Advisory Consultant (Contractor)

Important Notice: This is not an advertisement for a specific open vacancy or full-time employment. Foreground is building a curated network of independent advisory consultants to engage on a project-by-project basis as mandates arise across our client portfolio. Approved network members will be contacted directly when a relevant project is activated.

About Foreground

Foreground is a people and organizational advisory firm headquartered in the UAE, serving clients across the GCC and MENA region. We operate across three integrated practice areas: Advisory, covering HR strategy and organizational design; Learning, covering leadership development and capability building; and Talent, covering executive search and embedded recruitment.

Our clients include organizations navigating transformation, growth, and the evolving demands of a region reshaping itself at pace. We bring senior expertise, regional depth, and a pragmatic lens to every engagement.

The Network Opportunity

Foreground maintains a vetted network of independent advisory consultants who are engaged on a project basis when client mandates align with their area of expertise. Network membership is not employment. It is a professional partnership that gives consultants priority access to Foreground's client pipeline, while allowing them to maintain their own practices and client relationships.

When a project within your area of expertise is activated, we will reach out to you directly to discuss scope, timeline, and commercial terms. Engagement is always subject to mutual agreement.

Role Overview

• Role Title: Advisory Consultant (Network Contractor)
• Practice Area: Advisory
• Engagement Type: Independent Contractor, Project-Based
• Work Model: On-site, Remote, or Hybrid, depending on client requirements
• Geography: UAE, Saudi Arabia, and broader GCC and MENA markets
• Engagement Duration: Variable, aligned to project scope, typically 4 to 16 weeks
• Language: English required. Arabic highly valued.

Scope of Advisory Work

Advisory consultants within our network are engaged across a range of people and organizational mandates. Typical project scopes include:

• HR strategy development, including function design, capability gap analysis, and HR operating model design
• Organizational design and restructuring, covering spans and layers, role architecture, and governance frameworks
• Workforce planning and talent analytics, including headcount modeling and succession readiness assessments
• HR policy and framework development, aligned to UAE Labor Law and regional regulatory environments
• Performance management system design and implementation support
• Employee engagement strategy, including culture assessments and employer brand diagnostics
• Change management advisory and organizational transformation support
• Compensation and benefits benchmarking, job evaluation, and reward framework design
• HR due diligence in support of mergers, acquisitions, and carve-outs
• Emiratisation and nationalization strategy, including talent pipeline and integration planning

What We Look For

We are selective about who joins our network. We look for professionals who combine depth of expertise with the maturity to operate with minimal oversight in client-facing environments.

• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in HR advisory, organizational effectiveness, or people consulting
• Demonstrated exposure to GCC or MENA client environments, with an understanding of regional regulatory, cultural, and organizational contexts
• A track record of leading or significantly contributing to client-facing advisory engagements, not purely internal or operational HR roles
• Ability to translate strategic intent into actionable frameworks, tools, and implementation roadmaps
• Strong stakeholder engagement capability, including experience presenting to C-suite and board-level audiences
• Commercial awareness and the ability to scope, price, and deliver within agreed parameters as an independent professional
• Fluency in English. Arabic language proficiency is a significant advantage for regional engagements.
• Active professional credentials are an advantage, including CIPD, SHRM, HRCI, GPHR, or equivalent

What Foreground Offers Network Members

• Priority briefing on relevant projects within our pipeline before they are offered externally
• A clear and transparent contracting process, with professionally drafted agreements, defined scope, and agreed deliverables
• Competitive, market-referenced day rates or project fees, negotiated transparently based on scope and seniority
• A collaborative working model, with access to Foreground's internal knowledge base, tools, and frameworks where applicable
• A professional reference and the opportunity to build a sustained relationship with a growing regional advisory practice
• Access to Foreground's broader network of clients, practitioners, and partners across the GCC and MENA

How Engagement Works

• Upon acceptance into our network, your profile will be catalogued by area of expertise, industry experience, and geographic availability
• When a relevant project is activated, Foreground will contact you with a confidential project brief and gauge your interest and availability
• If there is a fit, we will share a more detailed scope and move to commercial terms
• Engagement is formalized through a Consulting Services Agreement, covering scope, deliverables, timelines, fees, confidentiality obligations, and IP ownership
• Payment is milestone or completion-based, with clear invoice and settlement terms
• There is no exclusivity requirement. You are free to maintain your own client relationships and other professional commitments throughout.

How to Apply

If your background aligns with the profile above, we invite you to apply for network membership. Please submit the following:

• A current CV with specific emphasis on advisory and consulting engagements
• A brief note (no more than one page) outlining your primary areas of expertise, the types of mandates you are best suited to, and your typical availability
• Your preferred working geography and any geographic constraints
• An indication of your day rate or project fee range

Foreground reviews applications on a rolling basis. Applications are held in strict confidence.