Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition

Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition

Salary

$43,875.55 - $54,943.90 Annually

Location

Winter Haven

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202600216

Org

Human Resources

Opening Date

09/16/2026

Closing Date

9/29/2026 8:00 AM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Please label all uploaded documents with your full name (for example: Jane_Doe_Resume). This helps ensure your materials are properly matched to your application.

If you are a currently active Polk State College employee, please create an account using your polk.edu staff email address. Our HR system will not recognize you as an active employee.

Description

The Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition is responsible for managing the full-cycle recruitment and hiring process from the initiation of a position requisition through the new employee's start date. The position serves as a primary recruitment partner to hiring managers providing consultation and hands-on support throughout requisition development, recruitment strategy, sourcing, advertising, candidate screening, selection, interviewing, offers, pre-employment requirements, and onboarding.

This position works collaboratively with hiring managers, screening committees, Human Resources staff, and other College stakeholders to attract and select highly qualified candidates while providing an efficient, consistent, equitable, and positive candidate and hiring manager experience. This position exercises independent judgment within established policies and procedures and ensures recruitment and hiring activities comply with College policies and applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations.

Essential Functions/Duties

• Manages full-cycle recruitment for assigned positions from initiation and approval of the position requisition through the new employee's start date, ensuring recruitment and hiring activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and within established timelines.
• Partners with hiring managers to assess staffing needs; develop recruitment strategies and timelines; and create, review, or update job descriptions, requisitions, and job postings that accurately reflect position responsibilities, qualifications, and organizational needs.
• Develops and implements sourcing, advertising, and recruitment marketing strategies utilizing job boards, professional associations, educational institutions, social media, community organizations, career fairs, and other appropriate resources to attract qualified candidates. Monitors applicant pools and adjusts recruitment strategies as needed.
• Reviews and evaluates applications and supporting documentation to determine applicant eligibility and minimum qualifications and facilitates the advancement of qualified candidates through the selection process.
• Manage screening committees and interview processes, including committee establishment and guidance, development of selection materials and matrices, candidate communication, interview coordination, and monitoring recruitment timelines.
• Advises and trains hiring managers and screening committees regarding recruitment and selection procedures, interviewing and candidate evaluation practices, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, College policies, and effective hiring practices.
• Maintains timely and professional communication with applicants and candidates throughout the recruitment process.
• Coordinates finalist selection and employment offers, including reference and education verifications, salary and offer recommendations, required approvals, preparation and communication of employment offers, and counteroffer discussions as appropriate.
• Manages post-offer and pre-employment activities, including background screening, employment documentation, U.S. employment authorization (I-9/e-Verify), onboarding coordination, and communication with the selected candidate through the first day of employment.
• Administers and supports the College's applicant tracking system and related recruiting technology, including requisition and approval workflows, applicant processing, user assistance and training, troubleshooting, reporting, and maintenance of accurate recruitment and hiring information.
• Maintains accurate recruitment records, reports, tracking systems, and metrics and evaluates recruitment activity, hiring timelines, applicant pools, and advertising effectiveness to support data-informed decisions and continuous improvement.
• Represents the College at career fairs, educational institutions, and other recruitment opportunities and develops relationships with external organizations to strengthen candidate pipelines and promote College employment opportunities.
• Ensures recruitment, selection, hiring, and onboarding activities comply with applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, College policies and procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
• Provides exceptional customer service to applicants, employees, hiring managers, and other stakeholders and provides positive candidate experiences from initial contact through the employee's start date.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of full-cycle recruitment processes, including requisition development, sourcing, advertising, applicant screening, interviewing, selection, employment offers, pre-employment requirements, and onboarding.
• Knowledge of recruitment best practices, Equal Employment Opportunity principles, and applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with hiring managers, employees, applicants, screening committees, Human Resources staff, College leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with ability to communicate professionally and effectively with individuals at all organizational levels and with external candidates and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional customer service and create positive experiences for applicants, candidates, hiring managers, and employees.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, analyze issues, identify appropriate courses of action, and recommend effective solutions while acting with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-volume, customer-focused environment.
• Excellent organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply federal and state laws, and College policies, including U.S. employment authorization and immigration documentation, and background check statutes.
• Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while collaborating effectively as part of a Human Resources team.
• Ability to adapt to changes in technology, recruitment practices, organizational priorities, and work processes.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems and Human Resources information systems. Experience with NEOED or a comparable applicant tracking system is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom.

Working Conditions/Additional Information

• This position is a full-time on-campus position may be located at either the Winter Haven or Lakeland campus, but will travel to campuses, centers, and event locations as necessary. (Remote/hybrid options are not available.)
• Weekend and evening work may be required.
• Position may be required to work during College closures (such as winter/spring break and inclement weather closures).
• Reliable transportation is required for travel to campuses and centers.

Salary and Benefits Information

• This position is a level P13.

We offer an excellent employer-paid benefits package including the following: Medical, Dental, Life, Long-Term Disability, Vacation (except faculty), Holiday and Sick Leave, Retirement (if eligible) and college fee waivers. Other employee-paid, voluntary benefits (vision, short-term disability, etc.) are also available.

Required Experience

• Two (2) years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition, or related experience.

Preferred Experience:

• Active recruiting and/or full-cycle talent acquisition experience preferred.
• Active status as a State of Florida Notary Public preferred.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required.

Alternate credential:

• Associate's degree with 4 years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition, or related experience.

or

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 6 years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition, or related experience.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources or related field preferred.
• SHRM, HRCI, or RACR certification preferred.

Supplemental Information

Submissions that do not include all parts of the following required information will not be considered:

• a resume
• an electronic job application (all sections MUST be completed)

Important Information

• If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.
• Polk State College participates in E-Verify. Candidates must provide documentation of eligibility to work in the United States. Polk State College does not provide visa sponsorship.
• To request Veteran's Preference, please be sure to upload all necessary documents (DD-214, etc.) to your application.
• Polk State College is a drug-free workplace.
• Polk State College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation is considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Employment visa sponsorship is unavailable for this position. Applicants requiring employment visa sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., F-1 STEM OPT, H-1B, TN, J1, etc.) will not be considered.
• Reference checks, successful completion of a background check, and third-party Education Verification for all stated degrees will be required prior to employment.
• Polk State College does NOT provide relocation assistance for this position.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Polk State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs, activities, or employment. For information about the College's equal access and equal opportunity policies and procedures, or to file a complaint, please contact:

Title IX Coordinator

3425 Winter Lake Road

Lakeland, FL 33803

863.669.2903

compliance@polk.edu

For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance

We encourage applicants to provide feedback on their experience or request help at Careers@polk.edu.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; short-term disability; paid holidays and sick leave; vacation (excluding faculty positions); retirement benefits for eligible employees; and college fee waivers.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page.

01

Are you over the age of 18?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you currently authorized to work in the United States for any U.S. employer?

• Yes
• No

03

Will you now or in the future require any type of employer sponsorship or immigration-related support to legally work for Polk State College? (This includes but is not limited to the following: H-1B, H-1B1, J-1, TN, E-3, O-1, F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT.)

• Yes
• No

04

Are you currently in a period of F-1 CPT or OPT or seeking employment under one of these programs?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you a United States Veteran or a qualifying family member seeking to use Veterans Preference? (Please upload your DD-214 documents to your profile/application.)

• Yes
• No

06

Are you a current employee at Polk State College?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you bilingual?

• Yes
• No

08

I am able to work 100% on campus and I do not require a remote or hybrid schedule.

• Yes
• No

09

Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?

• High School Diploma/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Masters Degree + 18 graduate hours
• Doctorate Degree

10

How many years of Human Resources, recruiting, employment, talent acquisition experience do you have?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
• 2 years but less than 3 years experience
• 3 years but less than 4 years experience
• 4 years but less than 5 years experience
• 5 years but less than 6 years experience
• More than 6 years experience

11

Do you have a SHRM, HRCI, or RACR license/certification?

• Yes
• No

12

The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be verified and documentation may be required. Please be honest and accurate as possible. You may be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during the interview. By completing this supplemental questionnaire, you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any misstatements, omissions, or falsification of information may eliminate you from consideration or result in dismissal.

• Yes, I understand and agree
• No, I do not agree

Required Question

Employer Polk State College

Address 999 Avenue H NE

Winter Haven, Florida, 33881

Phone 863.298.6841

Website www.polk.edu