Recruiter

About the role

The Recruiter is responsible for full lifecycle talent acquisition and recruitment efforts for both direct and contracted employees of the District. This role supports the District’s mission, vision, and business objectives by ensuring the attraction, selection, and onboarding of high-performing talent in a manner that fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, and alignment with the organization’s values.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute innovative digital recruitment marketing strategies across LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, and other relevant social media platforms to attract top-tier talent and build employer brand awareness.
• Leverage social media analytics and recruitment marketing tools to identify, engage, and nurture passive candidates through targeted outreach campaigns and content that resonates with key talent pools.
• Create compelling social media content including job postings, employee spotlights, and company culture stories that drive candidate engagement and expand reach within specialized talent communities.
• Utilize digital advertising platforms (LinkedIn Recruiter, programmatic job ads, Transit Talent, sponsored posts) to optimize candidate sourcing efforts and track ROI on recruitment marketing initiatives.
• Partner with department managers, contractor leads, and HR stakeholders to identify current and future staffing needs, develop competency-based job descriptions, and refine selection criteria.
• Design and execute recruitment strategies and sourcing approaches appropriate to the transit industry (operations, maintenance, administrative), including job board advertising, social media sourcing, career fairs, educational partnerships, community outreach, union collaboration, and contractor partner engagement.
• Manage full-cycle recruitment: create/revise job postings, screen resumes/applications, conduct preliminary telephone or video interviews, coordinate with hiring managers for face-to-face interviews, perform reference/background checks, prepare and extend job offers, and track candidate progress.
• Administer pre-employment testing and screening (drug/alcohol, physical, operator certifications, background, union-required screenings) in compliance with federal, state, local laws, union contracts, operator regulations, and District policies.
• Serve as a brand ambassador and represent the District at recruiting events, career fairs, trade schools, community outreach programs, local high schools/colleges, and partner organizations to build a talent pipeline of diverse, qualified candidates.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in HRIS systems and generate regular reporting for HR leadership and operational stakeholders.
• Collaborate with HR, Learning & Development, and operations leadership to help onboard new hires effectively and ensure a smooth transition from offer to productive employee.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a directly related field and at least three (3) years of full-cycle recruitment experience. OR Associate’s degree and five (5) years of relevant recruitment experience.
• Experience recruiting for operations, maintenance, or frontline roles (e.g., bus operators, rail technicians, maintenance staff).
• Familiarity with DOT/FRA/FTA regulations and collective bargaining agreements.
• HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) or advanced training in talent acquisition.
• Spanish language proficiency (or other second language) is beneficial for outreach in diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Possess and maintain a California driver’s license, Class C, and a satisfactory driving record for the last five years.
• Maintain compliance with the District’s policy regarding Conflict of Interest and Ethics.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain annual access to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Supplemental Information

• Physical Requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Application Information: All applicants must complete and submit an online application at www.gonctd.com/careers. A job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
• Salary: Based upon experience, not to exceed midpoint of stated range.
• NCTD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• “NCTD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if NCTD is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.”