Executive Director of Performance Management

Role Overview

This leadership opportunity is for an accomplished performance management professional who can shape, run, and continually improve the organization’s performance framework across a broad and varied workforce. The position is centered on building a strong performance culture through structured governance, KPI oversight, calibration practices, talent differentiation, and insight-led decision-making.

The role covers performance management for a large employee base that includes teachers, academic personnel, and corporate teams, with all processes expected to support the organization’s overall strategy and its educational excellence goals.

What You Will Lead

• Create and implement the organization’s performance management strategy and operating model.
• Own the full performance cycle, including objective setting, mid-year reviews, annual assessments, and calibration.
• Set up governance standards that promote fairness, consistency, and transparency in evaluations.
• Build performance scorecards, KPIs, and measurement frameworks that align with organizational priorities.
• Analyze performance data and workforce trends to support planning and talent-related decisions.
• Work closely with HR, Academic Affairs, and business leaders to strengthen accountability and results.
• Spot performance patterns, skill gaps, and improvement areas across a large employee population.
• Advance automation and process improvements within performance management systems.
• Ensure all practices remain aligned with internal policies and recognized performance management standards.
• Drive initiatives that improve engagement, productivity, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Education Management, or a closely related field is required.
• A master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 12 years of experience in Performance Management, Organizational Development, Human Capital, or Talent Management is required.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing enterprise-wide performance programs.
• Background in managing performance frameworks for large organizations with 1,000+ employees.
• Experience in the education sector, public sector, or large service organizations is strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of performance governance, calibration approaches, KPI design, and workforce analytics.
• Proven ability to implement performance management platforms and digital HR solutions.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Solid analytical ability and strong data interpretation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Professional certifications such as SHRM-SCP, CIPD Level 7, HCI Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP), or PMP are considered an advantage, or an equivalent qualification.

Key Competencies

Strategic leadership, performance governance, workforce analytics, talent differentiation, organizational effectiveness, data-driven decision-making, change management, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement are central to success in this role.

Additional Information

This position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is a full-time onsite role. The employer is confidential government organization.