Director Talent Acquisition

Smithfield Foods; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking a strategic Director of Talent Acquisition to lead our recruitment function across multiple locations. You will partner with senior leaders to develop talent strategies and drive full-cycle hiring with a focus on operational excellence, technology integration, and compliance.

With 10+ years of experience and 5+ years in management, you will scale recruiting, diversify pipelines, and optimize time-to-fill while upholding Smithfield's values across a dynamic consumer

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience.
• 5+ years of management/team development experience.
• Experience leading large staffing functions with TA strategies to meet goals and compliance.
• Ability to work with executive leadership and diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of talent acquisition professionals.
• Oversee full-cycle recruitment across departments and locations.
• Implement scalable recruitment strategies to improve quality and time-to-fill.
• Drive data-driven hiring decisions and KPI reporting.
• Enhance employer branding and university/partner relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Candidate experience

Sourcing strategy

Data analytics

Employer branding

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Have a seat at our table. 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.

Are you a recruiting leader who thrives on driving change and building high-impact talent strategies? Smithfield Foods is seeking a results-oriented and strategic Director of Talent Acquisition to lead and evolve our recruiting function. In this role, you will provide leadership to a team of recruiting professionals, driving the full recruitment lifecycle with a focus on operational excellence, technology integration, and alignment with industry best practices—particularly within the consumer packaged goods sector.

You'll serve as a key partner to senior leadership, contributing to workforce planning and talent strategy while promoting targeted initiatives such as veterans hiring programs. By strengthening partnerships with universities, schools, and professional networks, you will expand our talent pipeline and enhance Smithfield's reputation as an employer of choice.

Your role will also include ensuring compliance with employment regulations, utilizing data and key hiring metrics to measure performance, and implementing innovative recruitment tools and platforms to streamline hiring processes, reduce time-to-fill, and improve the overall candidate experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

• Leadership & Team Development: Lead and support a team of talent acquisition managers and professionals, providing coaching, development opportunities, and performance management to ensure effective execution and continued growth. Collaborate with cross-functional TA leaders to align recruiting efforts with business needs and priorities.
• Talent Acquisition Strategy & Execution: Oversee full-cycle recruitment across multiple departments and locations, ensuring efficient, compliant, and consistent hiring practices. Implement scalable recruitment strategies to improve talent quality, reduce time-to-fill, and meet evolving business demands.
• Candidate Experience: Ensure a consistent and professional candidate experience by driving timely communication, transparency, and respect throughout the hiring process. Identify opportunities to improve candidate engagement and overall satisfaction.
• Hiring Manager Support: Partner with hiring managers and department leaders to understand workforce needs and deliver practical, tailored recruiting solutions. Share market insights, hiring trends, and process guidance to help leaders make informed hiring decisions.
• Sourcing Strategy & Pipeline Development: Lead the development and execution of targeted sourcing strategies to build strong, diverse pipelines for current and future roles. Monitor sourcing effectiveness and adjust tactics based on performance data and hiring needs.
• Labor Market Awareness: Stay up to date on labor market trends, competitive activity, and talent availability. Share relevant insights with business stakeholders to guide hiring plans and support location and compensation strategies.
• Process Improvement & Optimization: Evaluate and improve recruiting processes to enhance efficiency, consistency, and candidate quality. Implement best practices and tools that support operational excellence and meet compliance standards.
• Data & Reporting: Monitor and report on key hiring metrics using ATS and analytics tools. Use data to identify trends, measure team performance, and support continuous improvement of talent acquisition practices.
• Employer Brand Support: Collaborate with internal partners to support employer branding efforts. Ensure recruitment marketing and messaging are aligned with the company’s values and resonate with target talent segments.
• External Relationships & Talent Partnerships: Build and maintain strategic relationships with universities, professional associations, and other external partners to support talent attraction and outreach efforts.
• Project Management: Lead and manage recruiting-related projects that align with broader business goals, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder alignment. Oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously with attention to timelines, scope, and resource allocation.

WHAT WE'RE SEEKING:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 10+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development.
• Management and development of a large staffing function or department to include talent acquisition strategies that meet company goals and objectives, knowledge of multi-state and Federal laws pertaining to hiring of employees to ensure compliance.
• Demonstrated experience working with all management levels up through the executive level resulting in exceptional customer service and client relationships.
• High energy style, flexible and adaptive, with the ability to work well at all levels in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Energized by travel up to 25% of the time.

OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:

• Masters or MBA, preferred
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team-oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

The expected pay range for this position is $160,000 - $202,500 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.

Relocation Package Available Yes

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.