VP & Head of HR Technology

Role Overview

VP & Head of HR Technology at First Abu Dhabi Bank, a leading financial institution based in the UAE. This role leads the delivery, support, governance, and continuous improvement of FAB's HR Technology landscape, with Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM as the core HR platform.

Company Overview

First Abu Dhabi Bank is the largest bank in the UAE and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. FAB offers a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. The organization is committed to excellence and innovation, providing top-tier financial solutions to clients globally. FAB fosters a performance-based culture that supports career development, learning initiatives, and structured progression for all employees, including dedicated plans for Emirati talent development in the financial and banking sector.

Role Purpose

The VP & Head of HR Technology serves as the primary liaison between Group Human Resources and Group Technology, ensuring HR systems, enhancements, projects, and production support are effectively managed and aligned with business requirements. The role is responsible for managing HR technology operations, system enhancements, digital transformation initiatives, and technology-enabled process improvements across the HR function, while driving the adoption of automation, AI, digital self-service, and emerging employee experience solutions.

Key Responsibilities

HR Technology Operations and Delivery

• Lead day-to-day management of FAB's HR Technology landscape, ensuring systems are stable, secure, compliant, and aligned with business requirements.
• Support execution of the HR Technology roadmap and portfolio priorities approved by the Head of HR Operations & Technology and HR Leadership Team.
• Manage the HR technology demand pipeline, ensuring initiatives are prioritized based on business value, regulatory requirements, operational needs, and delivery capacity.
• Monitor HR technology trends and recommend system enhancements, automation opportunities, and innovative solutions to improve HR service delivery.
• Ensure Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM remains the core HR platform and is optimized to support end-to-end employee lifecycle processes.

HR Automation, AI and Digital Innovation

• Lead implementation of HR automation, AI, and digital initiatives that improve employee experience, productivity, operational efficiency, and service quality.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to eliminate manual, repetitive, and low-value activities through automation and process simplification.
• Drive HR process and manual activities digitization and self-service adoption using technologies such as Oracle Digital Assistant (DANA), Microsoft Copilot, Power Automate, Power Apps, UiPath, AI, and GenAI solutions.
• Establish and track measurable outcomes and benefits from automation and digital transformation initiatives.
• Support responsible adoption of emerging technologies in line with FAB's standards for security, privacy, governance, and risk management.

HR and IT Partnership

• Act as the primary interface between Group HR and Group Technology for HR systems, projects, production support, architecture, cybersecurity, data, integration, and change delivery.
• Translate HR business requirements into clear technology outcomes, functional specifications, prioritized backlogs, and delivery plans.
• Represent HR in relevant technology governance forums and ensure HR interests, controls, dependencies, and employee experience requirements are addressed.
• Build effective working relationships across HR, IT, Cybersecurity, CPMO team, Risk, Data, Procurement, and other enabling functions.

HR Technology Projects and Change Delivery

• Serve as the HR Technology Lead for system implementations, upgrades, enhancements, and transformation initiatives.
• Partner with IT Project Managers, CPMO, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery and governance.
• Manage project scope, milestones, risks, dependencies, testing, business readiness, and deployment activities.
• Ensure adherence to approved project methodologies, governance standards, and change control procedures.
• Escalate material project risks and issues to the Head of HR Operations & Technology and HR Leadership Team where required.

Oracle Fusion HCM Support, Governance and Continuous Improvement

• Provide functional ownership and governance of Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM, ensuring the platform remains stable, secure, compliant, and aligned with HR business requirements.
• Act as the primary liaison between HR and IT, gathering system issues, enhancement requests, automation opportunities, and process improvement requirements from HR stakeholders.
• Maintain and govern the HR Technology backlog, issue log, and enhancement tracker, applying Agile principles to prioritize and agree monthly sprint deliverables with HR and IT teams based on business priorities and capacity.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery lifecycle for system changes, including requirements, design, development, testing, UAT, deployment, and post-production support, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
• Lead change management, communication, and user adoption activities for all HR system enhancements and releases, ensuring employees and HR teams are informed, trained, and prepared for successful implementation.
• Drive adoption and continuous improvement of digital HR solutions, including Oracle Digital Assistant (DANA), self-service capabilities, automation, and AI-enabled tools to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency.

Key Performance Indicators

• Monitor delivery of approved HR Technology initiatives within agreed scope, budget, quality, and timelines.
• Track availability, reliability, and service-level performance of Oracle Fusion HCM and related HR applications.
• Manage closure of system issues, enhancement requests, and Agile sprint commitments within agreed service levels.
• Measure adoption of employee and manager self-service, DANA, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Demonstrate reduction in manual effort, processing time, rework, and HR service transactions through automation and process simplification.
• Ensure quality and timeliness of system testing, release readiness, deployment, and post-implementation stabilization.
• Maintain HR stakeholder satisfaction with HR technology services and support.
• Achieve timely closure of audit, compliance, risk, and information security action items.

Frameworks, Boundaries and Decision-Making Authority

• Operate within FAB policies, delegated authorities, technology standards, information security requirements, risk appetite, and governance frameworks.
• Manage day-to-day operation, support, enhancement backlog, and delivery of HR technology solutions within approved priorities, budgets, and governance guidelines.
• Recommend system enhancements, process improvements, automation opportunities, and technology solutions to the Head of HR Operations & Technology and relevant governance forums.
• Ensure all HR technology changes, releases, and projects comply with established change management, testing, security, and approval processes.
• Escalate material risks, system issues, resource constraints, vendor performance concerns, and delivery challenges to the Head of HR Operations & Technology and relevant stakeholders.
• Work jointly with HR, IT, Cybersecurity, Risk, and vendors to ensure technology decisions support business objectives and operational requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10-12 years of experience in HR Technology, HR Systems, Digital HR, or HR transformation within large, complex organizations, preferably in banking or financial services.
• Strong Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM experience, including Core HR, workflows, security, reporting, integrations, release management, and production support.
• Proven experience managing HR technology operations, system enhancements, testing, change management, and technology delivery using Agile or similar methodologies.
• Experience acting as a bridge between HR and IT, translating business requirements into technology solutions and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Hands-on experience delivering automation, self-service, digital assistant, AI, and workflow solutions to improve employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Good understanding of HR operations, employee lifecycle processes, data governance, information security, compliance, vendor management, and risk controls.
• Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM certification preferred.
• Relevant certifications in Agile, Project Management, Automation, AI, Digital Transformation, or Cloud Technologies are advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

• Expert-level Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM knowledge, including Core HR, workflows, security, reporting, integrations, release management, and production support.
• Proven capability in managing HR technology operations, system enhancements, testing, and change management using Agile or similar methodologies.
• Strong ability to bridge HR and IT functions, translating business requirements into technology solutions and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Hands-on delivery experience with automation, self-service, digital assistant, AI, and workflow solutions.
• Deep understanding of HR operations, employee lifecycle processes, data governance, information security, compliance, vendor management, and risk controls.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies including Oracle Digital Assistant (DANA), Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform, UiPath, and GenAI solutions.