Talent Acquisition Specialist

Job Description - Talent Acquisition Specialist (26000070)

Job Description

Talent Acquisition Specialist - (26000070)

Description

SALARY

$85,911.96

POSITION SUMMARY

Under general supervision, develops recruitment strategies and supports multiple business units in full life cycle recruiting of various professional and trade positions including union and non-union. Works closely with hiring managers and department leaders to attract and identify talent to drive strategic initiatives and enhance business stakeholder operational efficiencies. Complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and ethical standards and meets performance standards that relate to time to fill, quality of hire, and other related functions and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Builds strategic partnerships with hiring managers and business stakeholders to develop and implement timely and effective recruitment plans.

o Reviews applications and resumes to determine qualifications.

o Consults with hiring managers to create candidate profiles, timelines, and interview schedules, and materials.

o Prescreens applicants to determine qualifications, conducts behavioral based interviews, performs assessments, and makes recommendations for hire.

o Develops recruitment materials and conducts behavioral based interviewing and evaluation of candidates for employment Coordinates with management and applicant schedules to arrange interviews.

o Extends and negotiates approved salary offers and provides information on terms and conditions of employment, i.e. salary, benefits, working conditions, physical demands, and work rules.

o Works with Testing & Selection, Drug & Alcohol Testing, and other HR divisions in ensuring candidates meet Authority requirements.

o Ensures the completion of all required onboarding, to include background checks and new hire paperwork.

• Develops creative sourcing strategies and action plans to aggressively attract qualified individuals that meet Authority needs.

o Develops and executes candidate search tactics which may include cold calling, referrals, Boolean resume database searches on recruitment platforms such as LinkedIn, Careerbuilder, etc.

o Recruits and identifies passive job seekers and develop talent pipelines for future needs proactively.

o Represents the Authority at on-campus and in-house recruiting events and external job fairs.

o Develops and maintains relationships with external agencies, universities, community organizations, and professional networks.

• Participates in process, transformational, and/or performance based organization wide HR projects/assignments.
• Prepares, and maintains various recruitment reports and documentation for distribution to management and internal customers. Updates applicant database regularly to include status updates on hiring activities. Identifies trends and issues to develop resolutions; this may include tracking and monitoring employment related issues and effectiveness of recruitment processes.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to this position may include the following jobs:

Job Title

• None

CHALLENGES

• Keeping abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of recruitment.
• Maintaining adaptability and consistently managing multiple priorities.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, plus one (1) year of experience recruiting for a variety of positions simultaneously, or an equivalent combination of education and experience relating to this position.
• Bilingual skills (English and Spanish) preferred.
• PHR/SPHR or AIRS certification preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• General knowledge of employment laws and practices with proven experience sourcing and identifying talent across various business functions.
• Working knowledge of human resources, with experience in the area of recruitment, selection or administration
• Working knowledge of interviewing processes and techniques, specifically behavioral based interviews.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to advise and consult with executive and senior level management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organization skills with a strong focus on detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective internal customer relationships and external candidate relationships
• Intermediate computer skills using MS Office applications, applicant tracking systems, database management, and other related software.
• Intermediate skills utilizing external candidate search platforms including LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed, etc.
• Ability to work collaboratively and think strategically on projects.
• Ability to work well under pressure with shifting priorities and independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and judgment sufficient to handle sensitive employment matters
• Ability to gather and analyze information, identify alternative solutions to complex problems, and make recommendations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• General office environment.
• May occasionally be required to travel to field locations, job fairs, colleges and universities nationwide.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

• Standard office equipment.
• Personal computer and related software (Microsoft Outlook Express, Excel, PowerPoint, various on-line databases).

Additional Details Employees and/or union members will be given priority consideration in the hiring process, per the applicable labor contracts.

Final salary will be determined in part by the qualifications of the selected candidate and may be higher or lower than target.

Applicants, if hired,must comply with CTA''s residency ordinance.

CTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws; except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our workforce and supporting the communities we serve. CTA will make reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants for employment as well as its employees, unless undue hardship would result. If you require an accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact arc@transitchicago.com prior to the submission of your application or upon notification of your actual test date. CTA will work with you to determine if an accommodation can be provided.

During the hiring process, CTA''s Human Resources department will contact candidates with next steps . Failure to respond to these correspondences in a timely fashion may result in your application being closed out for non-responsiveness.

Please click link below to review the benefits offered at the CTA.

https://www.transitchicago.com/hrbenefits/

Primary Location

: USA-Illinois-Chicago

Job

: Human Resources

Job Posting

: Sep 11, 2026, 10:30:00 AM

Position Type: Full-time Permanent (FTP)

Department: Human Resources