Talent Acquisition Specialist

Job Title

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Agency

Tarleton State University

Department

Talent Acquisition

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Stephenville, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Tarleton State University, a distinguished Doctoral National Comprehensive University, invites applications for the position of Talent Acquisition Specialist in the Division of Human Resources. As part of a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth. Join us in advancing knowledge and transforming lives—on campus and beyond. Tarleton State University continues to grow its impact across Texas, with four distinct campuses located in Stephenville, Fort Worth, RELLIS-Bryan and Waco, along with a robust online community that extends our reach even further.

At the heart of it all is Stephenville, where Tarleton State offers a dynamic environment for faculty and staff. From a lively live music scene and numerous local festivals to rich traditions rooted in the surrounding community, Stephenville provides a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

No matter where you're located—on campus or online—you are part of a mission that transforms lives and makes a difference across the state of Texas and beyond.

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Important Immigration Information:

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Tarleton State University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Tarleton State University subject to this fee. 

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate. 

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The Talent Acquisition Specialist, under general supervision, performs routine and complex specialized human resources duties in support of talent acquisition, hiring operations, and position management activities. The Talent Acquisition Specialist provides consultative and operational support to hiring managers, departments, and HR partners throughout the recruitment and hiring process. Responsibilities include supporting full-cycle recruitment, job description consultation, candidate screening, hiring workflow coordination, pre-employment processing, and related HR activities while ensuring compliance with university policies and applicable state and federal laws and regulations. The position also assists in compiling reports, maintaining records, improving processes, and supporting the development and implementation of human resources procedures and forms.

The role currently operates in a broad capacity that includes recruitment planning, sourcing, candidate screening, hiring manager consultation, job description and position management support, compensation-related hiring support, offer coordination, pre-employment processing, and monitoring hiring activity in Workday. The incumbent also supports shared Talent Acquisition operations by tracking approvals, managing communication channels, and responding to general hiring-related inquiries. As the Talent Acquisition function continues to evolve, this position is expected to shift toward a more specialized recruiting model with increased emphasis on proactive sourcing, talent pipeline development, hiring manager consultation, and recruitment strategy, while continuing to promote consistency, efficiency, compliance, and a positive candidate and hiring manager experience.

No visa sponsorship is available for this role. This position is in Stephenville, Texas with work hours of Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm, or as work requirements indicate; which may include afterhours and some weekends during peak periods.

Responsibilities

• Serves to provide consultative and operational support to hiring managers, department representatives, and HR partners throughout the recruitment and hiring process.

• Supports full-cycle recruitment activities, including intake discussions, sourcing, job postings, candidate screening, interview coordination, candidate communication, offer preparation, and pre-employment processing.

• Develops and implements recruitment strategies to attract qualified candidates using job boards, professional networks, recruiting platforms, and other sourcing channels.

• Reviews applications and candidate materials to assess qualifications and support hiring recommendations based on established position requirements.

• Consults with hiring managers and HR partners on job descriptions, position requirements, minimum qualifications, and related hiring documentation.

• Supports foundational position management activities by assisting with position description updates, position-related documentation, and review of position data for accuracy and alignment with institutional standards.

• Provides preliminary compensation-related hiring support by evaluating candidate qualifications in relation to approved hiring ranges and institutional guidance, in collaboration with appropriate HR stakeholders.

• Prepares, processes, and coordinates employment offers, background checks, I-9 requirements, and other pre-hire actions to support timely onboarding.

• Reviews, enters, monitors, and follows up on actions in Workday or related HR systems, including hiring transactions, approvals, workflow progress, and related documentation.

• Assists in managing recruitment records, reports, and documents related to talent acquisition and hiring activities.

• Responds to and assists with HR-related questions from hiring managers, employees, applicants, and campus stakeholders, providing guidance on recruitment processes, timelines, policies, and next steps.

• Provides guidance to departments regarding HR practices, compliance requirements, applicable laws and regulations, and ethical hiring practices.

• Assists in planning, developing, revising, and implementing HR procedures, forms, and standard operating procedures related to talent acquisition and hiring operations.

• Compiles and prepares reports, surveys, and related documentation regarding recruitment and hiring activities, and may conduct studies or recommend process improvements based on identified needs.

• Supports shared Talent Acquisition operations, including monitoring communication channels, routing inquiries, and helping maintain continuity of service during periods of high volume or staffing transition.

• May coordinate, plan, and provide logistical support for recruitment events, outreach activities, training sessions, and other specialized HR programs.

• May cross train on other specialized human resources functions to support operational needs and service continuity.

• Attends HR training and informational meetings and remains informed on relevant recruiting practices, employment regulations, and process changes.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or closely related field. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

• Two years of direct experience in talent acquisition, with emphasis on recruiting, sourcing, and candidate pipeline development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of full-cycle recruitment practices, sourcing methods, and candidate screening and evaluation techniques.

• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices related to hiring, recruitment, and employment processes.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively with candidates, hiring managers, and university stakeholders.

• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and relationship-building skills with the ability to provide guidance and support throughout the hiring process.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities with attention to accuracy and deadlines.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to coordinate and support multiple concurrent hiring activities.

• Ability to review, interpret, verify, and maintain accurate data, records, and documentation across multiple systems and formats.

• Ability to identify, research, and resolve routine and moderately complex process, system, and workflow issues.

• Skill in using applicant tracking systems, HR systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and other related software.

• Familiarity with social media, recruiting platforms, candidate databases, and professional networks used for sourcing and outreach.

• Ability to document procedures, support standard operating procedure updates, and contribute to process improvement efforts.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive information appropriately.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a recruiting partner with responsibility for consultative hiring manager support and full-cycle recruitment.

• Experience using Workday or another applicant tracking system to manage recruitment workflows and hiring transactions.

• Experience developing sourcing strategies and proactively building candidate pipelines for a variety of roles.

• Experience using job boards, social media, professional networks, and other recruiting tools to identify and engage talent.

• Experience conducting candidate screenings and supporting interview and selection processes.

• Experience in higher education, public sector, or another complex, policy-driven environment.

• Familiarity with job description review, position-related documentation, or compensation-related hiring support.

The responsibilities outlined above represent the core functions of this position and are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed. Standard operating procedures associated with these functions will be developed and maintained as needed. 

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Salary Range:

The target base annual salary range is $49,000 up to $59,119 and may be negotiable based on funding availability and candidate experience/skillset in relation to the minimum requirements of this position.

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and qualifying part-time employees. Our Careers Page offers an overview of the great benefits we offer; for detailed information visit our Benefits Information page.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a completed application for consideration. Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

Application Procedure:

During the application process applicants have one opportunity to enter the requested information, upload documents and Submit the application. Applicants will not be able to make changes or add additional documents once the application materials have been submitted via "Submit" action.

Employment applications must include:

• Completed online application
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest addressing qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• At least 3 current professional references and their full contact information

Applications received by Tarleton State University must have all job application data entered.  Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.  “See resume” is not an acceptable entry in the job application.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.