Full-Cycle Talent Acquisition Lead - Government & Security

Jobtailor; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior Talent Acquisition Lead to drive full-cycle recruiting for government and national security roles in the United States. The role requires experience with active security clearances, stakeholder collaboration, and data-driven hiring strategies.

You will build pipelines, mentor peers, and ensure compliant practices across government contracting environments. The position emphasizes strategic workforce planning, candidate experience, and cross-functional partnerships

Qualifications

• 5+ years of talent acquisition or full-cycle recruiting experience for government, defense, national security, or mission-critical organizations.
• Proven success sourcing and hiring candidates for hard-to-fill and specialized positions.
• Strong candidate assessment, interviewing, and offer negotiation skills.
• Experience partnering with hiring leaders and influencing talent decisions.
• Knowledge of employment laws, recruiting compliance requirements, and hiring best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting activities from intake through onboarding for domestic roles supporting Federal Solutions teams.
• Partner with business leaders, program managers, and hiring teams to develop recruiting strategies aligned with workforce plans and organizational goals.
• Recruit for highly specialized and mission-critical positions requiring active security clearances up to and including Full Scope Polygraph.
• Develop and execute innovative sourcing strategies to identify and engage active and passive candidates.
• Build and maintain talent pipelines for critical skill sets and future growth initiatives.
• Conduct candidate assessments, behavioral interviews, and qualification reviews, including evaluation of technical expertise, clearance status, and mission alignment.
• Guide hiring teams through structured interview and selection processes to ensure objective, compliant hiring decisions.
• Manage offer development and negotiations while delivering an exceptional candidate experience.
• Collaborate with security, onboarding, compliance, and HR teams to ensure a seamless hiring process.
• Provide insights on recruiting performance, pipeline health, hiring risks, and labor market trends.
• Mentor and support recruiting team members while contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, government contracting requirements, OFCCP guidelines, and internal policies.

Skills

Talent acquisition

Sourcing strategies

Candidate assessment

Offer negotiation

Stakeholder management

Compliance knowledge

Security clearances

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related

Tools

Advanced sourcing tools

Talent intelligence platforms

Job description

Jobtailor is seeking a senior Talent Acquisition Lead to drive full-cycle recruiting for government and national security roles in the United States. The role requires experience with active security clearances, stakeholder collaboration, and data-driven hiring strategies.

You will build pipelines, mentor peers, and ensure compliant practices across government contracting environments. The position emphasizes strategic workforce planning, candidate experience, and cross-functional partnerships