Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition

Polk State College • Winter Haven, FL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition manages the full-cycle recruitment and hiring process for assigned positions, from position requisition initiation and approval through the new employee’s start date. The role partners with hiring managers to develop recruitment strategies, source and advertise openings, screen candidates, coordinate selection and interviews, extend offers, complete pre-employment requirements, and support onboarding. It provides consultation and hands-on support to hiring managers, screening committees, applicants, candidates, Human Resources staff, and other College stakeholders, with a focus on an efficient, consistent, equitable, and positive experience.

The position exercises independent judgment within established policies and procedures and ensures recruitment and hiring activities comply with College policies, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations, and confidentiality requirements. It also supports the College’s applicant tracking system and related recruiting technology, maintains accurate recruitment records and metrics, and represents the College at recruitment events.

This is a full-time, on-campus position located at either the Winter Haven or Lakeland campus. Travel to campuses, centers, and event locations is necessary. Remote and hybrid options are not available. Weekend and evening work may be required, as may work during College closures. Reliable transportation is required. The position requires a bachelor’s degree, with specified alternate education-and-experience combinations accepted. Two years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition, or related experience are required.

Requirements

• Two years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition, or related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; alternatively, an associate’s degree plus four years of relevant experience, or a high school diploma or equivalent plus six years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of full-cycle recruitment, including requisition development, sourcing, advertising, applicant screening, interviewing, selection, offers, pre-employment requirements, and onboarding.
• Knowledge of recruitment best practices, Equal Employment Opportunity principles, and applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with hiring managers, employees, applicants, screening committees, Human Resources staff, College leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with people at all organizational levels and with external candidates and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional customer service and positive experiences for applicants, candidates, hiring managers, and employees.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, analyze issues, identify appropriate actions, recommend effective solutions, and act with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume, customer-focused environment.
• Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply federal and state laws and College policies, including requirements concerning U.S. employment authorization, immigration documentation, and background checks.
• Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaborate as part of a Human Resources team.
• Ability to adapt to changes in technology, recruitment practices, organizational priorities, and work processes.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems and Human Resources information systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom.
• Work is full-time and on campus, with no remote or hybrid option; travel to campuses, centers, and event locations is necessary, and reliable transportation is required.
• Weekend and evening work may be required; work during College closures may also be required.

Nice To Haves

• Active recruiting and/or full-cycle talent acquisition experience.
• Experience with NEOED or a comparable applicant tracking system.
• Active status as a State of Florida Notary Public.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field.
• SHRM, HRCI, or RACR certification.

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for assigned positions from requisition initiation and approval through the new employee’s start date, completing activities accurately, efficiently, and within established timelines.
• Partner with hiring managers to assess staffing needs; develop recruitment strategies and timelines; and create, review, or update job descriptions, requisitions, and job postings.
• Develop and implement sourcing, advertising, and recruitment marketing strategies using job boards, professional associations, educational institutions, social media, community organizations, career fairs, and other appropriate resources; monitor applicant pools and adjust strategies as needed.
• Review applications and supporting documentation to determine eligibility and minimum qualifications and facilitate qualified candidates’ progression through the selection process.
• Manage screening committees and interview processes, including committee guidance, selection materials and matrices, candidate communication, interview coordination, and timeline monitoring.
• Advise and train hiring managers and screening committees on recruitment and selection procedures, interviewing, candidate evaluation, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, College policies, and effective hiring practices.
• Maintain timely and professional communication with applicants and candidates throughout recruitment.
• Coordinate finalist selection and employment offers, including reference and education verifications, salary and offer recommendations, approvals, offer preparation and communication, and counteroffer discussions as appropriate.
• Manage post-offer and pre-employment activities, including background screening, employment documentation, I-9/e-Verify, onboarding coordination, and communication with the selected candidate through the first day of employment.
• Administer and support the applicant tracking system and related recruiting technology, including requisition and approval workflows, applicant processing, user assistance and training, troubleshooting, reporting, and maintenance of accurate information.
• Maintain recruitment records, reports, tracking systems, and metrics; evaluate recruitment activity, timelines, applicant pools, and advertising effectiveness to support data-informed decisions and continuous improvement.
• Represent the College at career fairs, educational institutions, and other recruitment opportunities and build relationships with external organizations to strengthen candidate pipelines and promote College employment.
• Ensure recruitment, selection, hiring, and onboarding comply with applicable laws and regulations, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, College policies and procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
• Provide exceptional customer service and positive experiences to applicants, employees, hiring managers, and other stakeholders from initial contact through the employee’s start date.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical, dental, life, and long-term disability benefits.
• Vacation leave (except faculty), holiday leave, and sick leave.
• Retirement benefits, if eligible.
• College fee waivers.
• Other employee-paid voluntary benefits are available, including vision and short-term disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level