Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist

Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Package Available

Be Well programs

LinkedIn Learning access

Guild tuition assistance

Smithfield Scholarship Program

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking an Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead full-cycle recruitment across multiple locations, partnering with HR Managers and Hiring Managers to build a diverse talent pipeline.

You will focus on delivering a top-notch candidate experience, guiding hiring teams on strategies, and improving time-to-hire while navigating a dynamic, travel-heavy environment. Relocation may be available for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in common office software and tools (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel).
• Ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments with a team.
• Willingness to travel 25% and adapt to multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full-cycle recruitment for multiple locations and functional areas.
• Ensure a positive candidate experience with timely communication and feedback.
• Partner with HR Managers and Hiring Managers to align workforce needs and sourcing strategies.
• Build and maintain a diverse candidate pipeline and proactive talent sourcing.
• Provide guidance to hiring managers on recruitment strategies and best practices.

Skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Organizational skills

Emotional intelligence

Professional demeanor

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Workday

Job description

When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As an Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist, you'll be vital to our recruitment strategy, finding innovative and bold ways to attract top talent. In this role, you'll partner closely with HR Managers and Hiring Managers to understand workforce needs and develop strategic approaches for building a pipeline of diverse and highly qualified candidates. As part of the Talent Acquisition team, you will play a key role in our mission to deliver an exceptional recruitment experience for both candidates and hiring managers. This is your opportunity to make a real impact and recruit the future of talent at Smithfield Foods!

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Full-Cycle Recruitment: Manage the entire recruitment lifecycle for all functional areas across multiple locations simultaneously, ensuring efficient and effective hiring outcomes.
• Candidate Experience: Ensure a smooth and engaging candidate experience through timely communication, clear feedback, and maintaining professionalism throughout the process.
• Hiring Manager Experience: Collaborate with department leaders and HR teams, offering expert guidance and consultation on recruitment strategies and delivering exceptional support and service throughout the hiring process.
• Talent Sourcing: Leverage various sourcing strategies to find and attract top talent. Proactively build and maintain a pipeline of qualified candidates for current and future roles.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Proactively source and engage diverse candidates and support the company’s goals to foster an inclusive workforce.
• Labor Market Analyst: Research labor market trends to strategically align sourcing strategy with current industry conditions.
• Business Acumen: Gain an understanding of various roles, including those in a corporate, farm and manufacturing environment, through job shadowing to improve hiring fit and reduce turnover.
• Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate and refine recruitment processes to enhance efficiency, reduce time-to-hire, and improve the candidate experience, while ensuring alignment with business goals and best practices.
• Data Tracking and Reporting: Use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage candidates and provide regular recruitment updates and metrics to leadership. Maintain accurate and up-to-date recruitment records to meet regulatory standards.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Company will consider a currently enrolled college student with an anticipated graduation by end of current school year as qualified.
• Proficient in computer applications (i.e., Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel).
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency, attention to detail, initiative and sound judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Leverages emotional intelligence to build and foster relationships both internally and externally.
• Excels in fast-paced, dynamic environments, maintaining a respectful, approachable, and team-oriented demeanor while cultivating a positive and collaborative work atmosphere.
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills.
• Must possess a high level of professionalism, discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.
• Energized by collaboration through travel to other locations (25% of the time).
• Some travel may be at short notice or require overnight stays.
• While traveling, must self-manage their time and daily tasks.

OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:

• Experience in recruiting across all levels and functional areas.
• Experience with passive candidate recruiting and utilizing creative sourcing strategies to attract high-quality talent such as indeed & LinkedIn
• Strong knowledge of Federal, State, and employment regulations and policies.
• Proficiency in using a server-based applicant tracking system (Workday preferred).
• Proven experience working under recruiting KPIs, consistently meeting or exceeding performance targets.
• Experience in handling administrative duties related to recruitment and compliance.
• Prior experience recruiting for government contractors, including familiarity with relevant regulations and requirements.
• Project management skills, with the ability to plan and manage multiple recruitment initiatives and deadlines simultaneously.

The expected pay range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000 annually.

Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations.

At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here.

Benefits and Perks

• Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers.
• Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost.
• These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.
• Our company invests in your future.
• We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential.
• Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs.
• Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent.
• We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.
• Relocation Package Available

No EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered inSmithfield, Virginia,since 1936,Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.