Manager Recruitment

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Company: Etihad Airways

Job Overview

Etihad Airways is seeking an experienced Manager – Recruitment to join its Talent Acquisition team in Abu Dhabi. The continued growth of the airline depends on attracting exceptional professionals who can support the commercial and strategic functions that power the organisation’s global operations.

In this role, you will act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, managing recruitment strategies and leading hiring initiatives for key airline departments. The position requires strong market awareness, aviation industry knowledge, and the ability to source highly specialised talent from across global markets.

As Manager Recruitment, you will play a central role in ensuring the organisation hires the best professionals across critical areas such as revenue management, network planning, commercial strategy, pricing, and other specialist airline disciplines.

You will work closely with business leaders and HR Business Partners to deliver a recruitment process that is efficient, transparent, and aligned with organisational hiring standards. This position operates in a high-visibility and fast-paced environment where success depends on strong collaboration, strategic sourcing, and excellent stakeholder management.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement

• Build strong partnerships with senior stakeholders across business functions.
• Act as a trusted advisor on talent acquisition strategy and workforce planning.
• Provide guidance to hiring managers on recruitment processes and best practices.
• Ensure hiring leaders understand how to effectively collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team.
• Offer insights on talent availability and market dynamics within the aviation sector.

Recruitment Delivery

• Lead end-to-end recruitment activities across assigned business functions.
• Coordinate hiring decisions in partnership with HR Business Partners and leadership teams.
• Manage candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offer management processes.
• Ensure recruitment timelines are met while maintaining high hiring quality standards.
• Deliver successful hires aligned with business needs and company policies.

Market Expertise

• Develop a strong understanding of the global aviation talent market.
• Track competitor hiring trends and talent movement within the airline industry.
• Provide informed advice to stakeholders regarding recruitment strategies and workforce planning.
• Identify opportunities to attract specialised talent from both aviation and related industries.

Strategic Sourcing

• Design and implement global sourcing strategies for niche aviation talent.
• Utilise multiple sourcing channels including professional networks, industry platforms, and talent databases.
• Conduct proactive outreach to attract high-quality candidates internationally.
• Develop creative sourcing methods to identify specialised professionals.

Recruitment Process Management

• Manage the entire recruitment lifecycle from workforce planning to onboarding.
• Coordinate closely with hiring managers to ensure smooth recruitment processes.
• Track recruitment progress and ensure compliance with company standards.
• Maintain structured hiring procedures and recruitment documentation.

Assessment and Selection

• Ensure candidates are assessed fairly and objectively according to company standards.
• Conduct competency-based interviews and candidate evaluations.
• Apply structured recruitment frameworks and selection methodologies.
• Support hiring managers in making informed and unbiased hiring decisions.

Talent Pipelining

• Build and maintain talent pools for critical airline roles.
• Establish long-term relationships with potential candidates across global markets.
• Develop proactive recruitment pipelines to reduce hiring lead times.
• Ensure the organisation has access to specialised talent ahead of demand.

Employer Branding

• Represent the employer brand of Etihad Airways across recruitment channels.
• Promote the organisation as a preferred employer within the aviation sector.
• Support recruitment marketing campaigns and talent attraction initiatives.
• Communicate company culture, values, and career opportunities to potential candidates.

Candidate Experience

• Ensure candidates receive a professional and transparent recruitment experience.
• Maintain clear communication throughout the hiring process.
• Provide guidance to candidates to help them make informed career decisions.
• Strengthen the organisation’s reputation through exceptional candidate engagement.

Education Requirements

Candidates must meet the following educational qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
• Additional qualifications in human resources or talent acquisition are advantageous but not mandatory.

Experience Requirements

Applicants should possess the following experience

• Minimum 7 years of recruitment experience.
• Experience working within multinational organisations or large corporate environments.
• Proven experience recruiting for commercial, strategic, or analytical roles.
• Experience within the aviation industry or related sectors is highly desirable.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced or high-volume recruitment environments.

Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate the following abilities

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to influence senior leadership and business stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of global recruitment strategies and sourcing techniques.
• Excellent organisational and project management abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple recruitment projects simultaneously.

Additional advantageous skills include

• Knowledge of competency frameworks and structured assessment methods.
• Experience using psychometric assessments.
• Familiarity with recruitment technology and applicant tracking systems.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Additional languages may be considered an advantage.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and one of the world’s leading aviation companies. Established in 2003 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the airline has rapidly expanded its network and operations to become a major global carrier.

From its hub in Abu Dhabi, the airline connects passengers to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Through strategic partnerships and codeshare agreements, travellers can access hundreds of international destinations worldwide.

Over the years, the airline has received numerous awards recognising excellence in customer service, premium travel experiences, cargo operations, and loyalty programmes. The organisation continues to invest in innovation, sustainability, and customer experience improvements.

The company’s long-term Journey 2030 strategy focuses on expanding its global network, increasing fleet capacity, and significantly growing passenger numbers. Achieving these ambitious goals requires attracting highly skilled professionals who can support the airline’s growth and transformation.

Recruitment Fraud Alert

Etihad Airways advises all applicants to remain vigilant against fraudulent job offers. The airline will never request payment or financial information during any stage of the recruitment process.

Official recruitment processes include interviews conducted either in person or through authorised video or telephone channels. Any request for payment or bank details should be treated as fraudulent and reported immediately.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply by submitting their application through the official recruitment portal. Applicants will be required to upload an updated CV and complete the application form.

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interviews and further recruitment assessments as part of the hiring process.