EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST

Arlington Public Schools•Arlington, VA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist performs professional and strategic recruitment activities that directly support the attraction, sourcing, selection, onboarding, and retention of high-quality employees for Arlington Public Schools (APS). The position is responsible for achieving accurate and effective hiring outcomes through targeted sourcing, recruitment marketing, relationship development, candidate care, hiring manager guidance, and the coordination of recruitment and onboarding processes. The Specialist reaches conclusions, makes recommendations, and provides technical advice that influence hiring decisions, talent pipelines, and the overall efficiency and equity of the district's employment practices. The work impacts the quality, timeliness, and compliance of staffing across the district. The Specialist has the responsibility to ensure that vacancies are filled with qualified candidates, hiring managers receive appropriate support, applicants experience fair and equitable treatment, and HR processes remain consistent with federal, state, and APS policies. The Specialist uses the HRIS system and related recruitment platforms that directly affect data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and the reliability of employment records used by APS leadership, Payroll, Benefits, IT, and schools. The effectiveness of the Specialist's work contributes to instructional continuity, operational support, retention efforts, and the district's ability to maintain a competent and diverse workforce.

Requirements

Knowledge of talent acquisition principles, sourcing strategies, workforce trends, and competitive recruitment landscapes, including the ability to design and execute targeted sourcing plans, identify high-yield recruitment channels, and tailor strategies to hard-to-fill roles and evolving market conditions.
Knowledge of HRIS platforms, applicant tracking systems (such as STARS+), data integrity standards, and retention metrics, with the skill to navigate, update, troubleshoot, and generate reports within these systems while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and proper workflow execution.
Skill in recruitment marketing, content development, social media promotion, and employer branding, including the ability to create compelling outreach materials, support event planning, and leverage digital platforms to attract diverse and qualified applicant pools.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with universities, community organizations, workforce partners, and other external stakeholders, and to use these partnerships to build sustainable talent pipelines that support APS hiring needs.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, APS HR policies, and EEO/DEI hiring standards, with the ability to apply these guidelines appropriately to ensure compliant, equitable, and consistent recruitment and selection practices.
Skill in advanced sourcing, networking, and candidate engagement, including the ability to communicate effectively, provide timely candidate care, influence applicant interest, and maintain professional and diplomatic interactions with diverse stakeholders.
Ability to analyze recruitment data, interpret metrics, identify trends, and recommend process improvements, using data-driven insights to enhance sourcing strategies, refine hiring workflows, and strengthen overall recruitment outcomes.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and work both independently and collaboratively, including representing APS professionally at public events, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and adapting recruitment approaches to meet changing organizational needs.
A bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, communications, or a related field preferred.
A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in talent acquisition, human resources, including hands-on work with applicant tracking systems, HRIS platforms, sourcing methods, and candidate engagement, required.

Nice To Haves

Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR, IPMA-HR, or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill, critical, or high-volume positions using job boards, social media, networking, employee referrals, and community outreach.
Builds and maintains talent pipelines through proactive sourcing and continuous relationship development.
Conducts market research and competitive analysis to inform recruitment strategies.
Designs and distributes recruitment materials, flyers, social media content, and branding initiatives to support APS visibility and employer branding.
Manages posting strategies across job boards, professional associations, workforce networks, and APS digital platforms.
Promotes APS recruitment events, vacancies, and hiring campaigns through targeted outreach efforts.
Cultivates partnerships with universities, colleges, community organizations, military transition programs, and workforce development agencies.
Participates in job fairs, career expos, and special hiring events, including evenings and weekends as required.
Coordinates APS-hosted recruitment events and represents APS as a subject matter resource.
Manages candidate care programs to reduce candidate drop-off and improve acceptance rates; provides timely and personalized communication.
Screens applications, reviews qualifications, and recommends candidates to hiring officials.
Trains hiring managers on effective recruitment strategies, equitable hiring practices, EEO guidelines, and applicant tracking procedures.
Utilizes STARS+ and related HRIS systems to ensure accurate job postings, workflow tracking, and hiring data integrity.
Processes personnel actions, requisitions, and new-hire records with accuracy and compliance.
Generates recruitment metrics and dashboard reports; analyzes data to inform recruitment decisions and process improvements.
Supports onboarding coordination with HR, IS, Payroll, and Benefits teams to ensure a smooth and timely new-hire experience.
Ensures accurate and compliant document collection, employment verifications, and pre-employment tasks.
Responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring strategies that strengthen engagement, support ongoing participation, and improve overall retention outcomes.
Responds promptly to applicant, employee, and manager inquiries with exceptional customer service and supports employee referral initiatives.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.