Senior Recruitment Specialist – UAE Nationals

About the role

Etihad Airways is seeking a Senior Recruitment Specialist to lead the acquisition of UAE national talent. Based in Abu Dhabi, you will partner with hiring managers, the talent acquisition team, and external partners to design and execute recruitment plans that meet the airline’s growth objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end recruitment activities including sourcing, screening, interviewing and assessing candidates.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to define candidate profiles and act as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process.
• Develop and maintain relationships with academic institutions, government bodies and talent networks to expand sourcing channels.
• Plan and coordinate recruitment events such as career fairs, university engagements and talent attraction initiatives.
• Lead the design and execution of assessment days for UAE national programmes.
• Support employer branding initiatives specific to UAE national recruitment.
• Monitor recruitment metrics, analyse hiring data and produce reports to drive continuous improvement.

Required profile

• 3‑6 years of recruitment experience, preferably in a large organization focused on UAE national hiring.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; professional certification (CIPD, SHRM, PHR) is a plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in sourcing, assessment and selection methods aligned with regulatory standards.
• Fluency in Arabic and English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required skills

• Proficiency with recruitment technologies and tools.
• Ability to use data and analytics to inform talent acquisition decisions.