HR Advisor

Job Title	Strategic HR Advisor	Work Schedule	Sunday – Thursday 8:30 – 17:00
Department	Human Resources	Work Location	Erbil Office
Reports to	Regional HR Manager	Start Date	To be confirmed
Subordinates	Not Applicable	Application Deadline	November 4, 2026
Contract Type	Open Contract	Other details	Three months’ probation

About Us:

HKN Energy Ltd. is a privately held, independent energy company with oil exploration and production operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

HKN Energy is focused on increasing production of its Sarsang Block, located in the prolific Zagros fold, and thrust belt of Northern Kurdistan. We have a highly experienced, diverse team with work experience in over 80 different countries. HKN Energy is committed to building a company culture that is guided by its Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Excellence, Commitment, and Teamwork.

Position Summary

Acts as a strategic HR advisor to the business across all HKN entities in the region, leading the development and implementation of the regional HR strategy. The role oversees the development, governance, and continuous improvement of HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks, as well as the design and delivery of leadership development and graduate development programmed. It also leads global mobility and international assignment management, while providing strategic oversight and support across talent acquisition, performance management, reward, organizational design, and employee relations. Working closely with senior leadership and line managers, the role translates business priorities into effective people strategies and practical HR solutions, ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements across the region.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

HR Strategy & Business Partnering

• Develop, implement and maintain HR strategy across all HKN entities, aligned with business objectives and growth plans.
• Translate business priorities into practical HR initiatives and solutions.
• Promote consistency in HR practices while ensuring alignment with local legal and cultural requirements.
• Contribute to HR budgeting and monitor regional people-related costs.
• Champion HKN’s values and culture, supporting organizational change and people initiatives.

Policies, Procedures & Employee Handbooks

• Lead the development, review, harmonization and governance of HR policies and procedures across all HKN entities.
• Develop and maintain entity-specific employee handbooks, ensuring accuracy, accessibility and legal compliance.
• Ensure HR policies comply with applicable labour laws and regulations across all countries of operation.
• Establish a structured policy review cycle and oversee the communication and implementation of new and revised policies.
• Advise managers on policy interpretation and consistent application.

Leadership Development, Talent & Organizational Effectiveness

• Design and deliver group-wide leadership development programmes, including curriculum development, provider selection, participant criteria and impact evaluation.
• Develop competency frameworks, career pathways and individual development plans to strengthen internal capabilities.
• Design and manage the graduate development programme, including recruitment, rotations, mentoring, assessment and career progression.
• Build partnerships with universities and technical institutions to attract and develop national talent in support of HKN’s nationalisation and local-content commitments.
• Lead employee engagement surveys and monitor the implementation of action plans.
• Support organisational change, restructuring and integration initiatives across the region.

Global Mobility, Employee Relations & HR Projects

• Own the global mobility framework, including assignment policies, terms and conditions, allowances and cost management.
• Oversee the international assignment lifecycle, including assignment documentation, relocation, ongoing support, extensions, repatriation and localisation.
• Advise and support the Regional HR Manager on employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinary cases, performance concerns and investigations.
• Ensure employee relations matters are handled fairly, consistently and in compliance with applicable legislation and HKN policies.
• Liaise with Legal and external counsel on complex or sensitive employment matters.
• Lead or contribute to regional HR projects, process improvement and digitalisation initiatives.

Compensation & Benefits

• Develop and maintain the compensation and benefits framework across all HKN entities, ensuring competitiveness, internal equity and alignment with business objectives.
• Oversee job evaluation, grading, salary structures, market benchmarking and annual salary and bonus review cycles.
• Manage employee benefits, insurance programmes, allowances and statutory entitlements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable labour, tax and social security requirements across all jurisdictions.
• Lead compensation budgeting, cost analysis and forecasting to support management decision-making.
• Monitor market trends and recommend improvements to HKN’s total reward strategy.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources Management or Business Administration.
• Professional HR certification (CIPD, SHRM-CP/SCP, HRCI or equivalent).
• Minimum ten (10) years’ progressive HR experience, including at least five (5) years in an HR Advisor.
• Proven experience operating across multiple entities, countries or jurisdictions in a regional or multi-site capacity.
• Hands-on global mobility and international assignment management experience, including immigration, assignment terms and cross-border payroll and tax coordination.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Working proficiency in English sufficient to prepare reports and correspond with international stakeholders.