Talent Acquisition Specialist

Talent Acquisition Specialist KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU. As an employee of KU Endowment, you'll witness firsthand the power of our donors' generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs and everyone benefits. People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed. The Talent Acquisition Specialist is an outcome-accountable recruiting professional responsible for leading the full recruitment lifecycle for an assigned portfolio of roles. This position delivers consultative, high-quality recruiting support through effective sourcing, structured talent assessment, workflow coordination, and trusted partnership with hiring leaders. This role operates within established recruiting processes while exercising professional judgment in candidate evaluation, sourcing strategy, and hiring recommendations. The Talent Acquisition Partner owns requisition outcomes and ensures equitable, compliant, and high-quality hiring practices. The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment's stated core values collaboration, curiosity, empowerment, and excellence and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities. Following the initial training period, this position offers a hybrid work schedule, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. However, the role requires multiple days per week on-site at our Lawrence, KS office to ensure effective collaboration, team engagement, and alignment with organizational goals. A typical day might look like: Leading the full recruitment lifecycle for assigned roles, from intake consultation through offer and onboarding. Conducting structured intake meetings to clarify role expectations, competencies, and selection criteria. Sourcing, screening, and assessing candidates using consistent, equitable evaluation methods. Developing targeted sourcing strategies aligned with workforce needs and talent market conditions. Building and sustaining short- and long-term talent pipelines. Serving as a trusted advisor to hiring managers and search committees. Providing informed recommendations on candidate quality, selection risk, and hiring decisions. Applying talent market insights and recruiting data to guide strategy. Managing offer development, extension, and negotiation in alignment with organizational guidelines. Ensuring compliant, equitable, and consistent hiring practices across assigned searches. Accurately managing applicant tracking system (ATS) workflows, requisitions, postings, and candidate records. Coordinating interview scheduling and recruiting logistics for assigned searches and shared team processes. Supporting onboarding coordination and pre-hire documentation in partnership with HR and hiring managers. Analyzing recruiting metrics including time-to-fill, offer acceptance rates, and pipeline health. Applying recruiting analytics and market intelligence to improve hiring outcomes. Identifying workflow efficiencies and contributing to process improvements. Contributing operationally to employee engagement and belonging initiatives, including employee resource groups and workforce enrichment programs. Serving as a cultural ambassador throughout the candidate and onboarding experience. Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position. Performs other duties as assigned. What's required to be considered: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred Professional recruiting experience managing full-cycle searches Experience supporting multiple stakeholders and concurrent requisitions Demonstrated ability to assess talent using structured methods Strong communication, organizational, and relationship management skills Experience using an applicant tracking system (ATS) What separates the best from the rest: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent searches with competing priorities Strong consultative and influencing skills with the ability to build trust across levels Ability to evaluate talent objectively using structured, competency-based methods Analytical skills to interpret recruiting data and translate insights into action Effective negotiation and offer management skills High level of organization, attention to detail, and workflow discipline Strong verbal and written communication skills Ability to navigate ambiguity and adjust sourcing strategies in dynamic labor markets Sound judgment in assessing candidate risk and cultural alignment Commitment to equitable hiring practices and inclusive candidate experiences Proficiency with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiting technologies Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion Physical Requirements: A valid driver's license. Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training, donor meetings, networking, events and/or work-related activities. Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards. This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers, keyboards and a mouse, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). The person in this position frequently communicates with donors, colleagues, students, and general public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively. Physical effort/lifting, medium-up to 50 pounds. Occasional travel requirements can include the following, evenings, weekends, and out-of-town overnights as a regular part of the job. KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment, please contact to discuss your needs. KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including: 100% employer-paid pension plan Health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program Section 125 flexible benefits Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave Volunteer and community engagement opportunities Paid Parental Leave Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance Legal & ID Theft protection Critical Illness Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance KU education assistance Free parking

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