Riyadh Airports Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Airports' Human Capital Transformation

Total 617 words used.

Introduction:

In the fast-paced world of aviation, Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) faced numerous challenges, including transitioning from a government entity to a corporate and private entity, changes in company ownership, and the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges put significant pressure on RAC's Human Capital (HC) team, but their resilience, adaptability, and commitment to professional development enabled them to persevere and support the organization's strategic goals.

The RAC Human Capital team, consisting of 40 full-time employees in 2023, all Saudi Nationals, plays a pivotal role in supporting a workforce of approximately 1000 employees. The team's dynamics are characterized by a shared passion for the organization's purpose, commitment to RAC's values, openness, transparency, inclusion of diverse views and ideas, role modeling of leadership behavior, cross-department collaboration, and a focus on creating a team environment that fosters innovation, challenging work, learning opportunities, and professional growth.

In August 2023, the full implementation of the HR new structure aligned with the organization's wide restructuring, setting the stage for the realization of the new Corporate Strategy 2023–26. The HC team conducted benchmarking exercises, considered the future of work, and revamped not only the function's name but also its overall design, opening doors to new career development opportunities for team members. This led to the establishment of new HC departments including HC Excellence, HRIS, Data Analytics, and HC Planning, which aimed to enhance services to both the business and employees.

The HC team's key achievements in the face of challenges include:

1. Designing the First KSA Airports Succession Planning, Assessment Center, and Leadership Development Program Framework.
2. Developing customized Leadership Development Programs and Technical Development Solutions based on Assessment Center Results.
3. Collaborating with international aviation institutions like ICAO and ACI to anticipate industry growth.
4. Successfully transitioning to a new organizational structure that aligns with the organization's strategy.
5. Revamping the onboarding experience for new employees, including a media campaign to attract top talent.
6. Facilitating a smooth Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) process for Terminal 3 and 4.

Despite facing obstacles, the RAC HC team persevered. They focused on professional development and engaged the organization in planning for transformational change. They developed a new competency framework, mapped career paths, and identified development opportunities for employees. Their resilience, adaptability, and commitment to professional development led to high engagement levels and the successful implementation of new initiatives.

The tangible results of the HC team's efforts are evident in key performance metrics, including:

1. Filling 11 critical positions.
2. Executing seamless voluntary severance for over 100 employees nearing retirement.
3. Participating as new ACI Asia Pacific Regional HR Committee Members.
4. Filling 126 new structure positions internally, with salary uplifts and promotions.
5. Filling N-1 key roles internally.
6. Developing multi-year leadership and management programs.
7. Identifying and fulfilling business HC needs for hundreds of positions.
8. Conducting extensive training and resourcing for Trials and ORAT.

The HC team's efforts have translated into remarkable business impact, including:

1. Launching 33 new services to 21 countries, leading to significant growth in passenger volumes.
2. Achieving record-breaking passenger numbers, with a notable increase in commercial revenues.
3. Receiving prestigious industry recognition as one of the best airports globally.
4. Increasing airport parking revenue substantially as part of transferring employees from outsourced contract to direct employees.
5. In 2022 KKIA Employees ranked 3rd Best Airport Staff in Middle East, remaining in Top 5 in 2023

The journey of Riyadh Airports' Human Capital team is a testament to their dedication to the organization's success. They navigated challenges, adapted to change, and achieved remarkable results, contributing significantly to RAC's success in a dynamic and competitive industry. Their story showcases the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to professional development in overcoming obstacles and driving positive change.

(more stories and references in the supporting documentation)