Talent Specialist

The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.; Storrs (CT); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision plans

403(b) retirement plan

13 paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

The UConn Foundation is seeking a Talent Specialist to join the Employee Support & Experience team. You will lead full-cycle recruitment for staff and student workers, coordinate onboarding, and answer policy questions for employees.

The role supports cross-training to back up the ESE function in a collaborative environment. This position offers an opportunity for early career professionals in talent acquisition, with a hybrid schedule and a focus on community, integrity, and professional

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of relevant work experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for assigned positions, including resume review, screening, scheduling, and offers.
• Prepare interview materials and communicate with candidates and committees.
• Update and track job postings across media and job boards.
• Support retention programs and confidentiality/compliance processes.
• Educate employees on policies and guidelines and collaborate with the ESE team.
• Assist with other duties as assigned.

Skills

Recruiting

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Discretion

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

The UConn Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that supports the University of Connecticut by connecting alumni, donors, and friends with philanthropic opportunities to advance UConn’s educational, research, and service missions. Our work strengthens the University’s momentum as a top public research institution and supports students, faculty, patients, alumni, and communities across UConn and UConn Health.

Through Because of UConn: The Campaign for UConn Nation, the Foundation is helping drive UConn’s most ambitious comprehensive campaign, a $1.5 billion effort spanning all schools, colleges, campuses, and UConn Health. The campaign focuses on four pillars that make education more affordable, expand discovery and innovation, improve health and wellness, and strengthen Husky Pride.

• Students First: expanding financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills.
• Academic & Innovation Excellence: investing in faculty, graduate fellows, research, and innovation.
• Health & Wellness of People & Planet: advancing patient care, medical research, and life‑changing technologies.
• Husky Pride: supporting athletic excellence and an engaged UConn Nation of more than 290,000 alumni worldwide.

We seek talented professionals to join The UConn Foundation and help grow philanthropy, engage alumni and donors, and build a strong endowment that strategically advances UConn and UConn Health.

We are committed to a caring, supportive environment through commitment to our Core Values of Purpose, Excellence, Culture, Communication, and Integrity.

The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We value different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that respects each person’s experiences and identity.

Position Summary

The Talent Specialist is a member of the Employee Support & Experience (ESE) team focused on supporting general talent functions including recruiting new staff and student workers, scheduling onboarding and new hire orientations. The Talent specialist will serve as a point of contact for employees for questions regarding policies, positions, and any other general human resources requests. The Specialist will also provide support to the broader Employee Support & Experience team as needed, cross training to ensure proper department backup coverage.

This position is a great opportunity for early career professionals in the talent field, looking to gain more experience in recruitment and general human resource functions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for full cycle recruitment process for assigned open positions ensuring a smooth and engaging candidate recruitment experience; including but not limited to resume review, phone screens, interview scheduling, preparing interview documents, candidate follow up, offer letters, background checks, references, processing preboarding paperwork and onboarding scheduling.
• Prepare documents and communications necessary for interview committees and candidates, such as interview itineraries, directions, location information, resumes, and other documents.
• Assist with updating and tracking job postings in various media, including internet/intranet sites, social networks, community, and job boards.
• Support retention programs and functions.
• Support completion of annual confidentiality agreements, conflicts of interest forms, insurance verifications, and DMV checks in collaboration with the larger ESE team.
• Educate new and tenured employees on company policies, procedures, and guidelines as needed.
• Collaborate with the greater ESE team on department goals and objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Leadership

Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization‑wide activities such as department meetings, all‑staff meetings, and staff events.

Key Competencies

• Champion for inclusive priorities both internally and externally.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to accurately interpret both verbal and nonverbal cues from candidates, hiring managers, and other constituencies.
• Self‑starter with strong time management, multi‑tasking, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as part of a collaborative team.
• A high degree of reliability, curiosity, and empathy.
• Strong customer service, interpersonal skills, and ability to interact with employees and candidates at all levels.
• Understanding of web‑based recruiting tools, including social media, job boards, and applicant tracking systems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate/interact effectively with individuals via phone and video.
• Knowledge of recruitment processes, recruitment principles, and applicable laws.
• Able to work with confidential material with integrity and discretion.
• Be able to meet the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40-hour work week.

Education & Experience

• Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of relevant work experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Salary

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $70,000. It will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also placing an emphasis on internal equity.

Benefits

Benefits start from day one. We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high‑deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.

Here’s a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:

• We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan.
• We place an emphasis on work/life balance. In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.
• We invest in your professional development. Aside from opportunities to participate in various training courses, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

Please contact an Employee Support & Experience team member if you need any assistance completing any forms or participating in any part of the application process due to a disability.