Etihad Airways | Flight Attendant

Lead, Cabin Crew Recruitment

Etihad Airways seeks a highly experienced professional to lead its Cabin Crew recruitment strategy. This pivotal role will oversee global, high-volume hiring programs designed to support the airline's ongoing network expansion and operational growth. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted partner to Flight Operations and Cabin Crew leadership, responsible for designing and implementing scalable recruitment solutions that ensure the timely acquisition of high-quality talent across diverse international markets.

This position plays a critical role in achieving Etihad's ambitious growth objectives through the development of innovative recruitment strategies, the management of global assessment center campaigns, and the assurance of a best-in-class candidate experience for prospective Cabin Crew members. The role also involves the continuous enhancement of recruitment processes, technology utilization, and assessment methodologies to achieve efficient and high-quality hiring outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Cabin Crew Talent Strategy

• Lead end-to-end recruitment for Etihad’s Cabin Crew hiring programs across international markets.
• Develop, implement, and refine recruitment strategies to support large-scale Cabin Crew hiring requirements aligned with fleet growth and operational demand.
• Design scalable hiring models to deliver high-volume recruitment campaigns while upholding Etihad’s rigorous quality and selection standards.
• Collaborate closely with Cabin Crew leadership and HR Business Partners to translate workforce plans into executable recruitment strategies.

High-Volume Recruitment Delivery

• Plan, manage, and deliver international recruitment campaigns, including travel to global locations for Cabin Crew assessment days and hiring events.
• Oversee the delivery of global assessment centers and hiring campaigns, ensuring consistent evaluation standards and candidate experience.
• Ensure recruitment activities align with operational timelines and training capacity for the onboarding of new Cabin Crew cohorts.
• Build and maintain strong talent pipelines in key markets to ensure a consistent candidate supply.

Stakeholder Partnership

• Serve as the trusted recruitment advisor to Cabin Crew leadership and operational stakeholders.
• Provide guidance on talent availability, hiring strategies, and best-practice recruitment methodologies.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and operational leaders to align recruitment strategies with broader workforce planning initiatives.

Assessment, Selection & Candidate Experience

• Ensure candidates are assessed fairly and objectively through competency-based evaluations aligned with Etihad standards.
• Lead the design and delivery of Cabin Crew assessment centers, including assessment frameworks, scoring methodologies, and assessor calibration.
• Ensure a best-in-class candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey.
• Represent Etihad Airways professionally as a brand ambassador during global recruitment campaigns.

Recruitment Technology, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Leverage recruitment technologies, data, and analytics to enhance efficiency and improve hiring outcomes.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance recruitment processes, sourcing strategies, and assessment methodologies.
• Experiment with new tools and approaches to ensure Etihad remains competitive in attracting high-quality Cabin Crew talent.

Market Intelligence & Employer Brand

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of global Cabin Crew talent markets and competitor hiring activities.
• Support employer branding initiatives that position Etihad as an employer of choice for aviation professionals worldwide.
• Engage candidates and external audiences through professional representation of the Etihad employer brand.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of professional recruitment experience, with a proven track record of success in delivering high-volume hiring programs.
• Previous Cabin Crew recruitment experience is essential for this role.
• Experience in designing and delivering assessment centers or large-scale hiring events.
• Experience supporting global recruitment campaigns or international hiring programs.
• A strong understanding of recruitment technology platforms and data-driven hiring practices.
• Prior experience in aviation, hospitality, or customer-facing talent recruitment is advantageous.
• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and manage relationships at senior levels.
• Proven ability to design scalable recruitment processes and drive continuous improvement.

Recruitment Process

The recruitment process for this position includes the following stages:

• Application review conducted by the Recruitment Team.
• Shortlisted candidates meeting the position criteria will be invited to complete a HireVue Video Interview, with all completed interviews reviewed by a human team member.
• Selected candidates will be invited to complete a recruitment-related case study and interview with the hiring team.
• Final interview and 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 since become a leading global airline. Operating from its hub in Abu Dhabi, Etihad serves passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Through its codeshare partnerships, Etihad's network provides access to hundreds of international destinations. The airline has received numerous accolades for its superior service, products, cargo offerings, and loyalty program, all contributing to Etihad's ambitious Journey 2030 strategy to double its fleet size and triple its customer base over the next six years.