Head of Talent Acquisition (Business)

Absa is looking for a seasoned Head of Talent Acquisition to spearhead their business-focused recruitment strategy from their Sandton offices. This pivotal role will involve cultivating a forward-thinking, digitally-driven talent acquisition function that directly supports Absa's ambitious growth across Africa, its transformation initiatives, and long-term workforce sustainability goals.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, translating comprehensive workforce plans into actionable hiring strategies. This involves integrating enterprise-wide talent acquisition principles with the specific requirements of various business units. A major focus is the co-design and execution of impactful programmes for young talent, ensuring a robust pipeline to meet future skill demands. This role will ensure all talent acquisition efforts are future-proof, market-aware, compliant, inclusive, and operationally excellent, leveraging digital tools and agile methodologies.

About the role

This leadership position carries accountability for shaping Absa’s approach to talent acquisition, ensuring it is strategically aligned with the organisation's overarching objectives. It’s about building a strong, versatile team and implementing innovative practices to attract, develop, and retain top talent across the continent. You will be instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the recruitment function, embracing digital solutions and data-driven decision-making.

What you’ll do

As the Head of Talent Acquisition, your responsibilities will include:

• **Strategic Advisory:** Providing expert counsel to senior business leaders on talent acquisition strategies, ensuring alignment with business goals and transformation efforts.
• **Workforce Planning:** Converting enterprise-wide workforce plans into prioritised hiring strategies that span various talent models (e.g., permanent, contract, project-based).
• **Integration and Collaboration:** Working seamlessly with the Group Talent Acquisition Centre of Excellence (CoE) to consistently embed robust recruitment frameworks, policies, and best practices. You will also coordinate closely with Shared Human Capital Services to guarantee outstanding service delivery and adherence to service level agreements.
• **Market Intelligence:** Delivering insightful market intelligence on talent availability, skills gaps, remuneration trends, and competitor activities, using data to inform strategic hiring and workforce decisions.
• **Digital Transformation:** Championing the adoption of digital recruitment tools, AI-powered sourcing, and automation, collaborating with the CoE to pilot and scale innovative solutions.
• **Performance and Governance:** Monitoring key recruitment metrics, analysing trends, and recommending improvements, while ensuring strict adherence to governance frameworks and regulatory requirements.
• **Diversity and Inclusion:** Leading the execution of Absa’s Employer Value Proposition at a business unit level and embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles throughout all recruitment practices, contributing to Employment Equity targets.
• **Young Talent Programmes:** Co-designing and delivering comprehensive young talent and early career programmes (including graduates, internships, and learnerships) in partnership with the Group TA CoE, ensuring a sustainable future workforce pipeline.

What they're looking for

Absa seeks a highly experienced professional with a strong background in human capital and talent acquisition.

• **Education:** A post-graduate qualification is preferred, such as an Honours Degree or Post Graduate Diploma (NQF Level 8 equivalent) in Human Resources or a related field.
• **Experience:** A minimum of 12–15 years of experience in a critical capability within a large organisation. This must include at least 5 years in a people management role. Candidates should demonstrate a track record of developing integrated, customer-centric product or service solutions.

This senior role within a major financial institution like Absa, based in a hub like Sandton, typically commands a competitive remuneration package. The growth path for such a position could include upward mobility within the broader human capital executive leadership, potentially even a regional or group-level role. The experience gained here would be highly transferable across other large South African and pan-African organisations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education/Qualification:

• Preferred Post Graduate Degree: Honours Degree, Post Graduate Diploma and Professional Qualifications [NQF8] or equivalent
• Field of Study: Human Resources

Work Experience:

• 12 - 15 years experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank, including a track record of 5 years in a people management position in a large enterprise.
• Experience must include developing integrated customer-centric product or service solutions or corporate practice development while working with and managing stakeholders across business and/or functional areas and budget management.
• Exposure to digital transformation and data-driven decision-making is preferred.

COMPETENCIES:

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Influence
• Leadership
• Creativity and Innovation
• Delivering Results
• Adaptability
• Collaboration

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep understanding of strategic workforce planning and enterprise talent acquisition models.
• Strong knowledge of pan-African labour markets, employment equity, and regulatory environments.
• Advanced understanding of digital recruitment technologies, AI sourcing tools, and people analytics.
• Ability to integrate multiple operating models and stakeholders.
• Advanced data literacy with the ability to translate analytics into executive-level insights and decisions.
• Strong executive advisory and influencing skills across diverse cultural and geographic contexts.
• Change leadership capability, including agile ways of work and continuous improvement methodologies.
• People leadership and coaching skills to uplift TA partner capability and maturity.
• High levels of judgement, accountability, and enterprise mindset.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, complexity, and transformation environments.
• Strong ethical orientation with a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and governance.

Education

Bachelors Degree and Professional Qualifications: Human and Social Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised