Talent Acquisition Specialist

About the role

This position leads the full-cycle recruiting process for both hourly and salary manufacturing positions at our Long Prairie, MN facility. You will partner directly with plant leadership to assess hiring needs and execute short- and long-term strategies to maintain optimal staffing levels while aligning with the company’s core values and culture.

Responsibilities

• Partner with hiring managers and operational leadership to understand hiring needs and develop comprehensive recruiting strategies that support growth goals.
• Lead and support all activities in the recruitment life cycle, including proactively sourcing candidates, screening, selecting, interviewing, offer management, pre-employment screening, and onboarding.
• Drive recruiting process best practices, continuously optimizing processes to improve efficiency and candidate experience.
• Coordinate and/or attend off-site and onsite job fairs. Utilize social media, local colleges, trade schools, and local publications to attract talent.
• Collaborate with the VP of HR to develop and align national search and marketing strategies, building an effective company brand and candidate experience.
• Consistently achieve hiring goals by setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and leveraging data-driven insights for continuous improvement.
• Lead data and reporting efforts, establishing and tracking key recruiting metrics to measure success and identify areas for improvement. Maintain recruiting reports (e.g., production staffing, interviews, rehires).
• Deliver an exceptional candidate experience from initial contact through onboarding and new hire orientation.
• Partner with HR to coordinate new hire benefits such as housing/lodging as needed.
• Serve as a company advocate; research, contact, and build rapport with agencies (community services, colleges, high schools, employment agencies, recruiters) to identify new talent and communicate company opportunities and benefits.
• Develop and maintain a 90-Day Recruiting Plan, approved by the VP of HR and VP of Operations, detailing events, targets, hiring campaigns, and KPIs.
• Utilize the applicant tracking system (iCIMS) to maintain all job postings (internal and external) and candidate/applicant data throughout the recruitment, selection, and hire process.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in recruiting, implementing new ideas and innovative solutions to drive better outcomes.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in full-cycle recruiting of hourly (non-exempt) manufacturing employees.
• Associate degree or bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field (preferred).
• Ability to effectively communicate in English, Spanish, and/or Haitian-Creole (speaking, reading, and writing). Bilingual preferred.
• Prior experience in high-volume recruiting in beef, protein, or food manufacturing.
• Current knowledge of employment laws and regulations.
• Previous experience using iCIMS applicant tracking system.
• Strong work ethic and sense of personal responsibility for outcomes.

Skills

• Self-starter with the ability to multitask, prioritize effectively, and integrate with the broader HR team in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Professional, results-driven, and able to perform duties with minimal direction.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite products, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Effective negotiating skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment, exercising mature judgment.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to work flexible hours, travel to other company locations, and attend recruiting events. Overnight travel is expected.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage shifting responsibilities in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment.

Pay

The expected base salary range for this position is $65,000 to $70,000. Actual base pay may vary based on job-related experience, qualifications, skills, expertise, and geographic location.

Benefits

• Eligibility for the company’s discretionary annual bonus plan and merit increases.
• Comprehensive benefits packages, including Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Disability insurance.
• Paid holidays.
• Ongoing learning and training programs for career growth.