Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist

Smithfield Foods•St James, MN

About The Position

The Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist contributes to Smithfield Foods’ recruitment strategy by attracting and hiring qualified talent. The role partners with HR Managers and Hiring Managers to understand workforce needs and develop strategic approaches to building pipelines of diverse candidates. As part of the Talent Acquisition team, the specialist supports an effective recruitment experience for candidates and hiring managers across multiple locations and functional areas. The position manages full-cycle recruitment, uses sourcing strategies to identify candidates, researches labor-market trends, and works to improve recruiting processes. It also maintains candidate records and recruitment metrics using applicant tracking systems, supports inclusive hiring, and develops an understanding of corporate, farm, and manufacturing roles through job shadowing. Travel to other locations is expected 25% of the time and may involve short notice or overnight stays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Currently enrolled college students anticipated to graduate by the end of the current school year may also qualify.
Proficiency in computer applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.
Strong sense of urgency, attention to detail, initiative, and sound judgment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to use emotional intelligence to build and foster internal and external relationships.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a respectful, approachable, team-oriented demeanor and a positive, collaborative approach.
Strong multitasking and organizational skills.
Professionalism, discretion, and ability to handle sensitive information.
Willingness to travel to other locations 25% of the time; some travel may be at short notice or require overnight stays.
Ability to self-manage time and daily tasks while traveling.

Nice To Haves

Experience recruiting across all levels and functional areas.
Experience recruiting passive candidates and using creative sourcing strategies, such as Indeed and LinkedIn.
Strong knowledge of federal and state employment regulations and policies.
Proficiency with a server-based applicant tracking system; Workday is preferred.
Proven experience working with recruiting KPIs and consistently meeting or exceeding performance targets.
Experience handling recruitment-related administrative duties and compliance.
Prior recruiting experience for government contractors, including familiarity with relevant regulations and requirements.
Project management skills and ability to plan and manage multiple recruitment initiatives and deadlines.

Responsibilities

Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for multiple functional areas and locations.
Provide candidates with timely communication, clear feedback, and a professional recruitment experience.
Partner with department leaders and HR teams, advising them on recruitment strategies and supporting the hiring process.
Use varied sourcing strategies to attract talent and build pipelines of qualified candidates for current and future openings.
Proactively source and engage diverse candidates in support of an inclusive workforce.
Research labor-market trends and align sourcing strategies with industry conditions.
Learn about corporate, farm, and manufacturing roles through job shadowing to improve hiring fit and reduce turnover.
Evaluate and refine recruitment processes to improve efficiency, reduce time-to-hire, and enhance candidate experience while aligning with business goals and best practices.
Use applicant tracking systems to manage candidates and provide recruitment updates and metrics to leadership.
Maintain accurate recruitment records in accordance with regulatory standards.
Perform other duties as assigned.