TA Operations Specialist

Walker & Dunlop • Bethesda, MD

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Talent Acquisition (TA) Operations Specialist supports consistent recruiting operations across the candidate lifecycle, including recruitment advertising and employer branding, interview scheduling, offer preparation, pre-employment background screening, hiring, and preboarding. The role maintains hiring controls through initial screening reviews, accurate documentation, and timely escalation of potential concerns in partnership with TA Operations leadership. It also oversees recruiting technology processes, maintains accurate records and reporting, coordinates with internal stakeholders and vendors, and contributes to improvements that enhance operational effectiveness and the candidate and employee experience.

The Specialist coordinates recruiting activities such as offer letter preparation and Workday hiring transactions; manages automated interview scheduling; and owns the pre-employment screening workflow, including initial review, candidate follow-up, status tracking, and documentation. The role applies judgment when reviewing results and escalates matters requiring further review. It supports onboarding and immigration-related processes, prepares reports, audits recruiting data, tracks operational metrics, and maintains audit-ready records.

The position also supports vendor relationships, collaborates with TA Operations leadership, recruiters, HRBPs, Legal, HR Operations, HRIS, and other stakeholders, and helps optimize Workday Recruiting and other technology. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining procedures and job aids, improving workflows and controls, maintaining recruitment materials with Marketing, and monitoring employee reviews. Attendance is generally required from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely Mondays and Fridays. Estimated base salary is $65,000–$75,000 plus discretionary bonus.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
• At least 2 years of experience in recruiting operations, HR operations, background screening, compliance operations, or a related process-driven function required.
• Proficiency with Workday Recruiting or a comparable applicant tracking system required.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, required.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, including ability to interpret operational data, identify discrepancies, evaluate trends, and maintain accuracy and completeness.
• Critical thinking, sound judgment, and investigative problem-solving skills to assess information, recognize inconsistencies and potential risks, and escalate exceptions appropriately.
• Integrity, confidentiality, and discretion, with commitment to consistent policy application, accurate documentation, and established review and approval procedures.
• Ability to independently prioritize competing demands, own responsibilities, and follow through on open issues and deliverables in a high-volume, time-sensitive environment.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to collaborate professionally with candidates, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Ability to develop and maintain clear process documentation, identify operational inefficiencies and control gaps, and recommend practical improvements.
• Ability to balance a positive candidate experience with consistent application of hiring and background screening controls.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new systems, embrace evolving technologies, and adjust to changing processes and business needs.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a highly regulated or strong-governance environment.
• Experience with recruiting technology and automated workflows, including monitoring system performance, troubleshooting issues, and supporting process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate candidate lifecycle recruiting operations, including offer letter preparation, Workday hiring transactions, and related administrative activities.
• Oversee automated interview scheduling through Paradox, monitor effectiveness, troubleshoot issues, and identify improvements.
• Schedule and coordinate interviews for full-time, part-time, temporary, and contingent worker hiring as needed.
• Own and monitor pre-employment background screening, including initiation, candidate follow-up, initial result review, status tracking, and documentation.
• Identify inconsistencies in screening results, gather relevant facts, and escalate findings requiring further review or resolution.
• Ensure background screening procedures, notices, authorizations, approvals, and record-retention practices are followed in coordination with Legal and policy owners.
• Partner with onboarding stakeholders to support transitions from candidate selection through new-hire onboarding.
• Support immigration-related processes with HR and Legal teams as needed.
• Prepare, maintain, and distribute recurring and ad hoc recruitment reports accurately and on time.
• Audit recruiting data, processes, and hiring activities to identify discrepancies, preserve data integrity, and support compliance.
• Track recruiting operations metrics, including scheduling efficiency, screening turnaround times, and recruiting technology performance.
• Maintain recruiting and screening records, dashboards, and audit-ready documentation; flag discrepancies, delays, and outstanding actions.
• Manage or support vendor relationships involving recruitment advertising, employer branding, interview scheduling, background screening, and other services.
• Collaborate with TA Operations leadership, recruiters, HRBPs, Legal, and other stakeholders to resolve operational needs and support consistent processes and a positive candidate experience.
• Handle sensitive candidate information, time-critical hiring matters, and escalations professionally and discreetly.
• Collaborate with HRIS to optimize Workday Recruiting, support enhancements, and participate in testing and change management.
• Partner with HR Operations and cross-functional stakeholders to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and strengthen process handoffs.
• Identify, support, or lead process-improvement initiatives involving Workday and other recruiting technologies.
• Develop and maintain TA Operations standard operating procedures, process maps, and job aids aligned with current workflows and business needs.
• Maintain process handoffs, checklists, and control points across recruiting, screening, offer, and hiring activities.
• Assess process inefficiencies and control gaps and partner with stakeholders to implement and document practical improvements.
• Maintain recruitment-material inventory and collaborate with Marketing to develop and update recruitment collateral.
• Monitor employee reviews weekly, prepare and post responses as appropriate, and escalate responses when needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit options, including medical coverage with up to 83% subsidized medical payroll deductions.
• Competitive dental and vision benefits.
• 401(k) with match.
• Pre-tax transit and commuting benefits.
• Health and wellness program with cash rewards and resources supporting health, engagement, and balance.
• Paid maternity and parental leave and other family paid leave programs.
• Company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Health Savings Account and Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Career development opportunities.
• Volunteer hours and donation matching.
• Discretionary bonus.

What This Job Offers

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