Strategic Talent Acquisition Manager (AEC - Gulf Coast)

Position Summary

At Thompson, talent acquisition isn't transactional, it's ownership-driven. The Strategic Talent Acquisition Manager plays a critical role in fueling the company's growth by attracting, engaging, and hiring top AEC talent across the Gulf Coast and beyond.

This role serves as a strategic partner to the business, aligning recruiting efforts with operational demands, backlog, and long-term workforce planning. As part of an employee-owned (ESOP) organization, this leader will prioritize candidates who not only bring technical expertise, but who will thrive in and contribute to a culture of ownership and accountability.

The ideal candidate brings a deep, active network across the Gulf Coast AEC market and has a proven ability to scale recruiting efforts in a high-growth, high-volume environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Workforce Planning & Business Partnership

• Partner with business leaders to align hiring plans with project backlog, regional growth, and strategic priorities
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on talent availability, hiring risks, and workforce strategies
• Drive proactive workforce planning across multiple offices and disciplines

High-Impact, High-Volume Recruiting

• Lead full-cycle recruiting efforts across engineering, environmental, construction, disaster relief, software engineering and corporate functions
• Support and help scale a recruiting engine capable of sustaining 300+ hires annually
• Prioritize speed, quality, and candidate experience without sacrificing long-term fit

Gulf Coast Market Expertise & Networking

• Leverage and continuously expand a strong network of AEC professionals across AL, MS, LA, FL, and TX
• Build relationships with passive candidates, competitors, trade groups, and universities
• Represent Thompson in industry associations, career fairs, and community events

ESOP Culture Champion

• Identify and attract candidates who align with an employee-owner mindset
• Educate candidates on the value of ESOP ownership and long-term wealth building
• Reinforce Thompson's "It's Up to Me" culture throughout the hiring process

Process Optimization & Technology (BrassRing ATS)

• Utilize and optimize IBM Kenexa BrassRing ATS to drive efficiency, consistency, and reporting
• Maintain accurate pipelines, requisitions, and candidate data
• Leverage recruiting metrics (time-to-fill, source effectiveness, quality of hire) to continuously improve outcomes

Employer Branding & Innovation

• Strengthen Thompson's presence as an employer of choice across the Gulf Coast
• Partner with HR leadership on branding initiatives, early career programs, and referral strategies
• Utilize modern sourcing tools, AI, and data-driven approaches to stay competitive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field
• 5-10+ years of talent acquisition experience, with strong experience in the AEC industry
• Demonstrated success in high-volume recruiting environments
• Established network of AEC professionals across the Gulf Coast region and beyond
• Experience recruiting for technical roles (engineers, project managers, environmental scientists, construction professionals)
• Strong understanding of regional labor markets and competitor landscape
• Experience with ATS platforms; BrassRing experience preferred

Key Competencies

• Strategic mindset with strong business acumen
• Relationship-driven with exceptional networking ability
• Ability to operate with urgency in a fast-paced environment
• Data-driven decision making
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• High level of ownership, accountability, and confidentiality

Why This Role Matters

This role directly supports Thompson's ability to grow, deliver projects, and maintain its reputation across the Gulf Coast and beyond. By bringing in high-quality, ownership-minded talent at scale, this leader will have a measurable impact on the company's performance, culture, and long-term success.