Mountain Region Talent Acquisition Specialist

About the role

The Mountain Region Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a key role in attracting and developing the next generation of talent across Knife River’s Mountain Region. This position drives full-cycle recruiting across the region, helping attract talent for a variety of roles, including skilled trades, field operations, technical professionals, and early-career positions.

Responsibilities

• Drive Regional Recruiting Efforts – Support full-cycle recruiting initiatives across the Mountain Region, including sourcing, screening, requisition coordination, and hiring manager partnerships.
• Build and Maintain Talent Pipelines – Proactively source candidates through LinkedIn, recruiting platforms, job boards, and social media while developing pipelines for skilled trades, operations, technical, and early-career roles.
• Partner with HR and Operational Leadership – Collaborate with regional HR leaders, hiring managers, and business leaders to support workforce planning and staffing initiatives across multiple locations, business units, and product lines.
• Lead Early Career and Internship Programs – Coordinate the Mountain Region internship program and support college recruiting initiatives, including campus engagement, career fairs, and partnerships with universities, community colleges, and workforce development organizations.
• Support Skilled Trades and Operations Recruiting – Assist in recruiting efforts for field-based roles including equipment operators, mechanics, drivers, and plant personnel by working closely with operations and field leadership.
• Aid in Succession and Mentorship Programs – Assist in coordinating Mountain Region succession planning and mentorship initiatives that support leadership development, internal mobility, and long-term workforce growth.
• Maintain and Improve Recruiting Processes – Review and update job descriptions while supporting continuous improvement of recruiting tools, systems, and hiring processes.
• Track Recruiting Activity and Metrics – Maintain candidate pipelines through applicant tracking systems and prepare recruiting reports, statistics, KPIs, and insights for leadership.
• Plan and Execute Recruiting and Workforce Events – Organize and support recruiting events, career fairs, hiring initiatives, training programs, leadership meetings, and other regional workforce activities.
• Career Fairs and Special Projects – Manage calendars, communications, and resources across stakeholders and multiple time zones while serving as a regional point of contact for recruiting initiatives, special projects, and workforce development efforts that support regional HR priorities and business growth.
• Event Planning and Logistics – Coordinate scheduling, materials, vendors, and logistics for regional programs and events while ensuring successful execution and follow-up.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Three or more years of experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, workforce development, HR operations, or a related role supporting hiring initiatives in a dynamic business environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting full-cycle recruiting, including sourcing, screening, candidate coordination, and partnering with hiring managers throughout the selection process.
• Experience recruiting for a variety of roles, including skilled trades, field operations, technical professionals, and early-career talent, preferably in construction, industrial, manufacturing, transportation, or operational environments.
• Experience supporting college recruiting, internship programs, or workforce development initiatives, including building or maintaining relationships with universities, community colleges, trades schools, or workforce training programs.
• Proven ability to plan and coordinate events or programs, such as recruiting events, career fairs, training sessions, leadership meetings, or hiring initiatives.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems (ATS), recruiting platforms, and sourcing tools such as LinkedIn or similar systems to track recruiting activity and maintain candidate pipelines.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively with leadership, hiring managers, field operations, candidates, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple recruiting initiatives and programs simultaneously, including candidate pipelines, campus engagement, hiring events, and regional workforce initiatives.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record and willingness and ability to travel across the Mountain Region, including overnight stays, and engage with field and operational leadership.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience supporting recruiting and HR operations within the construction materials supply and contracting industry.
• Experience recruiting for hourly, skilled trades, technical, and field-based roles, including positions such as equipment operators, mechanics, drivers, plant personnel, or similar operational roles.
• Experience supporting college recruiting, internship programs, or workforce development initiatives, including partnerships with universities, community colleges, trade schools, or apprenticeship programs.
• Experience using UKG (UltiPro), Smartsheet, or a similar HRIS or applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage recruiting activity and candidate pipelines.
• Experience leveraging LinkedIn Recruiter, digital sourcing tools, or recruiting platforms to proactively identify and engage talent.
• Professional HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR, or progress towards certification.