Why you should join the team

The HR Specialist - Talent Acquisition researches, develops, and implements effective recruiting strategies designed to attract a diverse pool of qualified and capable talent to VELCO. The Specialist actively recruits candidates through various methods including social and professional media sites, job boards, career fairs, applicant tracking database, college and university relations, etc. A key aspect of this position involves building and maintaining strong relationships with Vermont colleges, universities, and high schools to develop a pipeline of future talent. The Specialist seeks to ensure that VELCO's job vacancies are filled in a fair, unbiased, timely and efficient manner and that new employees are successfully on-boarded.

How you will make an impact

Coordinate the full recruiting lifecycle across a variety of open roles helping management find and hire quality talent by utilizing multiple recruiting sources and innovative recruiting strategies:

o Effectively leverage job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.), social networks and platforms by planning, creating and releasing postings and announcements to search for and attract active and passive job seekers.

o Devise and implement broad sourcing strategies, such as an employer branding initiatives, designed to build pipelines for potential applicants.

o Actively seek opportunities to expand potential applicant pool, taking special care to ensure diversity: participate in virtual and in-person career fairs, grow VELCO's college Handshake network and create connections with college career services departments, coordinate employer events, seek relationships with professional organizations (i.e. VT Works for Women, VT Professionals of Color, veteran and disability organizations, etc.)

o Partner with HR and Communications staff to continuously evolve VELCO's external “Careers” page and keep content fresh.

Work closely with hiring managers throughout the recruitment process:

o Gain a comprehensive understanding of the hiring needs for each vacancy,

o Provide support through the recruitment approval process: assist in writing/updating job descriptions, facilitate the job requisition/submission process, etc.

o Design and implement recruiting strategies customized to each vacancy, including: identify hiring criteria, formulating advertising and social media plans, developing job posting language, establishing interviewing panels, etc.

o Pre-screen resumes and conduct preliminary interviews using standardized screening techniques to assess the skills, qualifications and experience of potential candidates and to gauge interest and salary requirements.

o Schedule interviews with applicants and teams; book conference rooms or virtual meetings, oversee preparation of interview questions, selection criteria and candidate ranking tools, and other hiring and selection materials. Attend interviews with managers and the hiring team. Support candidate ranking process to ensure a fair and unbiased approach.

o Check references.

o Ensure recruiting process is conducted in compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and company policies, including those that prohibit discrimination based on: race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability or genetic information, ancestry or place of birth, mental or physical disability, HIV-positive status, age, credit history, health coverage status and crime victim status.

Manage the applicant experience:

o Manage candidates throughout interview process from prepping before interviews to supporting travel arrangements, facilitating ADA accommodations as necessary, to final offer negotiation or notice of position filled.

o Strive to ensure a positive, high-touch candidate experience.

Coordinate the offer and on-boarding processes:

o Collaborate with the hiring manager and HR VP during the offer process, calculating and recommending salary offer, sign on bonuses, vacation accrual, relocation, start dates, and other pertinent details.

o Make job offers, including drafting offer letters.

o Initiate the pre-onboarding process (background checks, physicals, etc.)

o Partner with other HR staff in ensuring the on-boarding process is effective, smooth and efficient. Follow-up with new hires to assess comfort in new role; assist in resolving any identified issues.

Maintain records:

o Manage the applicant tracking database of candidate records, including active and passive prospects, hired employees, and other candidate relationships. Follow up on interview process status and update records. Maintain all records required by VELCO's Affirmative Action Plan.

o Maintain records of materials used for recruitment, including interview notes and related paperwork.

o Create, maintain and regularly report on recruitment metrics such as time to fill, applicant diversity, offer acceptance rate, cost per hire, etc.

Actively participate in VELCO's Belonging (DEI) initiatives, including joining relevant committees and seeking and supporting innovative ways to support applicants and employees of all types.

Coordinate VELCO's AGILE (Advancing Grid Intelligence through Learning Experiences) student internship program, in collaboration with HR colleagues. Responsibilities include promoting internships during the fall semester prior to the summer term, managing candidate interviews and selection, coordinating onboarding with HR, and ensuring intern supervisors have prepared work and project plans. During the internship term, the talent acquisition specialist will organize field visits, group lunches, weekly AGILE cohort meetings, and facilitate end-of-term reflections. They will also assist with offboarding and collaborate with the communications team to promote the internship program for future recruitment.

Regularly support and back-up other HR positions and perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Training

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or Business or related field, or equivalent work experience. SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred. SHRM's Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential a plus.

Experience

Three plus years of recruitment and hiring experience, including diversity sourcing strategies, developing and executing recruiting marketing and branding strategies, reference checking, and developing pay offers within established compensation policies.

Knowledge/Skills

High level of competency with internet job boards, applicant tracking systems and HR databases and leveraging social media for recruiting. Experience in the continual development of talent pipelines and sourcing potential candidates. Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and best practices applicable to recruitment and hiring. Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. Strong MS Office skills.

Physical/Mental Demands

Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with a wide range of applicants and employees. Must be able to perform typical administrative functions which may involve long periods of keyboarding and periodically of scanning, filing, copying, etc. Must be able to maintain fast pace while completing complex work, in potentially emotional fraught situations, with competing priorities, within tight timelines and with frequent interruptions. Must be able to work additional hours as necessary to meet operational needs.

• VELCO is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

• Starting pay will be determined at the time of offer based on the experience, education, and training of the successful candidate.

• Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

• VELCO is handling all aspects of talent acquisition internally and will not engage the services of third-party staffing agencies, recruiters, or headhunters. We kindly request that these entities refrain from contacting us.

• Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successful reference checks, background check, physical examination, and drug screening. Effective July 8th, 2024, we are no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations from new hires. However, we reserve the right to reinstate this requirement at any time in the future. Depending on position requirements, additional assessments may be required.

• VELCO's headquarters are located in Rutland, Vermont. This is a hybrid position and the expectation is that the incumbent will spend at least two days per week onsite and more as needed.

• If you need an accommodation as part of the application or interview process please reach out.