Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

Position Overview

The Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a pivotal role within the Human Resources Management Department at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), based in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This senior-level position is dedicated to attracting, acquiring, and onboarding top-tier managerial and leadership talent to drive the organization’s strategic objectives forward. Reporting to the Sourcing & Recruiting Division, the role involves executing the full recruitment lifecycle—from requisition to joining—while ensuring alignment with IsDB’s long-term business goals and HR strategies. The position requires a strategic approach to talent acquisition, leveraging executive search methodologies, leadership assessments, and market intelligence to secure the best-fit candidates for critical roles such as Director General, Director, Manager, and Associate Manager.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, your core responsibilities will encompass the following areas:

Talent Acquisition Strategy & Operations

• Strategic Recruitment Planning: Collaborate with HR leadership to develop and refine the talent acquisition strategy, ensuring it aligns with IsDB’s short-, medium-, and long-term objectives. This includes evaluating and selecting external partners such as headhunting and executive search firms, leadership assessment providers, and sourcing channels.
• Market Research & Benchmarking: Conduct comprehensive talent market research to identify industry trends, competitor benchmarks, and emerging talent pools. Utilize these insights to enhance outreach strategies and refine recruitment methodologies.
• Recruitment Analytics & Metrics: Lead the development and execution of recruitment analytics frameworks to measure the effectiveness of hiring initiatives. Generate periodic reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) to inform data-driven decision-making.
• Digital Transformation & Quality Assurance: Drive digitization initiatives within the recruitment process, ensuring compliance with information reliability and governance standards. Implement quality assurance measures to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of hiring operations.
• Candidate Sourcing & Selection: Execute end-to-end recruitment activities for managerial and leadership roles, including screening resumes, coordinating interviews, and deploying modern selection tools such as psychometric tests, behavioral assessments, and competency-based evaluations.
• Offer Negotiation & Onboarding: Prepare and extend competitive job offers to selected candidates, negotiate terms, and facilitate a seamless transition through pre-joining and post-joining onboarding activities. Manage the four types of onboarding processes: International Joiners to HQ, International Joiners to Regional Hubs, National Joiners to HQ, and Internal Joiners.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Compliance

• Cross-Functional Partnerships: Work closely with business units, hiring managers, and external stakeholders to ensure recruitment activities are aligned with organizational needs. Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on talent acquisition best practices.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Oversee relationships with third-party recruitment firms, executive search providers, and assessment vendors. Conduct regular evaluations of their services, benchmark against market standards, and recommend improvements or alternatives as necessary.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure all recruitment activities adhere to IsDB’s policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards. Maintain accurate records and documentation for audit and reporting purposes.

Qualifications & Competencies

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and competencies:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field. A master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR) is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, with a strong focus on executive and leadership recruitment. Experience within the financial, development, or international organization sectors is preferred.
• Proven track record in managing end-to-end recruitment cycles for senior-level positions, including offer negotiation and onboarding.

Skills & Abilities

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement long-term talent acquisition strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Analytical & Data-Driven: Proficiency in recruitment analytics, market research, and the use of HR technology tools to enhance hiring outcomes.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with hiring managers, candidates, and external partners.
• Leadership & Decision-Making: Capacity to lead recruitment projects, make informed decisions, and drive process improvements.
• Cultural Awareness: Sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds and experience working in an international or multicultural environment.

Work Environment & Travel

The Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist will operate within a dynamic and fast-paced environment at IsDB’s headquarters in Jeddah. While the role is primarily office-based, occasional travel may be required to attend recruitment events, meet with candidates, or visit regional hubs as needed. The position offers a competitive fixed-term contract with opportunities for professional growth within a globally recognized institution.