Senior IT Talent Acquisition Specialist (req-304)

Role Overview

Team CATHEXIS elevates the government contracting experience through rapid response, deep skill, and thoughtful problem‑solving and communication. Our core capabilities are top‑tier program and project management, data analytics, and audit services, delivered with an integrated approach to operational excellence. We lead with integrity, own outcomes, grow together, and move with purpose for employees, customers, partners, and communities.

This senior, strategic position—Senior IT Talent Acquisition Specialist—owns full‑lifecycle recruiting for cleared technical positions across our federal client portfolio, with immediate ownership of surge requisitions for AI/ML Engineers and Data Scientists. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy, hunts passive cleared talent, closes offers quickly, and applies a data‑driven mindset to pipeline insights, market intelligence, and strategic recommendations. It is a hybrid role with two days per week onsite in Tysons, VA.

Responsibilities

• Own full‑lifecycle delivery for assigned cleared technical requisitions—including structured intake, market mapping, sourcing strategy, outreach, technical screening, interview coordination, velocity management, offers, and negotiations.
• Hunt passive cleared talent (AI/ML Engineers, Data Scientists, and adjacent domains such as software engineering, cloud/DevOps, data engineering) via ClearanceJobs, LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, professional networks, etc.
• Recruit across clearance levels (Secret through TS/SCI) with solid understanding of clearance eligibility.
• Screen with technical credibility—assess ML frameworks, data pipelines, model deployment, and cloud architecture experience to earn respect of hiring managers and candidates.
• Run offers like a closer: leverage cleared‑market compensation intelligence, set expectations from first contact, pre‑close before the offer stage, and conduct structured counter‑offer negotiations.
• Build and maintain a talent pipeline of cleared AI/ML and data‑science talent; deliver reporting metrics.
• Architect durable, always‑on talent pipelines—tiered engagement of prior contacts, networks, referral cultivation, and employer‑brand touchpoints—to meet surge demand from a warm pipeline.
• Partner with hiring managers through structured intake meetings, weekly data‑backed pipeline reviews, market feedback, and proposed resolutions.
• Provide consultative guidance on interview best practices, offer strategy, talent/req activity, candidate experience, etc.
• Advise on competitive offers, realistic timelines, and process improvements that protect candidate quality and business outcomes.
• Represent CATHEXIS credibly to every candidate.
• Own recruitment metrics—time‑to‑fill, source‑of‑hire, submittal‑to‑interview, interview‑to‑offer ratios, and offer acceptance.
• Present market intelligence, pipeline insights, and recruitment performance summaries to stakeholders and the Director, Talent Acquisition with clear, actionable recommendations.
• Operate established Talent Acquisition standards—same‑day documentation of candidate outreach and responses in the ATS, published engagement cadence, defined pipeline ownership lanes.
• Collaborate with fellow TA team members, agency partners, and HR to ensure a seamless candidate and hiring manager experience.

Requirements

• 8+ years of full‑lifecycle IT/technical recruiting experience with a documented record of excellence.
• 5+ years recruiting in a government contracting (GovCon) environment.
• Proven AI/ML recruiting depth: successful placements of machine learning engineers, data scientists, or AI researchers/engineers, with technical fluency to screen for ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow), data pipelines, MLOps, and model deployment.
• Demonstrated cleared‑talent recruiting experience (Secret/TS/TS‑SCI): command of clearance types, timelines, crossover and reciprocity dynamics, and cleared‑market compensation.
• Elite direct‑sourcing craft—advanced Boolean/x‑ray search, talent mapping, competitor intelligence, and outreach that converts passive, in‑demand candidates.
• Broad technical domain knowledge—software engineering, cloud/DevOps, data engineering, and/or cybersecurity—to manage mixed requisition loads.
• Offer‑stage excellence: track record of constructing competitive offers, pre‑closing candidates, and defending against counteroffers in high‑demand markets.
• Operational discipline: ATS fluency (Workable or similar) and sourcing tools (LinkedIn Recruiter, ClearanceJobs, etc.) with rigorous same‑day documentation habits.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; confidence to present market intelligence and pipeline strategy to hiring managers, stakeholders, and senior leadership.

Desired Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, a technical field, or related discipline (or equivalent work experience).
• Professional recruiting certifications—AIRS Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) or Advanced CIR, AIRS Professional Recruiter Certification (PRC), LinkedIn Certified Professional‑Recruiter, ASA Certified Staffing Professional (CSP), or NAPS Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC).
• HR credentials such as SHRM‑CP/SCP or HRCI PHR/aPHR, with familiarity of OFCCP‑compliant recruiting and documentation practices in a federal contractor environment.
• Experience delivering surge or high‑volume technical campaigns under compressed timelines.
• Experience recruiting for AI/data programs specifically (e.g., ML platforms, analytics modernization, mission AI applications).

Pay

The annual salary range for this role is $115,000 – $125,000. Final offers consider location, qualifications, experience, and skills.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• Performance bonuses
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan (Traditional and Roth)
• Life insurance (basic, voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid time off plus 11 federal holidays
• Parental leave
• Commuter benefits
• Short‑term and long‑term disability
• Training & development programs
• Wellness program
• Community outreach initiatives