Talent Acquisition & Business Development

Role overview

This Dubai-based position sits within the business unit and reports to the Managing Director / Regional Head. The role combines talent acquisition leadership with business development responsibility across Dubai and the wider GCC market, with a strong focus on client growth, recruitment delivery, and team leadership.

Qualifications

A graduate degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required. Professional recruitment certifications and familiarity with Middle East hiring practices are preferred.

Experience and language

The ideal candidate brings more than 7 years of experience in Executive Search, Recruitment Consulting, Talent Acquisition, or the Staffing Industry. A strong history of leading recruitment teams, generating new business, managing client accounts, and closing mandates across multiple industries is essential. Arabic fluency is mandatory.

Goals and performance measures

The successful hire is expected to meet recruitment and business development goals within agreed timelines, quality standards, and revenue targets. Core expectations include delivering recruitment mandates, winning new business, retaining clients, maintaining high candidate and client satisfaction, expanding the company’s presence across the GCC, and building a strong recruitment team.

Performance will be evaluated through recruitment turnaround time, placement success ratio, revenue and business development results, client satisfaction, team performance and engagement, and repeat business / client retention rate.

Key responsibilities

• Create and execute business development plans for Dubai and GCC markets.
• Win new clients through networking, referrals, and market insights.
• Develop durable relationships with senior decision-makers in target sectors.
• Prepare annual business plans, hiring targets, and revenue forecasts.
• Study market potential and competition to support growth strategy.
• Work with leadership to broaden services and increase market reach.
• Manage recruitment assignments end to end across multiple industries.
• Deliver mandates on time while preserving service and quality standards.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to key clients on talent needs.
• Oversee sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding activity.
• Track recruitment productivity and service delivery performance.
• Ensure adherence to applicable local rules and client-specific requirements.
• Design sourcing approaches that attract strong talent pools.
• Improve employer brand and candidate engagement initiatives.
• Maintain a positive candidate experience throughout the hiring cycle.
• Refine recruitment workflows and apply best-practice methods for efficiency.
• Keep ready talent pipelines for current and future needs.
• Use technology and recruitment data to improve hiring results.
• Guide, coach, and develop recruitment and business development teams.
• Support workforce planning, performance management, and succession planning.
• Set performance expectations and review progress regularly.
• Promote collaboration to maximize commercial opportunities.
• Encourage continuous learning and professional growth.
• Build a culture of ownership, client orientation, and excellence.

Additional information

This is a full-time onsite role based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.