Senior Specialist: Executive Recruitment

absa; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa Bank Limited is seeking an experienced Executive Talent Acquisition leader to design, deliver, and optimise executive hiring across multiple geographies in Africa. You will align talent strategy with business goals, use data and digital tools to shape leadership pipelines, and partner with senior stakeholders to drive resilience in critical roles.

You will map markets, build succession-ready pipelines, and lead governance-compliant recruitment with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and

Qualifications

• 5–12 years in a related bank or multi-geography org.
• Executive recruitment or executive search experience required.
• Pan-African market exposure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end executive recruitment strategy and delivery for multiple geographies.
• Build leadership pipelines and succession plans aligned with strategy.
• Engage stakeholders at executive level and provide advisory input.
• Conduct market mapping, talent intelligence, and competitor analysis.
• Oversee data analytics, dashboards, and reporting for leadership metrics.
• Partner with Reward, HR CoEs, and groups to align offers and governance.
• Design onboarding frameworks for senior hires and ensure smooth integration.
• Coordinate with HC operating model for integrated delivery and improvements.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Data analytics

Digital recruitment

Leadership

Market knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

HR / Business management background

Tools

AI sourcing tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

CRM systems

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

Accountable for the end-to-end design, delivery, and optimisation of executive hiring solutions across the organisation. The role integrates strategic intent with operational execution by partnering with relevant stakeholders to build future-ready executive leadership pipelines. This role ensures executive talent acquisition aligns with organisational strategy, transformation priorities, and pan-African market dynamics. The incumbent will leverage data, digital tools, and market intelligence to proactively shape leadership pipelines and ensure resilience in critical roles.

Job Description

Key Focus Areas:

• Executive search strategy and delivery
• Leadership pipeline and succession alignment
• Stakeholder partnership at executive level
• Market intelligence and talent mapping
• Digital and data-enabled recruitment practices
• Integration across HC Business Partners, CoEs, and HC Services
• Executive candidate experience and onboarding

Key Accountabilities:

1. Executive Recruitment Strategy & Delivery:

• Lead the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle for executive and senior leadership roles, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy, culture, and long-term workforce plans.
• Translate business strategy and talent priorities into proactive executive hiring plans across multiple geographies in a pan-African context.
• Apply direct search methodologies to identify, engage, and convert high-calibre passive candidates for critical roles.
• Ensure recruitment processes are consistent, compliant, and aligned to Group governance frameworks and risk requirements.
• Continuously evaluate and optimise executive recruitment practices to improve quality of hire, time-to-fill, and long-term leadership impact.

2. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner closely with Group Executives, Business Unit leaders, and HC Business Partners to deeply understand leadership hiring needs, preferences, and contextual dynamics.
• Provide thought leadership and advisory on executive hiring decisions, including talent availability, market trends, and candidate positioning.
• Facilitate alignment between stakeholders on role requirements, success profiles, and selection criteria.
• Act as a trusted advisor in navigating sensitive, high-impact executive hiring decisions, ensuring objectivity and fairness.

3. Executive Talent Mapping & Pipeline Development:

• Develop and maintain succession-ready executive talent pipelines for critical roles, aligned to succession planning and leadership continuity needs.
• Conduct ongoing market mapping and competitor analysis to identify emerging leadership talent across key markets and industries.
• Build and nurture long‑term relationships with high-potential executive talent, ensuring readiness for both planned and unplanned leadership transitions.
• Integrate pipeline insights into broader Group talent and succession strategies in collaboration with Talent Management CoEs.

4. Sourcing Strategy & External Market Positioning:

• Design and implement robust sourcing strategies leveraging industry networks, professional associations, executive search techniques, and digital platforms.
• Strengthen the organisation’s employer brand at executive level, positioning the Group as an employer of choice across Africa and globally.
• Engage with external partners (e.g., executive search firms, leadership networks) to complement internal sourcing strategies where required.
• Leverage digital channels (e.g., AI-enabled sourcing tools, talent platforms) to enhance reach and targeting of executive candidates.

5. Data, Analytics & Reporting:

• Track and report on executive hiring activity using dashboards, analytics, and leadership scorecards, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Analyse recruitment data to generate insights on hiring effectiveness, diversity outcomes, and pipeline health.
• Use predictive analytics to anticipate future leadership gaps and inform proactive talent strategies.
• Continuously improve reporting frameworks to align with Group talent metrics and business performance indicators.

6. Reward Alignment & Offer Strategy:

• Collaborate with Reward and Performance CoEs to benchmark executive compensation structures against market data and internal frameworks.
• Develop competitive and equitable offer strategies that balance external competitiveness with internal parity and governance.
• Provide advisory input into total reward positioning, including long‑term incentives and retention mechanisms.

7. Executive Onboarding & Assimilation:

• Design and implement tailored onboarding and assimilation frameworks for executive hires to accelerate impact and cultural integration.
• Partner with HC Business Partners and leadership teams to ensure structured onboarding plans are executed effectively.
• Monitor and support the early tenure success of executive hires, identifying risks and enabling timely interventions.

8. Integration Across HC Operating Model:

• Collaborate seamlessly with HC Business Partners, HC Services, and Group CoEs to ensure aligned and integrated talent acquisition delivery.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the shared services model, ensuring efficient and scalable recruitment processes.
• Align executive recruitment practices with broader HC strategies, including transformation, diversity and inclusion, and digitalisation.
• Ensure effective handoffs and collaboration across teams to deliver a cohesive employee and candidate experience.

9. Digital & Future-Fit Talent Acquisition Practices:

• Leverage AI, automation, and advanced sourcing technologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in executive recruitment.
• Drive adoption of digital recruitment tools and platforms, ensuring best practice utilisation across the function.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in executive talent acquisition, including skills-based hiring, gig leadership models, and remote executive work.
• Embed data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement into all aspects of executive hiring.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education/Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree, Advanced Diplomas, Post Graduate Certificate, or B Tech [NQF7].
• Field of Study: Human Resources and or Business Management

Work Experience:

• 5 - 12 years experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank, including a track record of 3 years in a people management position.
• Exposure to process design, optimisation, quality management, customer centricity, technology and data-driven decision-making is preferred.
• Significant experience in executive recruitment or executive search, preferably within financial services or a complex, multi-geography organisation.
• Proven track record of successfully placing senior leadership and executive roles.
• Experience operating within a shared services and CoE-based HR model.
• Exposure to pan-African or emerging markets is highly advantageous.

COMPETENCIES:

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Influence
• Leadership
• Delivering Results
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Decision‑Making

Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of executive search methodologies and leadership hiring practices.
• Knowledge of pan-African labour markets, talent dynamics, and regulatory environments.
• Strong grounding in talent management, succession planning, and leadership development frameworks.
• Understanding of reward structures and executive compensation principles.
• Familiarity with digital HR technologies, AI sourcing tools, and recruitment analytics platforms.

Skills:

• Strong strategic capability.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement and influencing skills at executive level.
• Exceptional research, market mapping, and talent identification capability.
• High level of analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to translate insights into action.
• Strong judgement and decision‑making capability in complex, ambiguous situations.
• Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to build credibility quickly.
• Digital fluency, including the ability to leverage AI-enabled recruitment tools and platforms.
• Strong project management capability, managing multiple executive searches simultaneously.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Human and Social Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised