Senior Recruitment Specialist - UAE Nationals Only

Job Description

In this role, you will be responsible for managing the direction and delivery of recruitment activities, partnering closely with the talent acquisition team, hiring managers and business stakeholders to attract, assess and secure top UAE national talent for Etihad. You will design and execute recruitment plans to ensure our ambitious growth targets are achieved efficiently and within agreed timelines. The role focuses on delivering successful recruitment outcomes across programmes and direct hire roles, building strong national talent pipelines, ensuring a strong candidate experience, and supporting Etihad's talent acquisition strategy.

Accountabilities

• Recruitment activities: manage recruitment related activities including sourcing, screening, shortlisting, interviewing and assessing candidates using relevant assessment tools.
  
  

• Stakeholder management: partner with hiring managers and business stakeholders to understand talent needs, define candidate profiles and act as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process.
  
  

• External partnerships: develop and manage relationships with academic institutions, government partners, and talent networks to strengthen sourcing channels and enhance Etihad's recruitment reach.
  
  

• Event management: plan and coordinate recruitment events including career fairs, university engagements and talent attraction initiatives to strengthen talent pipelines and promote Etihad as an employer of choice.
  
  

• Assessment days: lead the design and execution of assessment and selection processes for UAE national programmes, ensuring they are efficient and aligned with hiring requirements.
  
  

• Employer branding: assist with employer branding initiatives specific to UAE national recruitment, in collaboration with the Employer Branding team.
  
  

• Metrics & Data: monitor recruitment metrics, analyse hiring data to evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment efforts, and prepare reports and insights to support recruitment planning and continuous improvement.
  
  
  
  

• 3 to 6 years of recruitment experience, preferably within a large organization with a strong focus on UAE national recruitment.
• Bachelors degree from accredited institution. A professional certification such as CIPD, SHRM, PHR is a plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in sourcing, assessment, and selection methods tailored to meet operational requirements and regulatory standards.
• Proficiency in recruitment technologies and tools, with the ability to utilise data and analytics to inform decision-making and improve talent acquisition outcomes.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
  

• On-site position based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at the Etihad Airways Center (EAC).
• Application deadline is 24 August 2026

Etihad Airways is more than the UAE’s national airline - we’re shaping the future of global aviation. From our hub in Abu Dhabi, we connect people across continents and cultures, while driving our “Journey 2030” ambition to double our fleet, expand our network and grow our people for a new era of excellence. Join us and become part of a vision where the world is your workplace and extraordinary experiences take flight.

To learn more visit www.etihad.com

Recruitment Fraud Alert

Beware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. We will never ask for personal information, bank details, or payment during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted face-to-face or via video/telephone before any formal offer. If you are asked for money, please treat it as fraudulent.