Talent Acquisition Specialist

Talent Acquisition Specialist (Exempt)

The Arc of Litchfield County (LARC)
Torrington, Connecticut

Help Build the Team That Changes Lives

At The Arc of Litchfield County (LARC), we believe exceptional people create exceptional outcomes. Every employee who joins our organization has the opportunity to positively impact the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and help them live meaningful, self-directed lives within their communities.

We are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead our organization-wide recruitment and talent acquisition efforts. This is more than a recruiting role—it is an opportunity to influence the future of our workforce, strengthen our employer brand, and partner with leaders across the agency to attract and retain exceptional talent.

If you enjoy building relationships, developing innovative recruiting strategies, connecting with your community, and helping organizations grow through great people, we'd love to meet you.

Position Summary

The Talent Acquisition Specialist serves as LARC's strategic recruitment partner and is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the organization's talent acquisition strategy.

Working independently and collaboratively with agency leadership, this position leads all aspects of recruitment, workforce planning support, employer branding, candidate engagement, and community partnerships to ensure LARC attracts and hires exceptional employees who align with our mission and values.

The Talent Acquisition Specialist exercises independent judgment in developing recruiting strategies, identifying talent pipelines, advising hiring managers, evaluating recruitment outcomes, and recommending improvements that support organizational goals.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Talent Acquisition

• Lead the agency's full-cycle recruitment strategy for all positions across the organization.
• Develop innovative sourcing strategies to attract high-quality candidates in a competitive labor market.
• Build and maintain proactive talent pipelines for critical and difficult-to-fill positions.
• Analyze workforce trends and recruitment challenges to recommend effective hiring strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve recruiting efficiency, candidate quality, and hiring outcomes.
• Partner with department leaders to anticipate workforce needs and develop recruiting plans.

Recruitment Leadership

• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle from workforce planning through onboarding.
• Develop compelling job advertisements and recruitment campaigns.
• Source candidates through networking, referrals, community outreach, social media, colleges, workforce organizations, and professional associations.
• Conduct candidate assessments and behavioral phone interviews.
• Present qualified candidates and provide hiring recommendations to managers.
• Extend employment offers and coordinate pre-employment activities.
• Maintain an exceptional candidate experience throughout every stage of recruitment.

Leadership Partnership

Serve as a trusted advisor to managers by:

• Consulting on recruiting strategies.
• Assisting with workforce planning.
• Advising on interviewing best practices.
• Coaching managers on behavioral interviewing techniques.
• Recommending candidate selection strategies.
• Identifying market trends affecting recruitment.

Partner with leadership to continually improve hiring effectiveness across the organization.

Employer Branding & Community Engagement

Develop and strengthen LARC's reputation as an employer of choice by:

• Creating recruitment marketing campaigns.
• Managing employment-related social media initiatives.
• Representing LARC at career fairs, community events, colleges, universities, workforce agencies, and networking events.
• Building partnerships with educational institutions, veterans' organizations, community organizations, and workforce development programs.
• Developing innovative community outreach strategies that expand LARC's recruiting reach.

Recruitment Analytics & Continuous Improvement

Develop and monitor recruitment metrics including:

• Time-to-fill
• Source effectiveness
• New hire retention

Prepare regular reports for leadership and recommend process improvements that strengthen recruitment outcomes and organizational effectiveness.

Evaluate recruitment technology, advertising sources, and vendor partnerships to improve hiring results.

Compliance & Process Management

Ensure all recruitment activities comply with:

• Federal and state employment laws
• Equal Employment Opportunity requirements
• Agency hiring policies
• Best practices in recruitment and selection

Develop and maintain recruitment procedures, documentation, and standardized hiring practices.

New Hire Experience

Partner with Human Resources and department leadership to ensure a seamless transition from candidate to employee by:

• Coordinating background investigations and pre-employment requirements.
• Managing applicant communications.
• Supporting onboarding activities.
• Creating a welcoming and engaging first impression for every new employee.

The Arc of Litchfield County (LARC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.