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 proactive sourcing, screening, 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 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; 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) to identify talent.
• 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 job postings and candidate data throughout the recruitment process.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in recruiting; implement 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 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 multi-task, prioritize, and integrate with the broader HR team in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional, results-driven, and able to perform duties with minimal direction.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Effective negotiating skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment; exercise mature judgment.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Flexibility to work extended hours, travel to other company locations, and attend recruiting events; overnight travel expected.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage shifting responsibilities in a dynamic environment.