"Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manager"

Tennessee State University Office of Human Resources invites applications for the position of Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manager.

The Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manager (TAOM) leads and manages the full cycle of recruitment, hiring, employment operations, and onboarding for all faculty, staff, and administrative positions at the university. This role blends strategic talent acquisition, employment management, and hands-on recruiting to support both long-term workforce planning and immediate hiring needs. The Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manager ensures compliance with federal, state, and university employment policies, optimizes recruitment processes through technology (PeopleAdmin or equivalent system), and champions a positive, welcoming, and engaging candidate experience. The position serves as a strategic partner to university leadership in workforce planning, employer branding, and talent pipeline development, while also overseeing and participating in the day-to-day administration of hiring, employment actions, and onboarding processes.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities of the Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manager include, but are not limited to:

• Leading and managing the recruitment and hiring process for faculty, staff, and administrative positions
• Partnering to develop and implement a solid strategic talent acquisition plan that aligns with university priorities, workforce needs and financial resources
• Driving employer branding initiatives to position the university as an employer of choice in higher education
• Building and maintaining a talent pipeline for critical and hard-to-fill positions, ensuring proactive sourcing and engagement with qualified candidates
• Overseeing new employee onboarding process to ensure consistency, compliance, and a welcoming experience
• Compiling and analyzing key metrics (time-to-fill, cost per hire, offer acceptance, etc.), providing reports and dashboards to inform HR strategy and support decision making
• Identifying opportunities to streamline and improve recruitment and hiring workflows, leveraging technology and best practices to enhance efficiency and candidate experience
• Maintaining and enhancing the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and other recruiting tools
• Training and advising hiring managers on best practices for interviewing, evaluating candidates, bias mitigation, and offers
• Managing relationships with external vendors (i.e., background check firms, temporary staffing, adjunct hiring agencies, etc.).
• Providing guidance to applicants, hiring managers, and key internal partners on recruitment procedures, position management, and employment policies
• Monitoring and maintaining documentation and reporting in compliance with audit, accreditation, and legal standards
• Supervising junior HR/recruiting staff, as applicable
• Performing other duties and completing projects as assigned or requested

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Strong knowledge of applicant tracking systems, employment law, and job classification/compensation
• Ability to develop, implement and manage talent acquisition strategies
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, verbal and written communication skills as well as customer service skills
• Ability to analyze data, generate reports, and make data-driven recommendations
• Negotiation, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment
• Commitment to professional excellence in employment and hiring practices as well as compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
• Ability to build credibility and strong business relationships and partnerships with leaders across the university