and Senior Leaders, this role translates business strategy into clear, executable people plans while ensuring strong governance, risk management, and disciplined delivery.

Previous airline industry experience is mandatory. Only candidates with direct airline experience will be considered at this time.

• Strategic HR Business Partnering

  Partner closely with functional leaders to understand business priorities and translate them into actionable workforce and people strategies. Provide proactive, data‑driven advice on organisation design, role clarity, spans and layers, and productivity. Act as a trusted advisor on leadership effectiveness, team performance, and change initiatives, supporting transformation, restructuring, and growth across assigned portfolios.

• Workforce Planning & Capability Management

  Execute annual and multi‑year workforce plans aligned to budget, productivity, and capability requirements. Identify critical roles, skills gaps, and succession risks, partnering with HR Centres of Excellence to implement solutions. Support Emiratisation, localisation, and early‑career pipeline initiatives where applicable. Monitor and interpret workforce metrics including headcount, attrition, time‑to‑fill, and cost.

• Talent, Performance & Succession

  Lead talent review preparation and execution for assigned populations. Support succession planning and leadership pipeline development. Ensure effective performance management cycles, calibration, and outcomes. Coach leaders on performance management, development planning, and retention conversations.

• Employee Relations & Case Management

  Manage employee relations cases within delegated authority, including performance, conduct, and grievance matters. Ensure cases are handled fairly, consistently, and in compliance with policy and local labour law. Escalate complex, high‑risk, or sensitive cases to the Director, HR Business Partnering, and relevant governance forums. Partner closely with Employee Relations leadership to mitigate people risk.

• Rewards & Engagement

  Partner with Total Rewards on pay reviews, compa‑ratio management, and retention actions. Support leaders in making reward decisions within approved frameworks. Drive engagement action planning and culture initiatives within the business, identifying and mitigating attrition and engagement risks.

• HR Governance & Stakeholder Management

  Ensure compliance with HR policies, processes, and governance standards. Act as the coordination point between the business and HR Centres of Excellence. Prepare high-quality people insights, briefing papers, and recommendations for senior leadership. Maintain strong, credible relationships with stakeholders across HR and the wider business.

• Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive HR experience, with significant HR Business Partnering exposure.
• Mandatory:
  Previous experience within the airline industry.
• Proven experience partnering with senior leaders in complex, fast‑paced, operational environments.
• Strong exposure to workforce planning, organisation design, and employee relations.
• Excellent consulting, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Sound judgement with the ability to manage sensitive and high‑risk issues.
• Data‑driven, commercially minded, and outcome‑focused.
• Comfortable operating independently with minimal supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline.
• Professional HR qualification (CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent) preferred.

• Role Level: Mid‑Level
• Work Type:
  Full‑Time
• Country:
  United Arab Emirates
• City:
  Abu Dhabi
• Company Website:
• Job Function:
  Human Resources (HR)
• Industry: Airlines and Aviation
• Company:
  Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, its network offers access to hundreds of international destinations.

All this ties into Etihad’s ambitious Journey 2030 strategy. The airline plans to double its fleet size and triple the number of customers in the next six years as it sets out to be the airline everyone wants to fly!

Beware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. We will never ask for personal information, bank details, or payment during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted face‑to‑face or via video/telephone before any formal offer. If you are asked for money, please treat it as fraudulent.