Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition

PAHO; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PAHO in Washington, DC seeks an experienced HR professional to join the Human Resources Management Department and lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, and recruitment excellence across the Americas. You will play a pivotal role in attracting and selecting top talent to support PAHO's mission.

The role requires seven years of combined HR experience with a strong focus on talent acquisition, plus the ability to supervise HR teams and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources management, psychology, business administration or related field.
• Seven years of combined national and international experience in human resources management with focus on talent acquisition and recruitment, including supervising and coordinating HR teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate end-to-end talent acquisition lifecycle, including sourcing, assessment, interviewing, and selection aligned with workforce plans and recruitment strategies.
• Manage recruitment operations: vacancy announcements, candidate evaluations, interviews, documentation, and reporting; ensure compliance with HR policies and governance.
• Monitor recruitment and contingent workforce activities through data analysis, HR systems management, and process improvement initiatives.
• Build collaborative relationships with hiring managers, HR partners, technical units, academic institutions, and external organizations; support internship and contingent workforce programs.

Skills

Talent acquisition

Sourcing

Assessment

Interviewing

HR policies

Workforce planning

HR analytics

HRIS

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

ERP systems

Job description

Organizational context: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Job purpose: Join the Human Resources Management Department and play a key role in attracting, engaging, and selecting top talent to support PAHO's mission across the Americas. This position contributes to strategic workforce planning, recruitment excellence, and the delivery of high-quality talent acquisition services.

Responsibilities: Coordinate the end-to-end talent acquisition lifecycle, including sourcing, assessment, interviewing, and selection activities aligned with workforce plans and recruitment strategies. Manage recruitment operations, including vacancy announcements, candidate evaluations, interview processes, selection documentation, and reporting while ensuring compliance with established practices. Provide guidance on the interpretation and application of HR policies, procedures, exceptions, and governance frameworks related to staff and non-staff recruitment. Administer and review recruitment and selection processes to ensure quality, consistency, accuracy, and compliance with organizational requirements. Monitor recruitment and contingent workforce activities through data analysis, reporting, HR systems management, and process improvement initiatives. Build collaborative relationships with hiring managers, HR partners, technical units, academic institutions, and external organizations, while supporting internship, talent pipeline, and contingent workforce programs.

Education: A bachelor's degree in human resources management, psychology, business administration or any other field related to the functions of the post from a recognized university.

Work experience: Seven years of combined national and international experience in human resources management with strong focus on talent acquisition and recruitment, with at least two years' experience in supervising and coordinating work of HR teams.

Skills: Advanced knowledge of end-to-end talent acquisition processes, including sourcing, assessment, and selection methodologies. Strong understanding of HR policies, staff rules, and regulatory frameworks, with the ability to interpret and apply them effectively. Experience in workforce planning and the development of strategic recruitment plans aligned with organizational needs. Proficiency in competency-based interviewing, assessment tools, and selection methodologies. Strong analytical skills with experience in HR metrics, reporting, and data-driven decision-making. Ability to analyze and optimize recruitment processes and support continuous improvement initiatives. Expertise in HR information systems, recruitment platforms, and workforce data management. Experience managing internship and contingent workforce programs, including compliance and reporting. Ability to develop HR guidelines, standard operating procedures, and policy recommendations. Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to build productive stakeholder relationships and communicate complex HR matters effectively. Strong teamwork, collaboration, adaptability, accountability, and commitment to organizational values. Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Proficiency in HR Information Systems for recruitment, onboarding and workforce data management. Other IT skills and knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Word are considered essential.

Required languages: Fluency in English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language.

Desired languages: Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.