Talent Acquisition Manager- Non-Education

Cognita Schools; United Arab Emirates; Hybrid; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognita Schools in Dubai is seeking a Talent Acquisition Manager (Non-Education) to lead end-to-end recruitment across corporate and regional offices in the Middle East. You will source, assess and onboard top talent, partnering with school leaders and HR teams to shape Cognita’s talent pipeline.

The role requires 5+ years in full-cycle recruiting, strong stakeholder skills, and the ability to operate across time zones in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in full-cycle recruiting, ideally in-house.
• Experience hiring for specialist and niche corporate roles (IT, Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing, Admissions).
• Proficiency with social media, CV databases and professional networks; knowledge of HRIS and ATS.
• Experience creating and maintaining a PSL and managing agency vendors.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with credibility to work with hiring managers and school leadership teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the polish to represent Cognita's employer brand.
• Sharp organisation; ability to juggle multiple vacancies and priorities.
• Sound judgement and discretion with sensitive candidate and safeguarding information.
• Strong negotiation skills around offers and contract terms.
• Flexibility to work across multiple time zones when required.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end recruitment process for corporate and non-education roles across our schools and Regional Office.
• Partner with hiring teams to understand staffing needs and build sourcing strategies.
• Source, screen and present high-calibre candidates via LinkedIn, job boards, social media and networks.
• Build and nurture talent pipelines through proactive market research and relationship management.
• Prepare and issue accurate offers; negotiate terms where needed.
• Manage candidates through the ATS from application to onboarding; keep data up to date.
• Coach hiring managers to use the ATS confidently and streamline selection processes.
• Run job fairs, conferences and other events to promote Cognita as an employer.
• Ensure interview notes, references and checks meet regulatory requirements.
• Manage manpower planning budget with HR and Finance; provide weekly reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Organisation

Negotiation

Tools

HRIS

ATS

Job description

Location: Dubai | Department: People and Culture | Reports to: Head of Talent Acquisition – Non-Education | Working pattern: Hybrid (minimum four days a week in the office or schools)

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 20 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

We are a global community committed to making a lasting difference in education, guided by three mindsets: we put schools first, we go together and we keep our promises. Here, you will learn, grow and have a real impact.

About the Role

Great schools are built by great people, and behind every great school is a brilliant corporate team. As our Talent Acquisition Manager (Non-Education), you will build the pipeline that powers Cognita's schools and Regional Office across the Middle East, from sourcing and shortlisting through to offer and onboarding.

You will work in a fast-paced, competitive market, partnering with school Principals, hiring managers and our Centres of Excellence to find and win standout talent, and to give every candidate and new colleague an exceptional experience.

What you will be doing

• Owning the end-to-end recruitment process for corporate and non-education roles across our schools and Regional Office.
• Partnering with hiring teams to understand staffing needs, then building and executing sourcing strategies that deliver.
• Sourcing, screening and presenting high-calibre candidates using LinkedIn, job boards, social media, internet sourcing and your own network.
• Building and nurturing talent pipelines through proactive market research and ongoing relationship management.
• Preparing and issuing accurate contract offers swiftly, negotiating terms where needed.
• Managing candidates through our applicant tracking system, from application to onboarding, and keeping it fully up to date.
• Coaching hiring managers to use the ATS confidently and advising on effective, efficient selection processes.
• Running job fairs, conferences and other events to promote Cognita as an employer.
• Making sure interview notes, references and checks meet regulatory requirements.
• Managing the manpower planning budget with HR and Finance, and providing weekly reporting.

Who we are looking for

• 5+ years' experience in full-cycle recruiting, ideally in-house (agency candidates with specialist recruitment experience will also be considered).
• Experience hiring for specialist and niche corporate roles in areas such as IT, Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing and Admissions.
• Proficiency with social media, CV databases and professional networks, plus knowledge of HRIS and applicant tracking systems.
• Experience creating and maintaining a preferred supplier list (PSL) and managing agency vendors.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to build relationships with hiring managers and school leadership teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the polish to represent Cognita's employer brand.
• Sharp organisation, able to juggle multiple vacancies and competing priorities.
• Sound judgement and discretion with sensitive candidate and safeguarding information.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly around offers and contract terms.
• Flexibility to work across multiple time zones when required.

Cognita Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website. Details on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is included within the Application Guidance.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

We understand the value of AI tools and recognise the benefits they can offer to people who may need support with their writing. However, please be aware that we are increasingly rejecting CVs, expressions of interest and applications where the use of AI has resulted in content that feels generic, lacks personality or is indistinguishable from other submissions.

By using your own words, experiences and ideas to demonstrate your motivation for applying and your alignment with the role, you will give yourself the best opportunity to stand out in a highly competitive field.