Talent Acquisition Specialist
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Before you apply
LocationJoplin Campus
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
SeniorityMid
Experience2+ yrs
Company size501–1,000 people
PostedNov 6, 2026 · 1d ago
Verified live15h ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Associate's or bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration
Two or more years of recruitment experience, preferably in higher education, healthcare, or a related environment
Knowledge of sourcing strategies and tools, including online job boards, social media, and professional networking platforms
Demonstrated experience developing and executing proactive sourcing strategies including direct outreach, talent pipeline development, professional networking, referrals, community partnerships, and evaluation of sourcing-channel effectiveness
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a high volume of requisitions and competing priorities
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer service skills
Ability to develop sourcing strategies, build candidate relationships, and partner effectively with hiring managers and internal stakeholders
Ability to assess candidate qualifications, apply consistent screening practices, and exercise sound judgment
Ability to work collaboratively with Talent Acquisition colleagues and HR partners, contribute to process improvements, and support consistent recruitment practices across KCU campuses
Ability to work independently, take initiative, prioritize responsibilities, and follow through on commitments
Proficiency with applicant tracking systems and standard office productivity tools, with the ability to learn new systems and processes
Working knowledge of recruitment practices, employment regulations, and applicable university policies
Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive candidate and employment information
Experience with recruitment processes, applicant tracking systems, candidate screening, and interview coordination preferred
Job Type:
About the role
Staff
Job Description:
The Talent Acquisition Specialist supports Kansas City University’s recruitment efforts, focusing on operational and support staff positions and student employees. This position manages assigned requisitions throughout the recruitment life cycle, from initiation through candidate selection, offers, and onboarding coordination. The Specialist partners with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, attract qualified candidates, and support timely hiring and a positive, inclusive candidate experience.
Responsibilities include proactive sourcing, talent pipeline development, accurate recruitment documentation, and compliance with KCU’s Talent Acquisition Standards. Through effective communication, workload management, and continuous improvement, the Specialist helps meet the University’s workforce needs and support consistent, high-quality hiring outcomes.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Full-Cycle Recruitment & Requisition Management
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Manage assigned requisitions from position posting through candidate selection, offer, and onboarding.
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Partner with hiring managers to clarify position requirements, qualifications, priorities, and timelines.
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Review applications against position requirements and screening criteria, ensuring timely posting and adherence to established service expectations.
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Coordinate next steps and follow up with hiring managers and candidates to maintain recruitment momentum.
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Prioritize requisitions based on urgency, impact, and KCU’s Talent Acquisition Standards.
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Communicate recruitment barriers and recommend solutions to support hiring goals.
Sourcing & Talent Pipeline Development
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Develop sourcing strategies using job boards, social media, professional networks, referrals, career fairs, and community partnerships.
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Dedicate scheduled time to proactive sourcing for hard-to-fill positions and recurring workforce needs.
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Build and maintain talent pipelines to support current and anticipated staffing needs.
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Track and analyze recruitment activity and outcomes, including applicant flow, sourcing-channel effectiveness, recruitment cycle progress, candidate disposition, to support informed decisions and continuous improvement.
Candidate Screening & Selection Coordination
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Conduct recruiter phone screens to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with position requirements and determine candidates for advancement.
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Apply consistent screening criteria and interview practices to support fair candidate evaluations.
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Coordinate interviews, communicate scheduling details, gather feedback, and facilitate timely movement through the selection process.
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Partner with hiring managers to support informed selection decisions.
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Maintain timely, professional candidate communication, including status updates and disposition notifications.
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Guide hiring managers through established interview and selection processes and recommend improvements to recruitment efficiency.
Candidate Experience & Employer Brand
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Deliver a professional, responsive, and inclusive candidate experience that reflects KCU’s values and employer brand by coordinating interview logistics and communications and ensuring candidates and hiring teams understand schedules, expectations, and next steps.
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Provide enhanced candidate experiences for designated high-priority and difficult-to-fill searches, as assigned.
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Represent KCU professionally at recruitment events, conferences, and through candidate and community interactions.
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Use candidate feedback to identify opportunities to improve recruitment processes and the overall candidate experience.
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Attend recruitment events and professional conferences to expand candidate networks and promote KCU as an employer of choice.
Offer & Pre-Employment Processing
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Determine proposed salaries for assigned positions, obtain required approvals, and extend employment offers in accordance with university guidelines and processes.
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Initiate background checks for selected candidates.
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Partner with HR Operations to support a smooth transition to onboarding and first-day readiness.
Student Hiring
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Coordinate the end-to-end hiring process for student workers.
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Serve as a liaison between student supervisors, career services, and HR to ensure hiring practices align with university policy and federal guidelines.
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Verify enrollment status and work eligibility for student employees.
Recruitment Documentation & Compliance
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Maintain accurate and timely recruitment records in accordance with university, state, and federal requirements.
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Track sourcing activities and recruitment metrics to evaluate progress, identify trends, and support informed hiring decisions.
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Assist with audits, EEO reporting, and other recruitment reporting as needed.
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Follow KCU’s Talent Acquisition Standards and established recruitment procedures.
Travel Requirements: This position requires approximately 25% travel, including travel between KCU campuses and attendance at recruitment fairs, career events, professional conferences, and other recruitment-related activities. Travel may also include professional development opportunities based on university needs.
Qualifications:
Education & Experience
•
Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration.
•
Two or more years of recruitment experience, preferably in higher education, healthcare, or a related environment.
•
Knowledge of sourcing strategies and tools, including online job boards, social media, and professional networking platforms.
•
Experience with recruitment processes, applicant tracking systems, candidate screening, and interview coordination preferred.
•
Demonstrated experience developing and executing proactive sourcing strategies including direct outreach, talent pipeline development, professional networking, referrals, community partnerships, and evaluation of sourcing-channel effectiveness
Skills & Abilities
•
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a high volume of requisitions and competing priorities.
•
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
•
Ability to develop sourcing strategies, build candidate relationships, and partner effectively with hiring managers and internal stakeholders.
•
Ability to assess candidate qualifications, apply consistent screening practices, and exercise sound judgment.
•
Ability to work collaboratively with Talent Acquisition colleagues and HR partners, contribute to process improvements, and support consistent recruitment practices across KCU campuses.
•
Ability to work independently, take initiative, prioritize responsibilities, and follow through on commitments.
•
Proficiency with applicant tracking systems and standard office productivity tools, with the ability to learn new systems and processes.
•
Working knowledge of recruitment practices, employment regulations, and applicable university policies.
•
Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive candidate and employment information.