Job Description

Merchlist is building the modern operating system for merch, helping brands, creators, and teams design, sell, and manage merchandise that people actually want. We're growing fast, and we're looking for a

Head of HR (People & Culture)

to build the people function from the ground up and help us scale with intention.

This is a leadership role for someone who loves both the human side and the systems side of HR: shaping culture, coaching managers, and building clean, durable processes that keep a high-performing team healthy and aligned.

What you'll do

Build and lead the people function

Own the full HR roadmap: hiring, onboarding, performance, compensation, policies, and employee experience. Create lightweight, scalable systems that work now and won't collapse at 2x headcount. Set clear principles for how Merchlist grows: what "great" looks like, how we reward it, and how we support people who are struggling.

Partner with leadership & managers

Act as a thought partner to founders and team leads on org design, team health, and strategy. Coach managers on feedback, performance conversations, hiring decisions, and running strong teams. Help leaders make fair, consistent, and legally sound people decisions.

Own talent strategy end-to-end

Improve recruiting funnels: sourcing strategy, structured interviews, scorecards, and decision hygiene. Build onboarding that gets new hires productive quickly and connected to our culture. Develop talent frameworks for growth paths, leveling, and internal mobility.

Shape culture deliberately

Codify what makes Merchlist Merchlist*: values, rituals, communication norms, and operating cadence.
Run engagement and pulse feedback loops; turn insights into action. Foster a culture that is ambitious, kind, direct, and accountable.

Ensure compliance & operational excellence

Own HR compliance across locations (contracts, policies, documentation, local labor law alignment). Oversee payroll coordination, benefits administration, and vendor relationships. Keep clean documentation and ensure HR data is accurate and useful.

What we're looking for

3+ years of progressive HR/People experience

, including leadership or head-of function ownership. Proven ability to

build HR systems from scratch

in a scaling startup or high-growth environment. Strong judgment in sensitive situations; you're calm, fair, and trusted. Deep knowledge of performance management, recruiting, compensation, and HR compliance. Excellent communicator who can handle hard conversations with clarity and empathy.

Nice-to-haves

Experience in

remote-first or globally distributed teams

. Background in e-commerce, creator economy, SaaS, or operations-heavy businesses. Familiarity with HRIS setup and people analytics. Track record of shaping culture in fast-moving companies.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: AED5,000.00 - AED7,000.00 per month