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Southwest Strategies

Public affairs firm delivering coalition-driven campaigns

Talent Acquisition Lead

Full-Time
$85k - $105k/yr+ Bonus opportunity
Expert
Bachelor's
San Diego, CA, USA
HybridThree days onsite each week; occasional travel to regional offices and recruiting events may be required.
People & HRGeneralist Recruiting

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 8 years of recruitment experience within infrastructure, public affairs, public relations, or a related industry.
  • Human Resources certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or PHR), or education in a Human Resources or business-related area, is preferred.
  • Demonstrated organization and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with team members and internal and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborative, proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Experience with sourcing tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter.
  • Experience filling hard-to-fill roles and conducting high-volume sourcing.
  • Ability to work independently to create recruitment sourcing pipelines and build a talent community.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in applicant tracking systems.
  • Experience in both agency and in-house recruiting is an asset.
Responsibilities
  • Conduct full-cycle recruitment for all open roles across the company, including sourcing, resume screening, telephone screens, interviews, reference checks, and creating and extending job offers.
  • Identify strategies and sourcing channels to build candidate pipelines for public affairs, public relations, and public outreach roles based on the project pipeline, spanning government and private companies.
  • Establish and maintain an industry presence through professional online and social media activity, network-based talent prospecting, and regular attendance at industry events.
  • Advise hiring managers using broad interviewing and assessment techniques to validate candidate skills and knowledge.
  • Consult with hiring managers and provide updates on the job market, candidate availability, sourcing methods, recruitment risks, and regional challenges.
  • Collaborate with the Resource Manager to forecast recruitment needs and initiatives based on upcoming project work.
  • Develop job descriptions and postings that attract talent and accurately communicate the benefits and opportunities of joining the company.
  • Guide candidates through the recruitment process and ensure a smooth transition to onboarding in partnership with Human Resources.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement.
  • Use recruitment data and metrics to identify trends and incorporate insights into recruitment strategies.
  • Create and execute a sourcing plan for each open position to build a varied talent pipeline and identify, attract, and hire qualified candidates.
  • Develop a strong understanding of company culture to promote workplace values, career paths, opportunities, and benefits.
  • Capture and save candidate data in the HRIS and regularly update candidate statuses.
  • Use sourcing and recruitment tools, primarily LinkedIn Recruiter and industry-specific job boards.
  • Deliver a strong candidate and hiring manager experience.
  • Build and maintain brand awareness, a network of industry contacts, and strategic external partnerships.
  • Engage regularly with internal partners, including vertical leads, the CCO, the CGO, and other leaders, to review hiring needs and support recruiting activities.
  • Perform other duties as required.

About the company

Southwest Strategies is a California public affairs firm that designs and runs outreach campaigns for clients in both the public and private sectors. They handle research, planning, communications, visual materials, and crisis management to influence policy, public opinion, and regulatory outcomes, focusing on land development, energy, water, and transportation. They work by researching industries and communities, becoming experts in those areas, and using integrated services to craft strategies, build coalitions, and execute campaigns through a network of relationships. Their goal is to help clients secure approvals, funding, and favorable policy and project outcomes.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

2000

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • February 23, 2026 rebrand to Bodewell Group expanded to roughly 140 employees.
  • Kiterocket added semiconductors, renewable energy, and sustainability, broadening revenue beyond California public affairs.
  • The firm now covers San Diego, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle.

What critics are saying

  • Sunsetting legacy brands in February 2026 risks client confusion and talent churn through 2027.
  • Integration after four acquisitions since 2023 can disrupt service quality and margin discipline.
  • A failed Bodewell integration would unravel the single-brand strategy and force expensive client reacquisition.

What makes Southwest Strategies unique

  • Since 2000, Chris Wahl and Alan Ziegaus built California's best-known infrastructure public affairs shop.
  • Bodewell unifies Katz, BergDavis, ColLAborate, and Kiterocket under one integrated communications platform.
  • Its specialization in water, energy, transportation, and land use matches California permitting battles.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Paid Vacation

Profit Sharing

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

17%

1 year growth

17%

2 year growth

17%
GlobeNewswire
Jul 1st, 2025
Southwest Strategies Acquires Kiterocket Agency

Southwest Strategies Group has acquired Kiterocket, a leading public relations agency specializing in emerging technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy, and sustainability. This acquisition expands Southwest Strategies Group's reach in the western U.S. and adds technology and sustainable living to its services. The combined entity will have over 120 employees across six offices in three states. CEO Chris Wahl will continue to lead the company.

PR Newswire
Sep 5th, 2023
Southwest Strategies Invests in Katz & Associates

/PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Strategies (SWS) announced today it has agreed to invest in and partner with Katz & Associates (K&A), one of the largest and most...

REP Publishing, Inc.
Sep 5th, 2023
SD Metro Daily Business Report: Sept. 5, 2023

San Diego public affairs agency Southwest Strategies announced it will acquire Katz & Associates, creating what officials described as the largest firm of its type in California.

Times of San Diego
Dec 5th, 2022
MarketInk: San Diego Family Magazine's New Gift Guide Benefits People With Disabilities

A statement said Palladium has “partnered” with Southwest Strategies “to support the company’s growth.”

PR Newswire
Dec 1st, 2022
Palladium Heritage Invests in Southwest Strategies, One of the Premier Public Outreach and Communications Firms in California

/PRNewswire/ -- Palladium Equity Partners (along with its affiliates, "Palladium Heritage"), announced today that it has partnered with Southwest Strategies...