University Talent Acquisition Specialist

Appian•McLean, VA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Appian is seeking a University Talent Acquisition Specialist to join their team. This role is crucial for Appian's growth strategy, focusing on building relationships with academic institutions to attract top university talent. The specialist will manage full-lifecycle university recruiting programs to identify and recruit the next generation of innovators for Appian's AI-Powered Process Automation platform. This position is based at the company's headquarters in McLean, Virginia, and requires a commitment to in-person collaboration, with employees expected to be in the office five days a week. The role offers the opportunity to shape employer brand on campuses, build strategic university partnerships, and directly influence the composition of engineering, product, and business teams.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, or related field
1+ years of hands-on recruiting experience managing the full candidate lifecycle including sourcing, interviewing, negotiating, and closing
Proven ability to source candidates across multiple platforms and channels with demonstrated success in converting passive talent
Strong stakeholder partnership skills with experience advising hiring managers and business leaders on talent strategy
Demonstrated expertise in employer branding and building campus presence at universities
Experience optimizing interview processes and candidate assessment methodologies
Understanding of business strategy, competitive market dynamics, and how talent acquisition drives organizational success
Availability to travel up to 20% during peak recruiting seasons for campus visits and events

Nice To Haves

Technical recruiting experience or background hiring for software engineering, computer science, or technology teams
Data-driven approach with experience using recruitment metrics, funnel analytics, and KPIs to optimize outcomes
Hands-on experience with Greenhouse applicant tracking system and Workday HRIS
Experience with enterprise platforms such as Salesforce or ServiceNow

Responsibilities

Lead full-cycle campus recruiting from sourcing through offer acceptance, ensuring a seamless and compelling candidate experience that converts top university talent.
Cultivate and execute strategic partnerships with university career centers, academic departments, faculty advisors, and student organizations to build a robust talent pipeline.
Partner with hiring managers and business leaders to understand team needs, competitive positioning, and business strategy, serving as a trusted advisor on university talent acquisition.
Optimize interview processes and candidate assessment frameworks to identify high-potential early career talent who align with Appian's culture and technical requirements.
Build and amplify Appian's employer brand on target campuses through events, information sessions, hackathons, and digital engagement strategies.
Leverage multi-platform sourcing strategies including LinkedIn, Handshake, campus job boards, and referral networks to identify passive and active candidates.
Negotiate and close offers with top candidates, articulating Appian's compelling value proposition and career growth opportunities.
Track and analyze recruitment metrics including pipeline health, conversion rates, and time-to-fill to drive continuous improvement and data-informed decisions.