HR Specialist - Talent Acquisition & Development

Awana; Saint Charles (MO); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Awana is seeking an HR Specialist - Talent Acquisition & Development to lead sourcing, interviewing and onboarding for ministry-focused roles. This role requires partnering with managers to define workforce needs, craft role profiles, and attract missionally aligned candidates across internal and external channels. The position is full-time and hybrid, based in St.

Charles, IL with occasional travel. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in talent acquisition, strong compliance knowledge, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years experience sourcing, interviewing, facilitating candidate selection with proven retention rate.
• Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) desired, but not required, with a concentration in Human Resources, Ministry Leadership, Org Development, or similar from an accredited college or university.
• PHR, SHRM-CP and/or other professional HR certifications a plus.
• Strong understanding of legal compliance matters, especially related to hiring practices.
• Expertise with behavioral interviewing using proven tools; Working Genius and Enneagram a plus.
• Hands-on experience managing ATS; experience with an HRIS; ADP Workforce Now a plus.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple searches at the same time.
• Intermediate Google Suite skills, with emphasis on docs, sheets, and slides strongly preferred.
• Local and out-of-town travel required 10-15%.

Responsibilities

• Source, Recruit, and Onboard Awana Team Members (50%)
• Develop, implement and utilize effective and innovative sourcing and recruiting strategies.
• Partner with and provide guidance to hiring managers (leading the sourcing, interviewing, evaluating and hiring processes)
• Care for the applicant experience with the goal of high responsiveness on behalf of Awana.
• Travel as needed/requested to make in-person connections with prospective team members.
• Participate in developing, negotiating and presenting employment offers.
• Perform, evaluate and report on pre-employment requirements including reference and background checks.
• Arrange, facilitate, and shepherd initial operational onboarding (e.g., day 1 and week 1&2 activities).
• Workforce Planning
• Research and provide support to leadership in workforce planning with an eye toward current and future needs.
• Partner with leaders and hiring managers in ongoing efforts to define/update and document position descriptions; maintain our database of position descriptions.

Skills

Talent acquisition

Sourcing

Interviewing

Candidate selection

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ATS

HRIS

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

HR Specialist - Talent Acquisition & Development

Full Time HQ Local / Hybrid St Charles, St. Charles, IL, US 1 Attachments

Salary Range: $67,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

Summary

At our ministry, we are passionate about forming lasting faith in every child, everywhere! As the Talent Acquisition & Development Specialist, you will propel our mission forward by sourcing exceptional talent and facilitating hiring, onboarding, and retention. You will play a vital role in helping build a team that aligns with the core values, culture, and strategic goals of Awana.

In this role you will collaborate with team members across the ministry to define workforce needs, build role profiles, and hire for our open roles. This includes marketing our roles internally and externally to attract missionally & doctrinally aligned top-tier candidates. You’ll also work with these internal partners to ensure ongoing workforce alignment, ensuring retention of the right talent for the needs of the ministry.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have a heart for mission work that directly impacts the lives of children and youth around the world, and you are:

Discerning and resilient

Excellent at matching people with roles, teams and culture

Tech-savvy knowing how to leverage technology to make the recruitment process effective

Gifted in communicating, networking, and relationship building

Able to balance a sense of urgency with finding the right person for the role

We’re seeking someone who views talent search work not just as a series of tasks, but as vital ministry work with eternal value.

This is a full-time hybrid position local to our St. Charles, IL office with regular travel (est. 10%) based on strategic organizational meetings.

Hiring Range for this position is: $67,000 - $75,000

Who We Are Looking For:

Team player who supports, upholds and demonstrates the Awana values in internal and external communications and relationships.

Collaborative partner who has a natural ability to cultivate genuine relationships with our internal team and external partners.

Logical problem solver who proactively communicates workflow and/or deadline status to the team.

Self-motivated, goal-oriented professional with a passion for helping fuel exponential ministry growth.

A good steward of the assigned budget(s), allocating appropriate expenses for effective ministry in line with our vision and mission.

Flexible team member who is open to taking on new responsibilities and easily adapts to shifting priorities and needs.

One who can thrive in a setting of organizational values based on prayer, hustle, craft, and love.

Champion of children to belong, believe and become resilient disciples.

Key Responsibilities:

Source, Recruit, and Onboard Awana Team Members (50%)

Develop, implement and utilize effective and innovative sourcing and recruiting strategies.

Partner with and provide guidance to hiring managers (leading the sourcing, interviewing, evaluating and hiring processes)

Care for the applicant experience with the goal of high responsiveness on behalf of Awana.

Travel as needed/requested to make in-person connections with prospective team members.

Participate in developing, negotiating and presenting employment offers.

Perform, evaluate and report on pre-employment requirements including reference and background checks.

Arrange, facilitate, and shepherd initial operational onboarding (e.g., day 1 and week 1&2 activities).

Workforce Planning

Research and provide support to leadership in workforce planning with an eye toward current and future needs.

Partner with leaders and hiring managers in ongoing efforts to define/update and document position descriptions; maintain our database of position descriptions.

Analyze roles in comparison to market and benchmark positions to inform hiring and retention approaches.

Assist with comp analysis and budgeting processes.

Develop a talent community and passive candidate pipeline from which to draw as needs arise.

Manage dashboards and related analytics e.g., hiring, headcount, turnover, retention risk

Assist in developing internship and ministry leadership toolkits and pipeline programs.

Maintain a database of high potential candidates and facilitate matching the candidate to the need (may include facilitating freelance opportunities).

HR Team Support

Participate in team projects and initiatives.

Learn key HR Team operational functions as assigned and be prepared to perform when called upon (may include but not be limited to payroll, benefits, comp, rewards, engagement, etc.).

Collaborate with HR team members regularly to maintain consistency in approach, procedures, documentation, etc.

Provide on-site local office support including hosting (e.g., interviews, events), engaging with on-site team members, representing HR in on-site employee relations activities (e.g., offboarding conversations).

Contribute to employee development activities including training new leaders on Awana recruitment strategies, techniques and processes.

Organizational Stewardship

Uphold and demonstrate the Awana cultural values in all internal and external communications and relationships.

Contribute to special projects, initiatives and evolving ministry needs.

Embrace opportunities for professional development in order to hone your craft and expertise.

What You Need:

Minimum 5+ years experience sourcing, interviewing, facilitating candidate selection with proven retention rate.

Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) desired, but not required, with a concentration in Human Resources, Ministry Leadership, Org Development, or similar from an accredited college or university.

PHR, SHRM-CP and/or other professional HR certifications a plus.

Strong understanding of legal compliance matters, especially related to hiring practices.

Expertise and experience with behavioral interviewing using proven tools and concepts that help assess traits, behaviors and motivators; experience with Working Genius and Enneagram a plus.

Hands-on experience managing and working in an ATS.

Experience with an HRIS; experience with ADP Workforce Now a plus.

Ability to multi-task and manage multiple searches at the same time.

Intermediate Google Suite skills, with emphasis on docs, sheets, and slides strongly preferred.

Local and out-of-town, overnight travel required 10-15%.

Understanding of the Bible and the Christian Church in its various doctrines preferred.

Experience with Awana Club, curriculum, resources, & solutions is a plus!

Eligibility to work in the United States is required; this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Spiritual Life

Must be a born-again Christian.

Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Must be in agreement with the Awana Doctrinal Statement.

Must be in fellowship with the body of Christ through a local church.

Regularly engages in reading the Holy Bible as a guide and standard for living.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person, via phone and/or “zoom”, and in written/electronic form. The team member is also required to regularly utilize computer equipment (e.g., screens and keyboards) to perform work. Awana recommends maintaining ergonomic posture, utilizing properly positioned computer equipment to minimize strain, and taking regular breaks to stretch and move. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. From time-to-time, light lifting and carrying may be necessary. Local and out-of-town, overnight travel may be required.

What We Offer:

As a ministry that equips leaders to reach kids with the gospel and engage them in lifelong discipleship, we value our team that makes this happen and are excited to offer:

Mission-driven work that changes the lives of children and youth around the world.

Remote-first work environment, allowing you to do the majority of your work from where it is you call "home”. We also have two office locations designed for collaborative work and connection with colleagues that can be used at your convenience if desired. In this role, you will have in-person responsibilities that would require your work to be done in our St. Charles, IL office typically 2x a week.

Workplace culture that prioritizes prayer, a Biblical worldview, intentional connection, flexibility, family, and community engagement.

Benefits package, including a variety of programs you can choose from to meet you and your family’s needs. Some of these include medical, dental & vision health insurance, paid family leave, 401(k) & Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans with employer match, generous paid vacation & holidays, adoption assistance, college scholarship, an employee wellness program, and more!

This Job Description reflects the current assignment of essential functions and is not meant to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities may be assigned or reassigned to this job at any time based on the needs of the organization and may be modified to reasonably accommodate an individual with a disability or for other reasons. Please note, this opportunity is contingent upon favorable completion of a reference check, background check, and I-9 completion.

Attachments (1)

Awana Doctrinal Statement - 10.08.2025.pdf