Director, Talent Acquisition

Smithfield Foods•Smithfield, VA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Smithfield Foods is seeking a results-oriented and strategic Director of Talent Acquisition to lead and evolve our recruiting function. In this role, you will provide leadership to a team of recruiting professionals, driving the full recruitment lifecycle with a focus on operational excellence, technology integration, and alignment with industry best practices—particularly within the consumer packaged goods sector. You’ll serve as a key partner to senior leadership, contributing to workforce planning and talent strategy while promoting targeted initiatives such as veterans hiring programs. By strengthening partnerships with universities, schools, and professional networks, you will expand our talent pipeline and enhance Smithfield’s reputation as an employer of choice. Your role will also include ensuring compliance with employment regulations, utilizing data and key hiring metrics to measure performance, and implementing innovative recruitment tools and platforms to streamline hiring processes, reduce time-to-fill, and improve the overall candidate experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 10+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development.
Management and development of a large staffing function or department to include talent acquisition strategies that meet company goals and objectives, knowledge of multi-state and Federal laws pertaining to hiring of employees to ensure compliance.
Demonstrated experience working with all management levels up through the executive level resulting in exceptional customer service and client relationships.
High energy style, flexible and adaptive, with the ability to work well at all levels in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Energized by travel up to 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Masters or MBA, preferred
Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
Ability to be respectful, approachable and team-oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Responsibilities

Lead and support a team of talent acquisition managers and professionals, providing coaching, development opportunities, and performance management to ensure effective execution and continued growth.
Collaborate with cross-functional TA leaders to align recruiting efforts with business needs and priorities.
Oversee full-cycle recruitment across multiple departments and locations, ensuring efficient, compliant, and consistent hiring practices.
Implement scalable recruitment strategies to improve talent quality, reduce time-to-fill, and meet evolving business demands.
Ensure a consistent and professional candidate experience by driving timely communication, transparency, and respect throughout the hiring process.
Identify opportunities to improve candidate engagement and overall satisfaction.
Partner with hiring managers and department leaders to understand workforce needs and deliver practical, tailored recruiting solutions.
Share market insights, hiring trends, and process guidance to help leaders make informed hiring decisions.
Lead the development and execution of targeted sourcing strategies to build strong, diverse pipelines for current and future roles.
Monitor sourcing effectiveness and adjust tactics based on performance data and hiring needs.
Stay up to date on labor market trends, competitive activity, and talent availability.
Share relevant insights with business stakeholders to guide hiring plans and support location and compensation strategies.
Evaluate and improve recruiting processes to enhance efficiency, consistency, and candidate quality.
Implement best practices and tools that support operational excellence and meet compliance standards.
Monitor and report on key hiring metrics using ATS and analytics tools.
Use data to identify trends, measure team performance, and support continuous improvement of talent acquisition practices.
Collaborate with internal partners to support employer branding efforts.
Ensure recruitment marketing and messaging are aligned with the company’s values and resonate with target talent segments.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with universities, professional associations, and other external partners to support talent attraction and outreach efforts.
Lead and manage recruiting-related projects that align with broader business goals, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder alignment.
Oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously with attention to timelines, scope, and resource allocation.