Senior Talent Acquisition Leader - Executive Search

About the role

A large international organization based in Dubai is looking for an experienced Senior Talent Acquisition Leader. This is a senior, highly visible leadership role working closely with executive leadership and responsible for senior and executive-level hiring internationally. It suits an established Managing Partner, Partner, Managing Director or Regional Director in executive search, or a senior in-house Talent Acquisition leader with significant search-firm experience.

Key responsibilities

• Lead senior and executive-level recruitment assignments, partnering with senior leadership on hiring requirements and business priorities
• Evaluate, screen and interview executive candidates, present them to senior leadership and manage complex, confidential searches through to appointment
• Oversee direct sourcing, headhunting, market mapping and pipeline development delivered by the wider Talent Acquisition team
• Act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, advise on executive hiring and talent availability, and influence hiring decisions
• Oversee market mapping for executive and strategically important positions, build pipelines of senior talent and maintain long-term relationships with senior professionals across international markets
• Lead, develop and grow the Talent Acquisition team, support its strategy and promote high standards of executive search and recruitment

Required profile

• Significant experience in executive search, senior-level recruitment or Talent Acquisition leadership, including searches at Director through to C-suite level
• Strong foundation in a reputable executive-search or search firm environment
• Demonstrated experience managing and influencing executive-level stakeholders and leading and developing recruitment teams
• Experience working across international talent markets and managing highly confidential assignments
• Willingness to be based in Dubai, UAE
• Desirable: current or previous experience at Partner, Managing Partner, Managing Director, Regional Director, Head of Talent Acquisition or equivalent; experience moving between executive search and in-house roles; experience building or scaling TA teams; exposure to large, fast-paced international organizations

Required skills

• Direct search, headhunting and market-mapping methodologies
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building and influencing skills
• Strong executive presence and confidence with senior business leaders
• Ability to combine strategic TA leadership with hands-on executive candidate assessment