HR Business Partner

dentsu

About The Position

We are looking for a dynamic and commercially minded HR Business Partner with solid experience in the media/advertising industry. The ideal candidate has supported media teams (Planning, Buying, Performance, Strategy, Digital, etc.) and understands the fast-paced, client-driven nature of agency environments. This role requires someone who has worked within agency structures and has been involved in team setups, scaling operations, talent planning, and stakeholder management. You will act as a strategic partner to leadership while ensuring HR operations, culture, performance, and talent initiatives align with business objectives.

Requirements

5–8 years of HR experience.
Mandatory experience within a Media / Advertising / Digital Agency environment.
Strong understanding of media agency roles and structures (Planning, Buying, Performance, Strategy, Creative integration).
Experience supporting team setups, scaling operations, or new account launches.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leadership.
Experience handling performance management and employee relations cases.
Solid understanding of local and regional labor law and HR compliance.
Strong commercial acumen and ability to link HR initiatives to business outcomes.
Experience working in fast-growing or matrixed agency environments.
Exposure to multi-market or regional setups (MENA experience is a must).
Data-driven mindset with ability to interpret HR metrics.
Confident, proactive, and solution oriented with a positive mindset.

Responsibilities

Partner with Business Directors, Managing Directors, and department heads to align HR strategy with business goals.
Support workforce planning, org design, and team structuring for media functions.
Provide insights on hiring strategy, retention risks, and team capability gaps.
Advise leadership on people-related decisions, including promotions, restructuring, and succession planning.
Collaborate closely with Talent Acquisition on hiring for media roles
Support onboarding and integration of new hires into fast-paced client accounts.
Drive talent mapping and succession planning for key media roles.
Support new account launches and team setups.
Partner with leadership on building new departments or expanding service lines.
Develop scalable HR frameworks and policies suited for agency growth.
Drive performance review cycles and calibration processes.
Coach managers on performance conversations and development planning.
Support underperformance management and improvement plans where necessary.
Act as the first point of contact for employee relations matters.
Handle conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and employee concerns.
Foster a high-performance culture aligned with agency values.
Ensure HR policies comply with local labor laws.
Oversee compensation reviews, benefits alignment, and salary benchmarking for media roles.
Support audits and ensure documentation accuracy.