Talent Acquisition Specialist

Role Description

We are seeking a Talent Acquisitions Specialist who thrives on identifying, engaging, and converting hard-to-find cleared talent. In this role, you’ll lead outbound sourcing strategy and pipeline development across DoD and Intel programs, partnering closely with hiring managers and capture teams to solve complex hiring challenges. You’ll play a critical role in shaping talent pipelines ahead of demand and driving mission-critical hiring outcomes.

What you’ll do:

• Own sourcing strategy and pipeline generation for cleared IT roles, prioritizing outbound talent identification, engagement, and conversion across clearance levels from Public Trust to TS/SCI.
• Lead Day 1 sourcing execution on new reqs—building search strategies, defining talent pools, and launching targeted outreach within the first 24–48 hours.
• Drive pre-award sourcing efforts by building qualified pipelines, identifying key personnel, and mapping talent markets in advance of contract awards.
• Partner with hiring managers, capture teams, and program leads to translate requirements into actionable sourcing strategies, including title mapping, target companies, and adjacent skill identification.
• Execute data-informed sourcing plans using LinkedIn Recruiter, ClearanceJobs, GitHub, professional networks, and niche platforms to identify and engage passive candidates.
• Develop and optimize outreach strategies, including messaging, personalization, cadence, and follow-ups to maximize response and conversion rates.
• Support high-volume and surge hiring scenarios by rapidly scaling sourcing efforts while maintaining candidate quality and experience.
• Build and maintain long-term talent pipelines and CRM/ATS data integrity, ensuring reusability of candidates across programs and proposals.
• Track and analyze sourcing metrics (response rates, conversion rates, pipeline health, source effectiveness) to continuously refine strategy and improve outcomes.
• Represent MetroStar in the market by proactively building talent communities, engaging passive candidates, and expanding reach beyond traditional job postings.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to refine candidate profiles, adjust sourcing strategies, and continuously improve sourcing effectiveness based on market feedback.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of full-cycle recruiting or sourcing-driven sales/business development experience, with a demonstrated focus on outbound talent generation.
• 1–2+ years of direct sourcing ownership for hard-to-fill technical or cleared roles, with measurable sourcing-to-hire outcomes.
• Proven experience leveraging non-traditional sourcing platforms (e.g., GitHub, Stack Overflow, ClearanceJobs, niche communities) to identify and engage passive talent.
• Demonstrated ability to build and execute sourcing strategies from zero pipeline, including search string development, talent mapping, and outreach planning.
• Ability to manage multiple requisitions while prioritizing sourcing activity based on market scarcity, business impact, and fill risk.
• Demonstrated use of open-source AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, sourcing automation tools) to enhance search strategy, outreach personalization, and recruiter efficiency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to convert passive candidates through targeted, high-quality outreach.
• Familiarity with federal compliance requirements impacting sourcing, screening, and candidate engagement.
• Proficiency with ATS platforms (e.g., Greenhouse, iCIMS, Jobvite), with emphasis on pipeline tracking, tagging, and sourcing analytics.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools (Excel, Outlook, Teams), with ability to track sourcing metrics and optimize outreach performance.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Parental Leave and dependent care
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee assistance and wellness programs