Senior Associate Talent Acquisition & Talent Intelligence

Job Purpose:The Senior Associate - Talent Acquisition & Talent Intelligence is responsible for delivering high-quality, end-to-end recruitment while helping shape a more AI-enabled, technology-first Talent Acquisition model.The role combines strong recruitment fundamentals with modern sourcing, talent intelligence, AI, automation and data to identify, engage and secure high-quality talent. As technology increasingly supports transactional and repetitive recruitment activities, the Senior Associate will focus on the areas where human judgement creates the greatest value; understanding business needs, identifying talent, assessing fit, influencing stakeholders, engaging candidates and successfully closing hires.The role requires a strong hands-on recruiter who is curious about technology, comfortable with data and motivated to continuously improve how talent is identified and hired.Location: Al Rayyan Tower, Al Nahda, Sharjah(Close to Sahara Center Mall)Key Responsibility Areas:End-to-End Talent AcquisitionManage recruitment assignments from role intake through sourcing, assessment, selection, offer management and successful closure.Partner with hiring managers to understand business requirements, role expectations, critical capabilities and candidate profiles.Develop appropriate sourcing and hiring strategies based on role complexity, market conditions and talent availability.Conduct structured candidate assessments to evaluate experience, capability, motivation and organizational fit.Manage candidate pipelines effectively and maintain momentum throughout the selection process.Lead candidate pre-closing, offer discussions and negotiations to support strong offer acceptance and successful joining.Maintain accurate and timely recruitment activity and candidate information within the Applicant Tracking System.Strategic Sourcing & Talent IntelligenceBuild proactive talent pipelines for current and anticipated hiring needs.Use LinkedIn Recruiter, digital sourcing platforms, AI-enabled tools, professional networks, referrals, online communities and other channels to identify active and passive talent.Conduct talent mapping and competitor research to understand talent pools, market availability and emerging skills.Develop targeted sourcing strategies for difficult-to-fill and business-critical positions.Build and nurture relationships with high-potential candidates and relevant talent communities.Continuously explore new sourcing channels, tools and approaches to improve talent discovery.AI, Technology & AutomationAdopt and effectively use AI-enabled recruitment technology, automation and digital tools across the hiring lifecycle.Leverage technology to improve sourcing, screening, candidate matching, communication, scheduling and recruitment productivity.Apply human judgement to validate AI-generated recommendations and ensure hiring decisions remain fair, accurate and appropriate.Identify opportunities to automate repetitive recruitment activities and improve recruiter productivity.Experiment with emerging AI and recruitment technologies and share relevant use cases and learnings with the wider TA team.Support adoption of new recruitment technology and processes with hiring managers and stakeholders.Stakeholder Partnership & AdvisoryBuild trusted relationships with hiring managers and act as a credible recruitment partner.Provide hiring managers with talent market insights, sourcing recommendations and realistic expectations regarding talent availability.Use market intelligence and recruitment data to challenge assumptions and recommend alternative hiring approaches where appropriate.Provide regular, clear updates on recruitment progress, pipeline health, market challenges and required actions.Influence hiring decisions through evidence, candidate insights and sound recruitment judgement.Candidate Experience & Employer BrandDeliver a professional, engaging and transparent candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey.Maintain timely communication with candidates and ensure clarity regarding selection stages and expectations.Build strong relationships with high-potential and critical talent, including passive candidates.Represent the organization and its employee value proposition effectively throughout the recruitment process.Partner with relevant teams on targeted talent attraction and employer branding initiatives where required.Data, Analytics & Continuous ImprovementUse recruitment data to monitor pipeline conversion, time to hire, source effectiveness, offer acceptance and other key hiring outcomes.Identify recruitment bottlenecks and recommend actions to improve hiring effectiveness and candidate experience.Use market data and talent insights to support recruitment planning and stakeholder decision-making.Maintain strong data quality and process discipline within recruitment systems.Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across Talent Acquisition.Share market knowledge, sourcing practices, technology use cases and recruitment learnings across the team.Key Requirements:Core Recruitment Capabilities5+ years of proven talent acquisition experience within the UAE/MENA region.Demonstrated ability to proactively source and engage passive candidates.Strong interviewing and candidate assessment capability.Experience partnering with hiring managers and managing multiple recruitment priorities.Strong candidate engagement, influencing, negotiation and offer-closing skills.Experience using Applicant Tracking Systems and AI recruitment technology.Ability to conduct talent mapping and market research.Strong written and verbal communication skills.High level of ownership, organization and attention to detail.Technology & Talent Intelligence CapabilitiesWe are looking for someone who is curious about how technology is changing Talent Acquisition and is motivated to build capability in areas such as:AI-enabled recruitment and sourcing toolsTalent intelligence platformsRecruitment automationRecruitment analytics and dashboardsCandidate relationship management / CRMAI prompting for recruitment use casesTalent mapping and competitor intelligenceData storytellingDigital talent communitiesResponsible and ethical use of AI in recruitmentCompetencies:Result-Oriented: Drive for continuous improvement in hiring processes and achieving targets.Data-Driven: Analytical approach to recruitment and reporting.Collaboration: Builds strong cross functional relationships and works effectively with diverse teams across regions.Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple priorities and changing demands in a fast-paced environment.Leadership: Ability to lead by example and motivate teams to achieve hiring objectives.Ownership: Takes accountability for delivery, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.Professional Presence: Represents the Talent Acquisition function with credibility and confidence.