Manager, Recruiting

X-Energy•Oak Ridge, TN

10d•Onsite

About The Position

X-energy LLC is seeking an experienced Manager, Recruiting (Production, Construction, Testing) to lead recruiting efforts for the company's non-exempt skilled trades and front-line manufacturing and testing workforce. This role is crucial for building the skilled trade workforce needed for the TRISO fuel production for the Xe-100 Small Modular Reactor and other nuclear reactor designs. The position requires a blend of strategic talent acquisition leadership and hands-on execution, overseeing recruiting teams, staffing agency partnerships, and high-volume hourly hiring strategies to meet organizational objectives. The Manager, Recruiting will partner with operations, manufacturing, and engineering leadership to develop proactive recruiting strategies and talent pipelines for front-line talent, leveraging expertise in HR systems, workforce forecasting, and the specific staffing challenges of advanced manufacturing, construction, testing, and nuclear environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field
10+ years of progressive recruiting experience
At least 3 years in a leadership or management capacity
Proven experience in manufacturing, industrial, or high-volume production environments
Skilled trades recruiting experience, including partnerships with trade schools, unions, apprenticeship programs, and technical training organizations
Demonstrated expertise in full-cycle recruiting for both professional/salaried roles and hourly/frontline positions
Experience managing staffing agency relationships, temp-to-hire processes, and contractor pipelines
Advanced ATS experience (Workday is preferred)
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word)
Experience with online recruiting tools such as Indeed, Handshake, LinkedIn Recruiter, and other advanced sourcing platforms
Strong recruiting analytics competency including workforce planning strategies and ROI analysis
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
Diplomatic communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
Proven ability to manage multiple requisitions and competing priorities in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills
Demonstrated capability to build and mentor high-performing recruiting teams
Client service mindset with strong stakeholder management skills
Ability to work onsite daily, with flexibility for shift work, ad hoc schedule adjustments, and occasional production floor or warehouse presence
Willingness to travel to multiple sites as needed

Nice To Haves

Experience recruiting for nuclear operations roles (reactor operators, instrumentation & control technicians, radiation protection specialists, nuclear maintenance crafts)

Responsibilities

Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of recruiters and staffing coordinators.
Provide day-to-day operational leadership to ensure a positive candidate experience.
Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, and continuous improvement within the recruiting function.
Partner with leadership to forecast labor demand and develop scalable staffing strategies.
Analyze hiring trends, turnover data, and Labor Scorecard metrics to address talent pipeline gaps.
Design and execute recruiting strategies for high-volume hourly hiring across various roles (manufacturing, production, warehouse, quality, maintenance, safety, construction).
Manage relationships with approved staffing agencies.
Maintain onsite operational presence as needed to support shift-based hiring and real-time staffing adjustments.
Lead full-cycle high-cycle recruiting for non-exempt roles.
Develop and implement sourcing strategies leveraging various platforms and organizations.
Build partnerships with educational institutions to cultivate skilled trades and technical talent pipelines.
Work with the Workday team to support HRIS configuration, optimization, and maintenance.
Design, document, and continuously improve recruiting processes.
Maintain recruiting data integrity and generate reports and dashboards.
Prepare and deliver recruiting metrics, including time-to-fill, aging requisitions, hiring volume, offer acceptance rates, and source effectiveness.
Analyze recruiting performance data to identify bottlenecks and drive improvements.
Track and report staffing agency costs, contractor conversion rates, and cost-per-hire metrics.
Train and guide hiring managers on interview best practices, candidate evaluation, and compliance.
Facilitate intake meetings to clarify role requirements and hiring timelines.
Serve as a strategic advisor to hiring managers, providing market intelligence and compensation guidance.
Ensure all recruiting activities comply with federal, state, and local labor laws, EEO regulations, OFCCP requirements, and company policies.
Support audit and compliance reporting as needed.
Maintain confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including career centers, workforce development boards, and union representatives.
Partner with marketing and communications teams to strengthen X-energy's employer brand.