Application Open:
Full-Time
The Talent Management Specialist supports MBZUAI’s talent management framework by coordinating performance and talent cycle activities, maintaining accurate and reliable talent data, and enabling a consistent understanding of capabilities and skills across assigned business areas. The role works closely with managers to ensure the timely and effective execution of performance reviews, talent assessments, and succession processes. It supports the development, maintenance, and application of skills profiles and capability taxonomies, and prepares clear analytical summaries that inform evidence-based talent decisions.
The Specialist also contributes to MBZUAI’s national talent priorities by tracking capability development, mobility, and progression indicators for Emirati employees, ensuring that national talent insights are appropriately reflected in performance management, skills mapping, and succession planning. Through strong coordination, data accuracy, and stakeholder engagement, the role supports the Head of Talent Management in building a robust, mission-aligned talent infrastructure for the University.
Key Responsibilities:
Performance Cycle Coordination
- Ensure assigned business areas complete all performance cycle milestones on schedule (goal setting, mid-year review, end-of-year assessments).
- Track completion status and send structured reminders.
- Ensure documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with policy.
- Escalate potential performance delays or concerns to the Head of Talent Management.
- Provide managers with process guidance and clarity.
Succession Planning Support
- Maintain accurate succession plan data, ensuring profiles, readiness indicators, and risk assessments are updated in line with manager inputs.
- Coordinate the administrative aspects of talent review preparation, including data gathering, template population, and status updates.
- Prepare summary materials and insights for talent discussions
- Track follow-up actions and maintain updated records after talent reviews.
Talent Tracking & Development Support
- Monitor performance cycle completion, capability development, and skills profile updates for Emirati employees within assigned portfolios.
- Prepare clean summaries of national talent status, strengths, and development needs for internal reporting.
- Track mobility indicators (readiness, tenure, development requirements) and escalate risks or gaps to the Head of Talent Management.
- Support managers with process guidance related to talent development and national talent mobility.
- Liaise with L&D to ensure priority skills gaps for are visible and considered in development planning.
Skills Taxonomy & Skills Profile Coordination
- Support managers in mapping roles to required skills using defined templates and guidelines.
- Ensure employees and managers complete and maintain skills profiles for assigned portfolios.
- Maintain up-to-date skills data and ensure alignment with the university-wide skills taxonomy.
- Highlight incomplete or outdated skills profiles and follow up to maintain data integrity.
Talent Data, Reporting & Insight Support
- Maintain talent-related data (performance status, skills profiles, mobility interests, succession inputs) for assigned business areas.
- Prepare clear, concise summaries to support talent discussions.
- Identify simple, objective indicators of talent risks and escalate appropriately.
Internal Mobility & Process Guidance
- Provide managers with process-related guidance for internal mobility and promotion cycles (timelines, documentation, criteria).
- Maintain mobility-related data (applications, movement histories, eligibility criteria).
Stakeholder Support
- Build working knowledge of assigned business portfolios (Admin or Academic), understanding roles, capability needs, and organizational context.
- Provide dependable process support to managers while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Academic Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional Experience Required:
Essential
- Experience supporting performance management, talent review, or succession planning processes within a structured HR or people function.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating cyclical HR processes, managing timelines, and ensuring accurate documentation and data integrity.
- Experience working closely with managers to provide clear process guidance and support evidence-based people decisions.
- Strong experience in maintaining and analyzing talent-related data, including performance outcomes, skills profiles, or mobility indicators.
- Proven ability to prepare clear summaries and insights for senior stakeholders.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Preferred
- Experience supporting national talent development, workforce initiatives.
- Exposure to skills frameworks, capability mapping, or skills taxonomy development.
- Experience within a higher education, research, or similarly complex institutional environment.
- Familiarity with HR systems supporting performance management, talent reviews, or internal mobility.
- Experience collaborating with Learning and Development teams to align talent insights with development planning.
