Junior Recruiter

Bowhead; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowhead in Springfield, VA is seeking a Junior Recruiter to support government services recruiting onsite. You will manage end-to-end recruitment, maintain ATS records, and coordinate offers and onboarding.

This role requires 1–2 years of full-cycle recruiting experience, with a focus on technical or professional positions. The ideal candidate will build strong relationships with hiring managers and candidates while maintaining high-quality candidate experiences.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of recent full-cycle recruiting experience.
• Experience recruiting for technical or professional positions.
• Experience with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), preferably iCIMS.

Responsibilities

• Manage 15–20 active requisitions and prioritize according to timelines.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and draft descriptions.
• Own full-cycle recruiting from sourcing to offers and onboarding.
• Develop sourcing strategies using job boards, networks, referrals, and social media.
• Build candidate pipelines for current and future opportunities.
• Screen candidates for qualifications, skills, and cultural fit.
• Maintain professional candidate communications and coordinate interviews.
• Provide market feedback to inform hiring decisions and offers.

Skills

Full-cycle recruiting

Candidate sourcing

Interpersonal skills

Customer relationship

Proactive outreach

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related

Tools

iCIMS ATS

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job description

Bowhead is seeking a Junior Recruiter to support mission-critical government services recruiting from Springfield, VA (onsite). In this role, you will help move candidates through a full-cycle process while maintaining accurate, up-to-date records in the ATS. The position offers a salary range of $55,000 to $60,000 per year and a solid foundation for building recruiting impact in a government-focused environment.

What You’ll Do

• Handle approximately 15–20 active requisitions, prioritizing recruiting activity based on business needs and hiring timelines.
• Work closely with hiring managers through intake discussions to understand staffing requirements, develop job descriptions, and define screening criteria.
• Own full-cycle recruiting from initial sourcing through offer acceptance and onboarding.
• Create and execute sourcing strategies to identify active and passive candidates using tools such as job boards, professional networks, referrals, social media, recruiting events, and other resources, supported by ATS workflows.
• Research talent markets and build candidate pipelines for current and anticipated hiring needs.
• Screen candidates to evaluate qualifications, technical skills, experience, communication, motivation, and alignment to the role and organization.
• Maintain consistent, professional communication with candidates to support a positive candidate experience.
• Coordinate interviews and facilitate communication between candidates and hiring managers.
• Provide recruiting insights and market feedback to support hiring decisions throughout the selection process.
• Prepare and extend offers, assist with offer negotiations, and follow up to help close offers successfully.
• Maintain accurate ATS records and ensure candidate and requisition activity is current and timely.
• Ensure recruiting activities and records follow company policies and applicable recruiting and employment requirements.
• Participate in proposal and capture recruiting, new contract transitions, recruiting events, career fairs, and other company-sponsored recruiting activities.
• Support Talent Acquisition initiatives, process improvements, recruiting projects, and team best practices.
• Stay current on recruiting trends, sourcing techniques, labor-market conditions, and emerging tools and technologies.

What You’ll Need

• 1–2 years of recent full-cycle recruiting experience, preferably in a recruiting agency, government contractor, defense, or professional services environment.
• Experience recruiting for technical and/or professional positions.
• Experience working with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), including iCIMS (desired).
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships with hiring managers and candidates.
• Demonstrated ability to source qualified candidates using multiple strategies and tools.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Comfort with proactive outreach, including cold calling and direct engagement.
• Ability to research talent markets and develop a network for current and future opportunities.
• Self-motivated, organized, and goal-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Desired Experience

• Experience recruiting for government contracts, including positions subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA).
• Familiarity with OFCCP recruiting requirements and guidelines.
• Experience recruiting in an 8(a), small business, or government contracting environment.
• Experience with iCIMS Applicant Tracking System.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with the government contracting bid and proposal process.
• Experience supporting recruiting for new business pursuits, contract awards, or program transitions.
• Experience recruiting for cleared, defense, intelligence, or other government-contractor positions.

Security and Eligibility

• No security clearance is currently required.
• Candidates must successfully pass a background check.
• US Citizenship is required.
• Bowhead reserves the right to change clearance or eligibility requirements if needed for business or contractual obligations.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time.
• Must be able to twist, bend, and squat periodically.

Technologies: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), iCIMS Applicant Tracking System, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).