Manager, Pilot Recruitment Programs

Company: Etihad –

WebSite: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Job Description:Manager, Pilot Recruitment Programs Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi, UAE Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE and a rapidly expanding global carrier, connects Abu Dhabi to over 100 destinations worldwide. Our Talent Acquisition team is instrumental in supporting this growth by strategically sourcing and recruiting top-tier talent. We are currently seeking a highly motivated and experienced Manager, Pilot Recruitment Programs to join our dedicated Pilot Recruitment team. This role is critical to ensuring Etihad Airways meets its expanding pilot hiring requirements through the development of sustainable global talent pipelines and the execution of effective recruitment programs, in close collaboration with our Flight Operations and Pilot Selection teams. Role Purpose The Manager, Pilot Recruitment Programs is responsible for the strategic design, management, and continuous improvement of Etihad Airways’ global pilot recruitment programs. This role leads the recruitment strategy, pipeline development, assessment center design, and program governance for all pilot hiring initiatives, ensuring alignment with General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulations, workforce planning targets, and Etihad Airways’ Journey 2030 growth ambitions. This position emphasizes program and project management expertise, rather than traditional operational recruitment. While a background in full-cycle recruitment is beneficial, the primary focus is on ensuring seamless coordination, consistent standards, and a robust pipeline of high-caliber pilot talent. The day-to-day assessment and technical evaluation will be conducted by Flight Operations teams. The ideal candidate will possess strong program management skills, innovative thinking, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Support will be provided by colleagues with extensive pilot recruitment expertise; technical subject matter expertise is not initially required, but a willingness to develop such knowledge is expected. Accountabilities Strategic Program Leadership: Contribute to the development and implementation of Etihad Airways’ multi-year pilot recruitment strategies to meet growth targets and future pilot workforce requirements. Lead pilot hiring programs end-to-end, ensuring processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with Flight Operations needs. Partner closely with Pilot Selection, Training, and Workforce Planning to forecast hiring volumes and adjust sourcing and assessment strategies accordingly. Serve as a key liaison between Talent Acquisition and Flight Operations to ensure alignment, consistency, and candidate quality across all hiring activities. Pipeline Development & Market Insights: Drive proactive sourcing strategies and global pipeline-building initiatives across target markets. Develop, maintain, and actively engage a global pool of current and future pilot talent, ensuring sustainable long-term access to qualified candidates aligned with Etihad Airways’ growth plans. Conduct ongoing market research into pilot supply, regional regulatory requirements, and competitor activity to guide sourcing and location strategy. Support the design of global outreach initiatives, including roadshows, partnerships, and events in key talent markets. Assessment & Selection Program Management: Design and maintain effective assessment center models and structured selection methodologies. Lead the planning, design, and governance of pilot assessment centers and outreach events, while technical evaluation components remain the responsibility of Flight Operations. Ensure all processes uphold Etihad Airways’ standards for fairness, rigor, candidate experience, and regulatory compliance. Represent Etihad Airways professionally during events, assessments, and engagement activities. Process Improvement & Innovation: Identify opportunities to enhance recruitment efficiency, technology utilization, candidate engagement, and conversion rates. Recommend and implement improvements to systems, reporting, workflows, and selection tools, leveraging data and analytics to guide decisions. Evaluate new recruitment tools, platforms, and assessment innovations relevant to pilot recruitment. Leverage recruitment technology platforms confidently, with a willingness to test, refine, and experiment with new tools and approaches. Maintain a continual improvement mindset to enhance program scalability, process efficiency, and the overall impact of pilot hiring initiatives. Stakeholder Management & Candidate Experience: Act as the Program Lead for all pilot recruitment activities, ensuring clear communication and alignment with internal stakeholders. Provide accurate updates, insights, and reports related to pipeline strength, conversion rates, and hiring progress. Ensure an exceptional candidate experience from first contact through onboarding, reflecting Etihad Airways’ brand and service excellence. Build effective partnerships across Talent Acquisition, Flight Operations, HR, and other key departments. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree is required. Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, ideally including: Talent acquisition, recruitment operations, or program management. Recruitment analytics, reporting, technology implementation, or talent project management roles. Experience in aviation, pilot recruitment, or the Middle East is beneficial but not required. Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or managing assessment centers or structured selection programs. Strong project or program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous workstreams. Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities, with confidence presenting to groups and senior leaders. Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and use insights to guide decisions. Ambassadorial qualities with the ability to represent Etihad Airways professionally during events and candidate interactions. Recruitment Process The recruitment process for this position will involve the following stages: 1. Application review by a member of our Recruitment Team. 2. Shortlisted candidates meeting the position criteria will be invited to complete a HireVue Video Interview. All completed interviews will be reviewed by a member of our team. 3. Selected candidates will be invited to complete a recruitment-related case study and interview with our hiring team. 4. Final interview/meet and greet with the Senior Manager Recruitment. About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was established in 2003 and has rapidly become a leading global airline. From its base in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways operates passenger and cargo services to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with its codeshare partners, Etihad Airways offers access to hundreds of international destinations. Etihad Airways has received numerous awards in recent years for its superior service, products, cargo offering, and loyalty program. This is all aligned with Etihad Airways’ ambitious Journey 2030 strategy, which aims to double the fleet size and triple the number of customers over the next six years, establishing Etihad Airways as the airline of choice for travellers worldwide. To learn more, visit etihad.com Recruitment Fraud Alert Please be aware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. Etihad Airways will never request personal information, bank details, or payment during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted in person or via video/telephone before any formal offer is extended. If you are asked for money, please consider it a fraudulent request.

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