Job Description: Talent Acquisition Specialist
Document No.:
Revision:
July_2026
Effective Date:
July 6, 2026
Position Title:
Talent Acquisition Specialist I
Job Classification:
Professional (Exempt)
Reports To:
Human Resource Manager
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Location:
Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, VA)
Company Overview
AMP United is a TURNKEY industrial preservation contractor specializing in large-scale surface preparation, coating application, containment, and scaffolding across the U.S. With personnel strategically located in Virginia, California, Washington, New Hampshire, and Hawaii, AMP United provides ship and industrial preservation services in support of NAVSEA, MARMC, SWRMC, and other DoD customers.
Learn more at www.ampunited.com
Position Summary
The Talent Acquisition Specialist I is responsible for identifying, attracting, and hiring highly qualified candidates to support government and commercial ship repair, preservation, modernization, and industrial service contracts. This position manages the full-cycle recruitment process while building strong relationships with hiring managers, project teams, trade organizations, military transitions programs, and workforce development partners.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
· Manage the full recruitment lifecycle from requisition through onboarding
· Partner with PM's, Operations, and Executive Leadership to understand current and future staffing requirements.
· Recruit skilled trades, including administrative personnel, Safety, QA and Executive personnel
· Source candidates through job boards, referrals, networking, social media, trade schools, military transition programs, career fairs, and industry events.
· Build/maintain an active pipeline of qualified candidates for current and future contract needs
· Conduct phone screenings and structured interviews to evaluate technical qualifications, work history, certifications, availability, and cultural fit.
· Coordinate interviews with hiring managers and provide timely feedback through the hiring process.
· Prepare offer recommendations and facilitate the offer process.
· Coordinate pre-employment activities including drug screening, background investigations, employment verification, I-9 documentation, E-Verify, and security clearance documentation (when applicable).
· Develop recruiting strategies to reduce time-to-fill while maintaining quality of hire.
· Assist with workforce planning for upcoming contract awards and surge staffing requirements.
· Monitor recruiting metrics including time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, applicant flow, source effectiveness, retention of new hires.
· All other recruiting tasks assigned.
Required Qualifications
· 3+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience.
· Experience recruiting skilled trades or industrial personnel.
· Experience supporting government contractors, shipyards, industrial services, construction, manufacturing, or marine industries.
· Strong interviewing and candidate assessment skills
· Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
· Ability to manage multiple high-priority requisitions simultaneously.
· Strong organizational and time management skills
· Proficiency with MS Office Suite.
Preferred Qualifications
· Experience recruiting within U.S. Navy Ship Repair, Preservation, Marine Coatings, Scaffolding, Government Contracting.
· Knowledge of SCA wage determinations
· Experience recruiting cleared personnel.
· Familiarity with security clearance requirements.
· Experience using Indeed, LinkedIn, ClearanceJobs, and other recruiting platforms and HRIS.
· Knowledge of shipyard environments including NNSY, PNSY, BAE, PSNS, NASSCO, PHSY, Vigor Marine, NAS Everett,
Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
· Strong understanding of skilled trade recruiting.
· Ability to identify qualified preservation personnel quickly
· Excellent networking abilities
· Strong negotiation and closing skills
· Ability to build long-term candidate relationships
· Ability to maintain confidentiality
· High level of professionalism and integrity
· Ability to work in a fast-paced project-driven environment.
· Self-motivated with minimal supervision
· Strong attention to detail
·
Security and Access Requirements
· Must be a U.S. Citizen and pass all background, drug, and security checks.
· Must possess or obtain Secret Clearance.
Education and Experience
· Bachelor's degree preferred
· Minimum 3 years' recruiting experience required.
Physical Requirements
· Ability to work in shipboard, industrial, and office environments.
· Ability to visit shipyards, construction sites, and industrial work environments.
· Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. occasionally.
Benefits & Perks
· Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
· Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
· 401(k).
· Paid time off, holidays, and professional development reimbursement.
· Ongoing training and career development through AMP University.