Head of Talent Acquisition Section

University of Sharjah; Sharjah; On-site; AED 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Sharjah seeks a strategic Head of Talent Acquisition Section to lead the full lifecycle of recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning. You will shape a forward-looking TA strategy, build the employer brand, and partner with university leadership to drive performance.

The role requires 12–14 years UAE experience in higher education, a Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field, and professional HR certification or a Master’s in HR. Fluency in Arabic and English is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field is required.
• Professional HR certification (CIPD/SHRM) or Master’s in HR is required.
• 12–14 years UAE experience in a similar role preferred in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of the talent acquisition strategy and processes.
• Advise line managers on interview techniques, assessments, and offers.
• Develop recruitment materials and awareness sessions to promote hiring culture across the university.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment and selection, including shortlists, interviews, assessments, and references.
• Build relationships with agencies, government entities, and external partners to maintain a strong talent pipeline.
• Represent the university at career fairs and events to attract candidates.
• Collaborate with HR leadership to manage budget and KPIs and participate in HR governance and quality assurance.

Skills

Communication skills

MS Office

Sourcing channels

Recruitment lifecycle

Data-driven processes

Employer branding

Onboarding

KPIs usage

ERP knowledge

Bilingual Arabic/English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related

HR certification (CIPD/SHRM)

Master’s in HR

Tools

ERP Systems

HRIS software

Job description

Head of Talent Acquisition Section

CATEGORY Non Faculty Vacancies

College Departments

Department Human Resources Department

Job Purpose As Head of Talent Acquisition Section you are requested to strategically lead and manage the full talent acquisition lifecycle at the University of Shajrah, ensuring the effective and efficient attraction, recruitment, and onboarding of top-tier talent. This role is responsible for developing and implementing a forward-thinking talent acquisition strategy that aligns with the university's goals, builds a strong employer brand, and fosters a high-performance culture. The Head of Talent Acquisition serves as a key partner to university leadership, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement in all recruitment-related processes.

Talent Acquisition Strategy and Process Management

1. 1. Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the talent acquisition strategy, policies, and procedures, ensuring alignment with UOS's overall business objectives and best practices.
2. 2. Act as a subject matter expert and provide strategic guidance to line managers on all talent acquisition processes, including interview techniques, candidate assessment, and offer negotiation.
3. 3. Develop and deliver recruitment materials, manuals, and awareness sessions to enhance employee engagement and promote a consistent hiring culture across the university.

Recruitment and Selection Oversight

1. 4. Oversee the entire recruitment and selection process, including reviewing and approving candidate shortlists, interview schedules, assessments, and reference checks.
2. 5. Develop and maintain strong relationships with third-party recruitment agencies, government entities, and other external partners to build a robust talent pipeline.
3. 6. Represent UOS at career fairs and other professional events to build the university's employer brand and attract qualified candidates.

Strategic and Administrative Management

1. 7. Collaborate with the HR Director and other heads to contribute to the preparation of the department's annual budget and provide professional input on the development of KPIs.
2. 8. Serve as a key member of the Human Resources Committee, providing insights and recommendations on a range of issues, including job candidates, promotions, and transfers.
3. 9. Implement and enforce a quality assurance management process to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all talent acquisition deliverables before they are submitted for final approval.

Team Management and Development

1. 10. Supervise the team's performance, set individual goals, and provide on-the-job training, coaching, and constructive feedback to build and develop their organizational capabilities.
2. 11. Oversee the effective achievement of the section’s objectives and ensure all team members understand their roles in achieving the section’s KPIs.
3. 12. Implement and ensure adherence to the HR quality assurance management process, which entails that each team member is responsible for conducting a thorough review of other team members’ deliverables before submission to the concerned Head for review. Conduct an additional diligent review of the submitted deliverables before submission to the HR Director.

Required Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to prepare professional documents, in both Arabic and English.
• Excellent working knowledge of personal computer applications with an emphasis on MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, and Teams.
• In-depth knowledge of various sourcing channels, recruitment methodologies, and assessment tools.
• A strong understanding of the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle and the ability to design and implement efficient, data-driven processes.
• To build and promote the university's brand as an employer of choice to attract a diverse talent pool.
• Knowledge of best practices for creating a smooth and effective onboarding experience for new hires.
• The ability to use data and metrics (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of recruitment strategies and make informed decisions.
• Knowledge of ERP Systems related to HR operations would be an advantage.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a relevant discipline.
• A professional Human Resources certification (such as CIPD, SHRM, etc.) or a Master’s Degree in a related Human Resources field is a must.
• 12-14 years of UAE experience in a similar role, preferably in higher education institutions.