Talent Acquisition Specialist

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS

Breakthrough is the leading college access and success nonprofit in Central Texas. For more than 20 years, we have partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. We make a radical, long-term commitment to students, to and through college, unlocking the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity. We support the whole student with personalized services, work closely with community partners, campuses, and employers, and advocate for our students with lawmakers. Breakthrough students attend 60+ public schools and persist at nearly 100 colleges and universities. The result is that 60% of Breakthrough students graduate from college, compared to 15% of low-income students in our region. Our work has resulted in more than 550 college graduates, with more than 3,700 on their way, positively impacting families for generations and our region’s ability to provide education opportunities for all young people.

WHY WORK AT BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS?
By working with Breakthrough Central Texas, you will help thousands of students unlock their potential through the transformative power of a college degree. Breakthrough is an organization committed to its students and recognizes that our greatest resource to support them is our dedicated and talented staff.  If you believe all young people deserve the opportunity to achieve postsecondary success and you desire to work at an organization committed to its employees and building the strongest team culture anywhere, then join us!

ABOUT THE TALENT ACQUISITION ROLE 

The Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a key role in advancing Breakthrough Central Texas’s mission by leading the end-to-end recruitment process for all organizational talent needs. This position is responsible for designing and executing innovative recruitment strategies that attract talented candidates who are passionate about expanding educational opportunities and serving the community.

The Talent Acquisition Specialist will report directly to the Director of Human Resources & Talent, and work closely with the Associate Director of AmeriCorps, and other stakeholders to ensure all recruitment goals are met, full time staff and national service participant (AmeriCorps) positions are filled, and candidates have a strong, mission-aligned experience from first contact through onboarding.

Specific responsibilities of the Talent Acquisition Specialist include:

Talent Acquisition Strategy

• Partner with the Director of Human Resources & Talent and Associate Director of AmeriCorps to develop and execute recruitment strategies that reflect Breakthrough’s values and result in high-quality candidate pipelines.
• Champion hiring practices that promote access, inclusion, and candidate belonging throughout the recruitment process.
• Design and manage a recruitment funnel, including setting and tracking recruitment goals to fill all positions and support additional talent needs.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with colleges, universities, community-based organizations, and other recruitment partners to promote service opportunities.

Talent Acquisition Management and Execution

• Design and manage a recruitment funnel, including setting and tracking recruitment goals to fill all positions and support additional talent needs.
• Lead job postings across digital platforms, community job boards, universities, and social media to maximize visibility and attract a broad and diverse candidate pool.
• Represent Breakthrough at job fairs, school visits, info sessions, and community events.
• Screen applications, conduct interviews, and support hiring managers in selecting top candidates.
• Utilize LinkedIn and other talent sourcing platforms to identify and pursue prospective candidates, especially for just-in-time hiring needs.
• Manage and support high-volume AmeriCorps recruitment teams and processes ensuring all hiring targets are met on time while maintaining a strong focus on candidate quality.
• Serve as an active member of the AmeriCorps Central Texas (ACT) recruitment committee and collaborate with peer organizations to share candidates and recruitment best practices

Talent Communications and Marketing

• Develop and execute multi-channel candidate engagement strategies, including email, text messaging, social media, and recruitment events, to cultivate interest and maintain candidate engagement throughout the hiring process.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to create recruitment materials that elevate the Breakthrough and AmeriCorps brands and speak authentically to our mission, values and communities.
• Ensure timely, professional, and inclusive communication with candidates, hiring managers, and recruitment partners.
• Create a positive and welcoming candidate experience that reflects Breakthrough's commitment to fair and inclusive hiring practices, respect, and belonging.

Data Management and Compliance

• Track and analyze recruitment data and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.
• Steward problem-solving efforts related to recruitment barriers, such as cost of living or candidate hesitancy around stipends, to ensure AmeriCorps slots are filled with qualified, mission-aligned members.
• Maintain the Applicant Tracking System and recruitment database with accuracy, confidentiality, and consistency.
• Collaborate with the Chief Operations Officer and Associate Director of AmeriCorps to ensure that all candidate files and documentation are managed in compliance with Breakthrough’s policies and AmeriCorps/state regulations.
  

ABOUT YOU 

You are a strong candidate for the Talent Acquisition Specialist role if, above all, you are a champion for closing the opportunity gap and increasing social and economic equity and mobility through educational attainment. You enjoy a challenge and love connecting with people. You also have a proven track record for meeting lofty recruitment targets and experience managing the recruitment cycle for high volume requisitions. You will also bring experience or demonstrated capacity in the following: 

• Organizational Culture and Values: Effectively stewards organizational culture and ensures that policies, practice, systems, people strategy, and culture mirror Breakthrough’s values, especially within all talent acquisition practices.  
• Relationship Building: Builds trusting, effective relationships that enable collaboration, productive conflict and dialogue, honest conversations, and authentic partnership with colleagues, students, community partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Strategic Project Management: Skilled in executing complex projects, managing multiple priorities, and aligning operational systems to support departmental goals and innovation.
• Inclusive Communication: Operates with cultural humility and demonstrates written, verbal, and digital communication skills, in 1:1, small group, and whole group settings, that foster and contribute to an inclusive environment that effectively engages others across diverse identities and experiences.
• HR and Talent Strategy: Supports the creation of cross-organizational partnerships to deliver HR and talent initiatives and training that align with organizational goals, strengthen staff competencies, and drive effectiveness. 
• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning: Ensures that Breakthrough has the right people in the right roles by developing data-driven strategies to attract, source, and acquire talent and overseeing onboarding.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Engages collaboratively, strategically, and inclusively with other people leaders to set vision, ensure strategic alignment, steward organizational climate and culture,maintain operational efficiency, and create meaningful impact.
• Employee Experience and Retention: Supports the creation of an engaging, inclusive, and supportive work environment by implementing policies, programs, and practices that enhance job satisfaction, belonging, and retention
• Process Optimization and Partnership:Delivers and refines processes to be accessible and user-centered, and supports staff in getting the most from them.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligns talent acquisition strategy with departmental goals and vision and navigates internal and external change with creativity, clarity, confidence, and compassion.
• Managing Complexity: Exhibits sound judgment and inclusive decision making in ambiguous situations, responding with flexibility, agility, and a bias toward action.
• Continuous Learning and Improvement: Embraces and applies feedback, demonstrates a curiosity, creativity and growth mindset, and pursues opportunities to strengthen individual performance and collective products and outcomes. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

• Competitive annual salary between $66,000-$84,000 depending on experience and qualifications
• Health, dental and vision insurance; Breakthrough provides a zero cost plan option 
• Long-term disability and life insurance 
• Matching 401K retirement plan 
• Thirty days of annualized PTO 
• Generous leave policy

The salary range listed represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for the year in which the position is filled. The actual salary offered for this position will depend on a number of factors including overall years of experience, relevant years of experience, skills and qualifications. At Breakthrough Central Texas, we offer a compelling total compensation packet with additional benefits. 

Breakthrough Central Texas is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its relations with its applicants, staff members, and families, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. People of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.