Talent Acquisition Specialist

INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND RESEARCH • Danville, VA

17d • $70,400 - $75,200 • Onsite

About The Position

The Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a key role in attracting and hiring the talent that drives IALR's mission and strategic priorities. This position is responsible for full-cycle recruitment across a variety of positions while helping to build, improve, and standardize recruiting processes that create an exceptional experience for candidates and hiring managers alike. The ideal candidate is both a skilled recruiter and a process-minded professional who enjoys identifying great talent, developing talent pipelines, and creating efficient hiring practices that support organizational growth. This position is based onsite in Danville, Virginia.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in talent acquisition, recruiting, or human resources.
• Experience managing full-cycle recruitment, from sourcing and screening through onboarding.
• Proven success recruiting for a wide range of positions, including administrative, professional, technical, instructional, workforce development, research, scientific, and executive-level roles.
• Experience sourcing and hiring candidates for specialized and hard-to-fill positions.
• Knowledge of recruiting best practices, interviewing techniques, candidate engagement, and employment branding.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATS), HRIS platforms, LinkedIn Recruiter, and other recruiting technologies.
• Knowledge of employment laws, EEO requirements, and recruitment compliance practices.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver an exceptional candidate and hiring manager experience.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track metrics and drive process improvements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

• Experience recruiting for professional, technical, manufacturing, workforce development, education, or nonprofit positions.
• Experience improving recruiting processes, workflows, or candidate experiences.
• Knowledge of employment laws and hiring compliance requirements.
• SHRM-CP, PHR, AIRS, or similar professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead Full-Cycle Recruiting: Manage the recruitment process from position approval through onboarding.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and develop effective recruiting strategies.
• Source, screen, interview, and present qualified candidates.
• Coordinate interviews and candidate communications throughout the hiring process.
• Facilitate offer preparation and support candidates through acceptance and onboarding.
• Deliver a positive and professional candidate experience from first contact to start date.
• Build Talent Pipelines: Develop and maintain candidate pipelines for current and future hiring needs.
• Identify and engage talent through sourcing platforms, networking, referrals, community partnerships, and professional organizations.
• Support employer branding efforts to increase awareness of IALR as an employer of choice.
• Build relationships with educational institutions, workforce partners, and community organizations to strengthen recruiting efforts.
• Improve Recruiting Processes: Evaluate and enhance recruiting workflows, tools, and practices.
• Develop standardized templates, guides, and resources to support hiring managers.
• Track and analyze recruitment metrics, including time-to-fill, source effectiveness, and candidate conversion rates.
• Recommend and implement process improvements that increase efficiency and support better hiring outcomes.
• Assist with the optimization and administration of recruitment technologies and systems.
• Collaborate Across the Organization: Serve as a trusted recruiting partner to hiring managers and organizational leaders.
• Ensure hiring practices comply with applicable employment laws and organizational policies.
• Support onboarding efforts to ensure a smooth transition for new hires.
• Participate in HR projects and initiatives that support organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.

Benefits

• Retirement benefits are provided through the Virginia Retirement System with employer match.
• Generous time off is provided, including vacation, paid sick leave, and paid family leave after one year.
• Paid holidays are provided, including a two week paid winter break.
• Anthem PPO and HSA health plans are offered, with excellent dental options.

What This Job Offers

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