Lead Talent Acquisition – Government

Jobtailor

Columbia (MD)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 170,000

Full time

5 days ago

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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

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

Requirements

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
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills
Experience recruiting candidates with active security clearances
Knowledge of federal contracting environments and government hiring requirements
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred
Experience using advanced sourcing tools, talent intelligence platforms, and recruiting analytics preferred
Strategic thinking and workforce planning expertise
Ability to manage complex searches with minimal direction
Strong consulting and advisory skills
Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving abilities
Passion for delivering exceptional candidate and hiring manager experiences
Commitment to mentoring others and driving recruiting excellence

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in full-cycle recruiting for government and mission-critical roles, with a strong focus on compliance, candidate assessment, and strategic workforce planning. Proven ability to build talent pipelines and deliver exceptional candidate experiences while mentoring team members.

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