Talent Acquisition Specialist

Teachers Retirement System of Illinois•Springfield, IL

About The Position

The Talent Acquisition Specialist works under the direction of the Human Resources Manager and collaborates with hiring managers and HR Business Partners to attract and hire talent in support of TRS’s strategic goals. The role develops and implements recruitment strategies, identifies job requirements, builds qualified candidate pipelines, and conducts initial screening and interviews. It manages internal and external recruiting processes and contributes to the effectiveness of the organization’s talent acquisition function. The position sources and engages active and passive candidates, maintains candidate communications and records, supports employer branding, and uses recruitment metrics and labor-market research to advise leaders. It also supports inclusive hiring practices, recruitment projects, internship programs, and internal career pathing. TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois dedicated to providing pension service to Illinois public educators.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or experience in lieu of a degree.
Five years of experience in Talent Acquisition, including recruiting and/or sourcing top talent.
Demonstrated ability to set up, interpret, and track HR metrics and key performance indicators to drive recruitment results.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to actively listen for understanding.
Excellent collaboration and team-building skills.
Ability to coach effectively and deliver constructive feedback.
Relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
Analytical mindset for sourcing and evaluating candidates.
Strong research, networking, and candidate-engagement skills.
Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
PHR, SHRM-CP, or Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter certification.

Responsibilities

Develop long-term talent strategies and processes with the Human Resources Manager and hiring managers, focusing on recruitment and the talent acquisition function.
Develop talent-related processes, practices, and strategies with an emphasis on diverse recruitment activities.
Manage candidate expectations and communicate regularly with candidates throughout the hiring process.
Work with the HR Business Partner to calculate, analyze, and interpret recruitment metrics and advise leaders on recruitment strategies, expectations, compensation, candidate pool quality, and market feedback.
Collaborate with HR Business Partners to understand workforce needs, role priorities, and organizational objectives.
Source and engage active and passive candidates and connect them with current opportunities.
Build relationships with leaders, understand recruiting needs, and develop candidate pools for vacancies.
Track sourcing metrics and report on candidate pipelines, outreach success, and hiring progress.
Screen resumes and applications for qualifications, experience, and cultural fit; conduct candidate outreach and prescreening interviews.
Serve as a talent advisor to candidates and provide meaningful interactions that reflect the organization’s culture, values, and career opportunities.
Schedule interviews and manage candidate communications throughout the hiring process.
Maintain candidate databases and accurate, up-to-date records in the applicant tracking system.
Assist with employer branding initiatives.
Stay current on labor-market trends, hiring practices, sourcing tools, recruiting technologies, and talent availability.
Create job requisitions and monitor approvals in the HRIS system.
Market open positions through the careers page and job boards, and attend recruitment events and career fairs as needed.
Work with Communications to develop recruitment advertisements and promotional materials.
Use social media, resume databases, Boolean searches, industry contacts, and professional networks to source candidates; develop creative strategies for hard-to-fill roles.
Partner with hiring managers to identify competency questions and support consistent, high-quality interviews.
Assist in creating clear, inclusive job postings aligned with company values.
Draft and use templates for recruitment communications, including application acknowledgments, notices, interview requests, rejection emails, and offer letters.
Support diverse, inclusive, and equitable hiring practices.
Assist with talent acquisition projects and initiatives, including internship programs and internal career pathing.
Perform other duties as assigned.