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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Talent Acquisition Associate

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

Human ResourcesRecruitingTalent Acquisition

🎯 Role Definition

The Talent Acquisition Associate is a foundational pillar of the Human Resources and Talent team, acting as a brand ambassador and the first point of contact for prospective employees. This role is instrumental in executing the full-cycle recruitment process, from sourcing and identifying exceptional talent to fostering a positive candidate experience that reflects our company's values. The Associate partners closely with hiring managers and the broader TA team to build robust talent pipelines, ensuring the organization is well-equipped with the skilled individuals needed to achieve its strategic objectives. More than just filling positions, this role is about building relationships, understanding the nuances of different departments, and contributing directly to the company's culture and success through strategic hiring.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Human Resources Coordinator or Intern
  • Administrative Assistant (with an interest in HR)
  • Recent Graduate (Business, HR, Psychology)

Advancement To:

  • Talent Acquisition Specialist or Recruiter
  • Senior Talent Acquisition Associate
  • Talent Sourcer

Lateral Moves:

  • HR Generalist
  • Employer Branding Specialist
  • People Operations Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the full-cycle recruitment process for assigned roles, from initial intake meetings with hiring managers to extending offers, ensuring a smooth and efficient hiring journey.
  • Develop and implement innovative and effective sourcing strategies to build robust pipelines of diverse, high-quality candidates for current and future openings.
  • Proactively source passive candidates through a variety of channels, including LinkedIn Recruiter, professional networks, industry events, and employee referrals.
  • Craft and post compelling, inclusive, and accurate job descriptions on our careers page, external job boards, and social media platforms to attract a qualified and diverse applicant pool.
  • Conduct thorough initial screening calls and interviews to assess candidate qualifications, motivation, cultural fit, and alignment with our core values.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for candidates throughout the entire recruitment process, providing timely updates and feedback to ensure a best-in-class candidate experience.
  • Master and maintain the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring all candidate information, interactions, and statuses are accurately and meticulously updated in real-time.
  • Coordinate and schedule complex interview loops across multiple time zones, involving candidates, hiring managers, and interview panels with a high degree of professionalism and efficiency.
  • Partner with hiring managers to deeply understand their team's needs, define role requirements, and develop a tailored recruitment strategy for each search.
  • Prepare and present a shortlist of qualified candidates to hiring managers, providing insightful commentary and recommendations to facilitate decision-making.
  • Facilitate pre-briefing and debriefing meetings with interview teams to ensure alignment on the evaluation criteria and to gather structured feedback.
  • Assist in negotiating and extending employment offers, working with HR and hiring managers to create competitive packages.
  • Build and nurture a network of potential candidates through ongoing relationship management, creating a community of talent for future needs.
  • Track and analyze recruitment metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, source-of-hire, candidate funnel conversion) to identify trends, measure effectiveness, and recommend process improvements.
  • Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the recruitment process, actively working to source from underrepresented groups and mitigate bias.
  • Represent the company at career fairs, university recruiting events, and industry conferences to promote our employer brand and attract emerging talent.
  • Manage relationships with external recruitment agencies or vendors when necessary, ensuring they align with our standards and deliver quality candidates.
  • Contribute to various employer branding projects, such as creating content for our career social media channels or assisting with employee testimonial campaigns.
  • Onboard new hires by ensuring all pre-employment paperwork and background checks are completed, providing a seamless transition from candidate to employee.
  • Stay current on market trends, industry best practices, and emerging recruitment technologies to continuously enhance our talent acquisition function.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis on recruitment funnel metrics and hiring trends.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of recruitment processes and candidate experience initiatives.
  • Collaborate with the broader HR team to ensure a seamless handover from recruitment to onboarding.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the talent acquisition team operates within that framework.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Proficiency in using and maintaining an ATS such as Greenhouse, Lever, Workday Recruiting, or similar platforms.
  • Sourcing Tools: Demonstrated experience with sourcing tools and platforms, particularly LinkedIn Recruiter, but also including Boolean search, SeekOut, Hired, or Indeed Resume.
  • Recruitment Metrics: Ability to track, understand, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) like time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, and source effectiveness.
  • Job Board Management: Experience posting and managing job advertisements across a variety of platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Glassdoor, industry-specific boards).
  • Calendar & Scheduling Software: High proficiency with tools like G Suite or Outlook Calendar for coordinating complex, multi-person interviews.

Soft Skills

  • Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling outreach messages and articulate the company's vision.
  • Interpersonal Skills: A natural ability to build rapport and establish trusting relationships with candidates, hiring managers, and team members.
  • Organizational Skills: Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple searches, candidates, and scheduling priorities simultaneously without sacrificing quality.
  • Resilience & Adaptability: The capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment, handle rejection gracefully, and adapt to shifting priorities and business needs.
  • Empathy: A strong sense of empathy to understand candidate motivations and anxieties, ensuring a supportive and positive experience for everyone.
  • Curiosity & Drive: A proactive, self-starter mentality with a genuine curiosity about people and a strong desire to connect talent with opportunity.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Human Resources Management
  • Business Administration
  • Psychology or Sociology
  • Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1-3 years of experience in a recruiting, sourcing, or HR coordination role.

Preferred: At least one year of direct experience managing parts of the recruitment lifecycle, preferably within a corporate or agency environment. Exposure to a fast-paced, high-volume hiring environment is a significant plus.