Talent Acquisition Specialist

Tri-City Group is seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist for Des Moines, IA. This role supports assigned openings by qualifying candidates, partnering with hiring managers, communicating with candidates at every stage, and maintaining complete, accurate records in the applicant tracking system (ATS). The Specialist helps Tri-City Group quickly fill openings with qualified candidates while delivering a professional, responsive candidate experience that reflects well on the company.

 Essential Functions:

• Takes ownership of requisitions assigned by the Talent Acquisition Operations Manager
• Meets with hiring managers at the start of each assigned requisition to confirm position requirements, must-have qualifications, and the interview plan
• Reviews new applicants on assigned requisitions daily, scores applicant relevancy, and qualifies candidates for phone screens
• Conducts phone screens to assess qualifications, interest, availability, and pay expectations, and forwards qualified applicants to hiring managers and collaborators with interview notes and summaries
• Sends interview requests through the Talent Acquisition Assistant, providing all the details needed to coordinate and schedule virtual or in-person interviews between the Talent Acquisition Specialist, hiring managers and team/collaborators, and the applicant
• Participates in interviews with hiring managers by introducing the applicant and maintaining a consistent interview structure and question set; hiring managers lead the position-specific questions
• Follows up with hiring managers on forwarded applicants to obtain timely feedback and decisions on next steps
• Serves as the primary point of contact for applicants on assigned requisitions, responding promptly with status updates and coordinating next steps
• Communicates timely, respectful declines to applicants who are not moving forward, at any stage of the process
• Documents all applicant touchpoints, screening and interview notes, next steps, and reasons for disqualification in the ATS as they occur
• Re-engages qualified applicants already in the ATS and employee referrals to strengthen pipelines for assigned requisitions
• Coordinates pre-employment steps for selected candidates as directed and performs a formal handoff of hired candidates to HR/Onboarding
• Closes job posting/requisitions once hiring managers confirm they are filled, ensuring all remaining applicants are notified the position has been filled, and updates disposition/status
• Shares weekly updates on assigned requisitions with the Talent Acquisition Operations Manager, including pipeline status, roadblocks, interviews scheduled, and recruitment strategy/resources to optimize job posting performance
• Follows Talent Acquisition internal processes and best practices for applicant and requisition management
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, AAP/EEO recordkeeping requirements, and company policies
• Attends and participates in job fairs and local recruiting events as needed
• Represents the company with high school and college partnerships to strengthen the company brand and attract internship candidates

Skills:

• Proficiency with applicant tracking software, MS Office, Outlook, and Teams
• Phone and virtual screening and structured/behavioral interviewing techniques
• Evaluating resumes and applicant responses against job requirements, including recognizing transferable skills
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication, including delivering declines and difficult news with tact
• Managing multiple requisitions and high applicant volume while meeting response-time expectations
• Scheduling and calendar coordination across multiple stakeholders
• Accurate, timely data entry and documentation
• Working knowledge of hiring-related employment law (EEO, ADA, FCRA, Form I-9) and lawful interview practices
• Familiarity with construction and electrical trade roles and terminology, or the ability to learn quickly

This is a full-time position; workday and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours outside of normal business hours may be required during peak periods. This role is remote, not based in the Des Moines office, but must be local to the Des Moines Metro area, willing to commute to the office, participate in local recruitment events, and company/team meetings as needed.  

Required Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree in human resources or a business-related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 3 years of talent acquisition or recruiting experience
• Experience managing applicant pools through an applicant tracking system
• Experience conducting phone screens and virtual/in-person interviews

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a business-related field
• Internal corporate recruiting experience
• Experience recruiting for skilled trades, construction, or high-volume roles
• HR or recruiting certification (e.g., aPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP) is a plus

All job offers are contingent upon passing a drug screening and reference check. Tri-City Group is an equal opportunity employer.