Early Career & Military Talent Acquisition Partner

Woodward, Inc.•Fort Collins, CO

2d•$74,000 - $96,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Early Career & Military Talent Acquisition Partner builds sustainable talent pipelines for future workforce needs across manufacturing, technical, skilled trades, and professional career paths. The role develops and manages relationships with schools, workforce development organizations, military transition programs, and community partners to increase awareness of career opportunities and establish talent pathways into Woodward. Its focus is workforce development, military hiring, and early-career talent pipeline creation. The position leads military recruiting initiatives and develops strategies for veterans, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. It supports Woodward’s Department of Defense SkillBridge program and related military fellowship, internship, onboarding, and employment initiatives. The partner also advises hiring teams on military occupations, rank structures, transition timelines, and transferable skills; supports veteran outreach documentation and applicable federal contractor requirements; and represents Woodward at recruiting events. This position follows a hybrid schedule, with onsite work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and remote work on Tuesdays and Fridays. It requires 40–50% travel, primarily during peak military and early-career recruiting seasons. The role requires applicants to be U.S. Persons under ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Requirements

Experience in talent acquisition, early-career programs, military recruiting, workforce development, or related talent programs.
Experience managing full-cycle recruiting for internships, early-career, technical, manufacturing, or military-connected talent.
Ability to build relationships with and influence business leaders, hiring managers, HR partners, academic contacts, military organizations, and external partners.
Experience planning and executing recruiting events, career fairs, candidate engagement programs, or talent attraction initiatives.
Strong project management, organization, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience using an Applicant Tracking System, recruiting CRM, sourcing tools, and recruiting data to manage pipelines and report outcomes.
Ability to travel 40–50%, primarily during peak military recruiting and early-career recruiting seasons.
Must be a U.S. Person within the meaning of ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with high school and career pathway programs, junior and community colleges, technical and trade schools, workforce development organizations, economic development groups, military transition programs, and veteran organizations.
Create and manage talent pipelines aligned with current and future workforce needs, particularly in manufacturing, skilled trades, and critical talent segments.
Serve as the primary liaison between external talent development partners and hiring leaders to align workforce programs with business demand.
Lead military recruiting initiatives, including partnerships with transition assistance programs, SkillBridge programs, veteran service organizations, and military-affiliated talent networks.
Identify and implement workforce development programs, internships, apprenticeships, pre-employment training, and other talent pathway opportunities.
Coordinate talent community engagement activities, hiring events, trade school visits, workforce development forums, and military outreach initiatives.
Track pipeline health, partnership effectiveness, and talent conversion metrics.
Collaborate with Talent Acquisition Partners and business leaders to turn long-term workforce requirements into targeted pipeline-building strategies.
Develop and execute recruiting strategies for veterans, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses.
Build targeted talent pipelines through military installations, transition assistance programs, veteran service organizations, military-focused events, and specialized sourcing networks.
Support and optimize Woodward’s Department of Defense SkillBridge program and other military fellowship, internship, onboarding, and employment initiatives.
Advise hiring teams on military occupations, rank structures, transition timelines, and transferable skills.
Establish and manage relationships with military and veteran organizations, including The Honor Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes, the USO, local Veteran Service Organizations, and other workforce partners.
Partner with HR and compliance stakeholders to support veteran outreach documentation and applicable federal contractor requirements, including VEVRAA.
Represent Woodward as a brand ambassador at recruiting events.
Develop talent attraction campaigns showcasing technical work, hands-on career opportunities, member growth, and Woodward’s impact on aerospace and industrial markets.
Maintain accurate candidate and activity records in the Applicant Tracking System and related recruiting platforms.
Collaborate across Talent Acquisition and Human Resources to deliver a consistent Woodward message, process, and candidate experience.