Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist

Buro Happold Limited; United States; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) with company match

Generous PTO (4 weeks) + 10 holidays

Licenses and exam fee reimbursement

Global network of experts

Job summary

Buro Happold is seeking an Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist to join its global HR team. The role is hybrid and can be based in New York, Boston, DC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh or Chicago, serving as a strategic partner for senior-level hires across the U.S.

You will lead full-cycle recruitment for Associate through Principal roles, building pipelines, using direct sourcing, networking, and industry insights to engage passive candidates, while partnering with hiring managers to deliver a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive recruiting experience, ideally combining agency search and in-house corporate recruitment.
• Demonstrated success recruiting difficult-to-find, senior-level professionals within the AEC industry, particularly at Associate to Principal levels.
• Strong ability to headhunt and engage passive talent, rather than relying on postings or agencies.
• Experience using talent mapping, market research, and direct-sourcing techniques to identify candidates for specialized roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment for senior-level and hard-to-fill roles, Associate through Principal.
• Develop and execute targeted sourcing strategies for niche, specialized, and leadership-level talent.
• Proactively identify and engage high-caliber passive candidates.
• Build strategic talent pipelines for disciplines with limited supply.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand requirements and market conditions.
• Maintain ATS data and use metrics to evaluate pipeline health and effectiveness.

Skills

Sourcing strategies

Stakeholder management

Market intelligence

Active and passive candidate outreach

Interviewing/assessments

Analytical skills

Advising senior leaders

Relationship building

Talent mapping

Executive recruiting

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

AI-enabled recruiting tools

Job description

Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist

We are seeking an Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist to join our collaborative Human Resources team. This position is hybrid and can be based in New York, Boston, DC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh or Chicago. Our Human Resources team is dynamic, client-focused, and outcome-driven. We thrive on challenges, adapt quickly to business needs, and work closely with colleagues at all levels to help them reach their full potential.

Your next role: Join us and be surrounded by exceptional opportunities in an environment alive with innovation and possibility. Your new team has a willingness and curiosity to see possibility and potential in everything – from the most iconic projects to our everyday conversations.

In this role, you will work as part of a global team leading full-cycle recruitment for senior-level experienced hire positions across the U.S. region, with a particular focus on hard-to-fill Associate through Principal-level roles. This position requires an experienced recruiter who is highly skilled in identifying and engaging specialized, senior-level talent in competitive markets where traditional recruiting approaches are often not sufficient. You will serve as a strategic talent partner to hiring managers and business leaders, bringing strong market knowledge, creative sourcing strategies, and a proactive approach to building relationships with both active and passive candidates. Success in this role requires the ability to develop talent pipelines for niche and business-critical positions, influence hiring decisions, and deliver a seamless, inclusive, and high-quality candidate experience. This role is best suited to an accomplished recruiter who enjoys the challenge of finding talent that is not readily available in the market. The successful candidate will bring a strong recruitment mindset, established sourcing expertise, and the credibility to engage senior AEC professionals who are often passive and highly sought after.

Your key duties

• Lead end-to-end recruitment for senior-level and hard-to-fill experienced hire roles, primarily at the Associate through Principal level
• Develop and execute targeted sourcing strategies for niche, specialized, and leadership-level talent, including direct sourcing, talent mapping, networking, referrals, industry events, and competitor research
• Proactively identify, approach, and build relationships with high-caliber passive candidates who may not be actively seeking new opportunities
• Build and maintain strategic talent pipelines for disciplines and skillsets where qualified candidates are in limited supply
• Partner closely with hiring managers and senior business leaders to understand technical requirements, business priorities, market conditions, and the competitive landscape for talent
• Serve as a trusted talent advisor, providing hiring managers with market intelligence, candidate availability, competitive insights, and recommendations on recruitment strategy
• Develop compelling approaches for engaging senior candidates and effectively communicate the organization’s employee value proposition and career opportunities
• Champion inclusion and wellbeing throughout sourcing, assessment, and selection, with an emphasis on developing diverse senior-level candidate pipelines
• Strategically manage external search firms and recruitment vendors when needed, ensuring they supplement rather than replace strong internal direct-sourcing capability
• Maintain accurate and timely candidate and recruitment data within the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and use recruiting metrics to evaluate pipeline health and effectiveness

Your skills and experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 12+ years of progressive recruiting experience, ideally combining agency search and in-house corporate recruitment
• Demonstrated success recruiting difficult-to-find, senior-level professionals within the AEC industry, particularly at the Associate, Associate Principal, and Principal levels
• Strong understanding of the AEC talent market and the challenges associated with recruiting experienced technical professionals and senior leaders in highly competitive disciplines
• Proven ability to headhunt and engage passive talent, rather than relying primarily on applicants, job postings, or recruitment agencies
• Demonstrated experience using talent mapping, market research, professional networks, referrals, LinkedIn Recruiter, and other direct-sourcing techniques to identify candidates for specialized roles
• Track record of successfully managing complex senior-level searches and developing credible relationships with experienced candidates
• Strong ability to influence and advise senior hiring managers, including constructively challenging requirements or recruiting strategies when market conditions warrant
• Experience managing external search firms and determining when retained, contingent, or direct sourcing approaches are most appropriate
• Experience using AI-enabled recruiting tools and techniques to enhance sourcing, research, candidate engagement, and recruiting efficiency
• Proficiency with LinkedIn Recruiter and experience working with Applicant Tracking Systems
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate market and pipeline data into actionable recruiting strategies
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority searches simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high-touch candidate experience
• High level of discretion and professionalism when working with senior candidates and confidential business information

What we offer

• Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies
• Generous benefits package
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Generous PTO (4 weeks) in addition to 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Hybrid working and summer hours
• Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and examination fees
• Connection to a global network of experts at the forefront of industry initiatives
• Access to wide-ranging learning and development opportunities
• Connect with colleagues and build your network through our Employee Resource Groups, including the Young Employees Forum, Diversity & Inclusion Forum, Women’s Network, Wellness Committee, and Black at Buro Happold

Compensation

Anticipated base annual salary: $130,000 – $165,000. The salary range listed for this position is intended as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as location, education, skills, experience, and market conditions. We recognize that candidates bring diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and compensation may be adjusted accordingly. The posted range should not be viewed as a strict minimum or maximum limitation. Benefits and any additional compensation elements are separate from the base salary range listed.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [e-mail] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

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