Talent acquisition specialist (hrc4-t) - internal only

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking a solutions-oriented and collaborative Human Resource Consultant (Talent Acquisition Specialist) to join our high-performing Human Resources division. The ideal candidate is an expert communicator and proactive problem-solver who brings clarity to state civil service rules and navigates complex staffing challenges with tact. You are inclusive, relationship-driven, and dedicated to equity in employment practices. You thrive in a consultative role, bridging the gap between technical civil service requirements and the strategic hiring needs of managers across the agency.

Please note: This is an internal-only recruitment and is only open to current employees of the Washington Employment Security Department. This is an in-training opportunity, which means the selected candidate may be hired on at either the HRC3 OR HRC4 level. Please see qualifications for additional details.

Duties

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will provide expert-level recruitment and workforce planning consultation to supervisors and managers across ESD. You will serve as a trusted advisor, helping programs acquire qualified, diverse talent for agency-wide job openings while ensuring strict compliance with all relevant authorizing environments, state and federal pre-employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and merit system rules. Operating within the Human Resources Division, your work directly supports ESD's mission by building a skilled workforce equipped to strengthen Washington’s communities.

In this role, you will independently analyze staffing issues, design effective sourcing strategies, and mitigate agency risk by oversight of the pre-employment process. You will guide hiring managers through position-specific recruitment plans, from creating compliant assessment tools to reviewing interview questions for legal sufficiency. Additionally, you will lead outreach initiatives, represent the agency at hiring events, and provide mentorship and training to hiring authorities and HR peers alike.

Additionally, some of your duties include:

• Provide expert-level consultation to supervisors and managers to design, develop, and implement classification-specific workforce planning and recruitment strategies.
• Resolve complex recruitment issues and identify technically and politically viable solutions for hard-to-fill, mission-critical vacancies.
• Ensure full compliance with state/federal pre-employment laws, RCWs, and collective bargaining agreements to mitigate risk to the agency.
• Formulate job announcements, supplemental questionnaires, and assessment criteria to effectively gather applicant screening data.
• Review interview questions for hiring managers to ensure legal compliance and direct relevance to the position description form.
• Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing plans, including conducting research to determine how and where to recruit viable applicants.
• Coordinate and lead recruitment events, career fairs, employee resource groups, and outreach activities as an agency representative.
• Prepare recruitment marketing materials and report on recruitment details, including applicant pool quality and advertising results.
• Document and maintain all phases of sourcing, recruitment, and pre-employment activities to ensure a justifiable hire and fulfill records retention requirements.
• Conduct and present training to agency managers and admins on recruitment systems and selection best practices.

To request a full job description, click here

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

To qualify at the HRC3 level:

• Two (2) years of professional level human resource consulting experience providing HR advice and consultation to include experience working with managers to help identify and recommend recruitment timelines, sourcing techniques, and candidates of interest.
• OR One (1) year of experience as a Human Resource Consultant 2 with Talent Acquisition experience.
• OR Two (2) years of experience independently providing end-to-end recruitment services and interpreting and applying human resources laws, rules, policies, and procedures applicable to talent acquisition.

To qualify at the HRC4 level:

• Option 1: Seven (7) years of broad-based professional human resource experience, including facilitating organizational development or change, and advising and consulting on human resource issues.
• Option 2: Associate degree with focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field. Five (5) years of broad-based professional human resource experience, including facilitating organizational development or change, and advising and consulting on human resource issues.
• Option 3: A bachelor’s degree with focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field and Three (3) years of broad-based professional human resource experience, including facilitating organizational development or change, and advising and consulting on human resource issues.
• Option 4: A combination of equivalent education/experience that equals 7 years.

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

The Required experience includes:

• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning Expertise: Ensures effective recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Interpersonal Communication & Problem-Solving Skills: Builds collaborative relationships and resolves challenges.
• Crisis Management & Discretion Skills: Handles high-pressure situations with professionalism and tact.
• Investigative Skills: Ability to gather facts and analyze grievances effectively.
• Equity & Inclusion Expertise: Promotes inclusive HR practices and provides mentoring for cultural competence.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with focus on human resources, business, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field.
• Experience developing and presenting training.
• Professional work experience in an organization’s human resource office in recruiting, staffing, career counseling functions, applying federal and state employment law, rules, process and agency policies.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must be able to pass Unemployment Insurance (UI) & Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check. Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review. Please submit your Cover Letter* and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Supplemental Information

Why work with us? Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Katie Swanson (360-742-8208), the Talent Acquisition Team, or Washington Relay Service 711 prior to the recruitment closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

This Organization Participates in E-Verify