Talent Acquisition Specialist

Talent Acquisition Specialist Location: This position requires 2/3 days a week on-site in Lexington, MA. Clearance Level Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance to be considered. Must be US Citizen. About the Role Aquila Technology is seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist to join its team in support of one of the nation's premier defense research organizations. This hybrid role supports both the External Workforce Services and Talent Acquisition functions. The position combines managing the contingent workforce lifecycle and developing proactive sourcing strategies to build strong candidate pipelines for critical direct staff hiring needs. The ideal candidate is a relationship‑driven talent professional with knowledge or direct experience supporting contingent workforce programs, experience sourcing specialized talent, and partnering with hiring managers to deliver exceptional workforce solutions. Must Have 1 year contingent workforce knowledge and/or experience 3 years active/passive candidate sourcing 3 years applicant tracking systems 3 years candidate pipeline creation 3 years employment law and regulations 1 year full lifecycle recruitment 1 year recruiting metrics 2 years salary negotiations 2 years social media/job boards Strong customer service skills and communication Nice to Have Bachelor's degree Human Resources background DoD/RnD recruitment experience Software experience SuccessFactors recruiting module Fieldglass experience Primary Responsibilities Partner with hiring managers to assess workforce needs and recommend contingent staffing and sourcing strategies that support research and business objectives. Serve as an advisor throughout the contingent hiring process or by identifying talent for current and future hiring needs. Deliver a high‑touch, customer‑focused experience to hiring managers, candidates, and stakeholders. Identify opportunities to improve workforce planning, sourcing effectiveness, and contingent workforce processes. Contingent Workforce Management (50% of the role) Manage the full contingent worker lifecycle, including job posting creation, intake meetings, candidate review, interview coordination, work order creation and activation, onboarding, and offboarding. Utilize SAP Fieldglass to administer the contingent workforce program and ensure accurate work order management. Partner with external staffing suppliers to ensure candidate quality, resolve worker‑related issues, prioritize recruiting efforts, improve supplier performance, and participate in quarterly business reviews. Ensure compliance with organizational policies, contingent workforce regulations, and program governance. Talent Sourcing & Candidate Engagement (50% of the role) Develop sourcing strategies for specialized and hard‑to‑fill positions across multiple functional areas, including engineering, information services, security, administrative, and other business functions. Source active and passive candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean and X‑ray search techniques, professional networks, and other sourcing tools. Build and maintain diverse candidate pipelines for current and future hiring needs. Conduct initial phone or virtual screens, evaluate candidate qualifications, document interview feedback, and transition qualified candidates to recruiters for the remaining stages of the hiring process. Support virtual and onsite recruiting events and employer branding initiatives. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Three or more years of experience in a fast‑paced environment doing recruiting, sourcing, contingent workforce management, or a combination of these areas. Previous exposure to the contingent workforce lifecycle. Direct contingent workforce experience is preferred. Experience sourcing candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search strings, X‑ray searches, and other direct sourcing techniques. Experience with applicant tracking systems. Ability to source talent across multiple labor categories, including technical and non‑technical positions. Experience conducting candidate phone screens and presenting qualified candidates to hiring teams. Knowledge of contingent workforce compliance requirements and/or employment regulations. Strong analytical, organizational, and relationship management skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization. Customer‑focused mindset with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience using a Vendor Management System (VMS), such as SAP Fieldglass, Beeline, or VNDLY. Experience with SAP Fieldglass is ideal. Experience with SuccessFactors. Experience with advanced sourcing technologies beyond LinkedIn Recruiter. Experience supporting Department of Defense or government contractor recruiting. Experience sourcing candidates with active security clearances. Benefits and Perks Paid Time Off (PTO): 15 days (vacation/sick) 10 paid holidays (New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) plus 4 floating holidays prorated based on hire day. 1.5 paid volunteer days, or 12 hours, for approved volunteer work. 1 week of paid maternity/paternity leave after 1 year of full‑time employment. Tuition & Training Reimbursement: $5,000 annually for eligible full‑time team members who have completed a minimum of six months of employment and meet grading requirements. 401(k) with Fidelity match: $1/$1 up to 3%, then 0.50 cents/$1 for 4th and 5th %. Fully vested from day one. Cell phone & internet reimbursed up to $150 monthly for eligible remote employees working 2 days a week or more. Buy Your Own Device (BYOD): Reimbursement up to $1,500 every 3 years for eligible electronic equipment, eligible after 6 months of employment. Work Location: Candidate should expect to be onsite 2‑3 days/week. Interview process: initial Zoom screen, then an in‑person interview with the team. Clearance Level: Interim clearance is sufficient for start of the assignment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr