Manager Talent Acquisition (Emiratisation) UAE National only

About This Role

Job Purpose

Lead and drive the organization’s Emiratization TA Strategy by designing and executing initiatives that attract, develop, and retain UAE National talent. The role focuses on workforce planning, graduate hiring, internships, career engagement, and strategic partnerships to meet nationalization targets while building a sustainable Emirati talent pipeline.

Key Result Areas

Emiratization Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Develop and implement the organization’s Emiratization TA Strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with business leaders and PABP’S to identify current and future workforce needs for UAE Nationals.
• Create and manage workforce plans to ensure Emiratization targets are achieved across all business units.
• Monitor and report Emiratization metrics, progress, and compliance with UAE regulations.

Talent Attraction & Pipeline Development

• Design and execute targeted sourcing strategies to attract UAE Nationals across entry, mid, and senior levels.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of Emirati candidates through proactive market mapping and engagement.
• Establish relationships with universities, government entities, and talent development programs.

Graduate Programs & Early Careers (ACE and Path finders)

• Design, launch, and manage structured graduate development programs for UAE Nationals.
• Develop rotational programs, learning pathways, and career progression frameworks.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and continuous development of graduates to ensure long-term retention.
• Build relationships and deep partnerships with select target Universities to ensure the highest calibre UAE graduates are attracted to and engaged with Mashreq
• Identify leading global Universities where Emirati students study abroad (eg Washington, London, etc) and develop partnerships to convert into graduate hiring

Internships & Career Development Programs

• Create and manage internship and trainee programs for UAE National students.
• Partner with academic institutions to offer meaningful work experience opportunities.
• Track performance and conversion of interns into full-time employees.

Career Fairs & Employer Branding

• Lead participation in career fairs, university events, and national career initiatives.
• Represent the organization as an employer of choice for UAE Nationals.
• Develop targeted employer branding campaigns to enhance visibility among Emirati talent.

Retention & Engagement

• Work with HR and business leaders to design retention strategies for UAE Nationals.
• Identify challenges impacting retention and implement targeted solutions.
• Support career progression, mentoring, and leadership development initiatives.

Reporting & Compliance

• Track and report Emiratization KPIs, including hiring, retention, and development metrics.
• Ensure compliance with UAE labor laws and nationalization requirements.
• Prepare reports for senior leadership and regulatory authorities.
• Adopt lean methodology and contribute to the bank’s efforts towards sustainability and digitization.
• Promote Mashreq’s reputation as ‘best place to work’.
• Lead employment branding initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Emiratization policies and UAE labor market dynamics
• Workforce planning and strategic talent management
• Program management (graduate programs, internships, early careers)
• Employer branding and campus recruitment expertise
• Data-driven decision-making and reporting
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 6-8 years of experience in Talent Acquisition, with strong exposure to Emiratization initiatives
• Proven experience in managing graduate programs, internships, and workforce planning
• Experience working with Banks, Financial Institutions, UAE government entities.
• A proven track record of program/ project management