Talent Acquisition Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Talent Acquisition Specialist

Location: Chicago, hybrid (3 days in office)

Type: Full-time

Salary: $52,000 USD OTE, 46,600 base + 5,400 variable

About Zen Educate:

Zen Educate is a technology company with an online platform that helps match schools with teaching staff (Substitute teachers, Paraprofessionals, etc.) By leveraging technology, our smart algorithms can match teachers to the perfect school and help schools find great teachers.

Zen Educate is on a mission to help the education system as a whole. By improving efficiency and keeping things simple, we can help schools find administrative savings and we promote schools to pass these savings to teachers and increase teacher pay! This helps keep more money within the education system so that the money is used to help children learn and develop.

We care about the teachers as much as we care about the schools. We help both sides improve transparency and communication so schools and teachers are better prepared and can work together effectively! 

We have recently raised our Series B funding of $37mil, the largest round in European EdTech this year. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference and be part of a high growth start-up that is expanding rapidly in the UK and US markets!

About the Role

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you'll be on the front lines of our hiring process - connecting talented paraprofessionals and substitute teachers with the schools that need them. You'll own the full journey for your applicants: qualifying them as they come in, conducting interviews, guiding them through onboarding, and matching them to roles that fit both their preferences and a school's specific needs - all while ensuring only the best educators access our platform.

This is a high-activity, highly social role - you'll spend most of your day on the phone, vetting high-quality educators and getting them placed as quickly as possible. It's a great way to build skills in recruitment, sales, communication, and collaboration, all while working with a high-energy team in a rapidly scaling tech company that's making a real difference in education. Our team works on a hybrid model, with 2 days per week WFH and 3 days in-office.

What You’ll Do

• Qualify and interview applicants: Call teachers as they sign up for Zen Educate to quickly qualify them, assess their preferences, and schedule interviews when they meet our criteria. Conduct initial phone interviews to assess suitability for open roles, with a strong commitment to hiring only the highest quality educators.

• Match candidates to the right role: Build a deep understanding of each candidate's preferences and identify the position that fits them best.

• Build value and excitement: Share Zen Educate's mission and how we support educators in finding the perfect role, creating urgency so applicants get started with us as soon as possible.

• Guide candidates through onboarding: Help candidates navigate our screening and document collection process, following up diligently with anyone who needs support along the way.

• Thrive in a startup environment: Work in a fast-paced, ever-changing setting that requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt to change.

  Who We're Looking For

• Applicable Experience: Backgrounds in customer service (serving/hospitality welcomed!), recruitment, education, acting/theatre, or fast-paced startups are highly transferable. We value any experience where you've had to move quickly to get results.

• Proactive Communicators: Strong written and oral communication skills. You must be dedicated to conducting proactive daily outreach and feel completely comfortable speaking to a high volume of people every single day.

• Goal-Oriented: You're a bit competitive and feel motivated by hitting (and beating) targets.

• Organized & Adaptable: An independent and self-motivated worker capable of managing a large pipeline of educators. You excel at prioritizing, context-switching quickly, and staying highly organized in a fast-paced environment.

• Tech-Savvy: Comfortable navigating and utilizing technology, including the Google Suite and AI. You’re eager to adopt and try out new tools and tech.

• Eager to Learn: Recent graduates with a proactive mindset are highly encouraged to apply! 

• Mission-Driven: Above all, you care about helping educators make a difference in students' lives.

Why This Role Is Worth It

• Hands-on experience and real ownership from day one

• A deep investment in your training - four weeks of dedicated onboarding, plus a 1:1 mentor while you learn the ropes

• A clear link between your work and its impact in classrooms

• A real path into leadership - we promote from within, and many of our team leads and managers started in this seat

• Skills you can carry into future careers in recruitment, sales, HR, or tech

• A collaborative, supportive, and high-energy work culture

• The chance to join a fast-growing company with a meaningful mission

What's in it for you?

• Equity compensation

• Role includes bonus

• 18 Paid Vacation Days and 10 Paid Company Holidays 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan with no match

• Sick leave

• Paid biweekly

Ready to Apply

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, and different experiences and perspectives - just like the staff who teach through Zen and the children at the schools we work with. We believe in hiring the best people from the widest pool and creating an inclusive atmosphere with a culture where people’s voices are heard, and all our team can look forward to coming to work.

We value and respect all differences in all people (seen and unseen). We believe in an environment with equal access to career development opportunities and actively encourage applications from BAME candidates.

Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback on initial submissions.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.