Talent Acquisition Specialist | Mid-Cities Region

Talent Acquisition Specialist | Mid-Cities Region

Downey & Covina, CA

The FirstSteps Team is inspired by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. To that end, our mission is twofold: to provide the best evidence-based, behavior analytic treatment to our children diagnosed with autism and related learning differences, and to offer a positive, collaborative, and dynamic work experience for our team. We are steadfastly committed to ongoing training and mentorship of our employees, always motivated to support the next generation of clinical leaders in our field and at FirstSteps. Our greatest reward is witnessing the rapid and joyful learning of our little ones and knowing that together, we are creating more happy days for the kids and families we serve.

About the Role

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will play a critical role in building a high-performing clinical team that directly supports the children and families we serve. Reporting to the Director of People & Purpose, you will own full-cycle recruitment for assigned regions, ensuring we attract, hire, and retain top talent to meet both current and future organizational needs.

This role is ideal for someone who is strategic, relationship-driven, and energized by high-volume recruiting in a fast-paced environment. You'll partner closely with cross-functional leaders to align hiring with operational needs while continuously improving the candidate experience.

This is a full-time, in-office position (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM) with occasional overtime as needed. Work Location: This is an in-office role supporting multiple locations. The Talent Acquisition Specialist will have a structured weekly schedule, working on-site at assigned offices (e.g., West Covina, Downey, and Alhambra) to support recruiting needs across regions. Compensation: $26–$32/hour, based on experience. Additional Incentive: This role may be eligible for a performance-based bonus plan tied to hiring outcomes and key recruiting metrics.

Why Join FirstSteps

• Make a meaningful impact: Every hire you make directly supports children and families receiving life-changing, early intervention services
• Be part of a growing organization: Join a company that is scaling thoughtfully, with strong leadership and a clear vision for the future
• Have a seat at the table: Your insights and recruiting strategies will directly influence workforce planning and operational success
• Collaborative, people-first culture: Work alongside a supportive team that values partnership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Opportunity to grow: As we continue to expand, there will be opportunities to deepen your expertise and take on increased responsibility

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Hiring

• Own full-cycle recruitment for assigned regions, from sourcing through offer acceptance
• Proactively source top talent through a mix of in-person and digital recruiting strategies
• Conduct structured interviews and assess candidates for both skill and cultural alignment
• Partner with Client Growth and Services Planning to ensure timely staffing of active cases and new client onboarding
• Represent FirstSteps at job fairs, community events, and recruiting initiatives

Sourcing Strategy & Process Improvement

• Develop and execute innovative sourcing strategies to attract high-quality candidates
• Continuously refine recruiting processes to improve efficiency and candidate experience
• Plan and execute hiring events, campaigns, and outreach initiatives
• Drive and promote the Employee Referral Program to increase internal candidate pipelines

Data & Performance Tracking

• Track and analyze key recruiting metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, offer acceptance rate, retention trends)
• Use data to inform strategy, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement
• Partner with leadership to align hiring performance with business goals

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently meeting or exceeding monthly hiring goals across assigned regions
• Building strong, reliable candidate pipelines that support business growth
• Improving recruiting efficiency and candidate experience through data-driven strategies
• Acting as a trusted partner to operational leaders in workforce planning

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, preferably in high-volume or healthcare/behavioral health environments
• Proven ability to manage multiple requisitions and meet hiring goals in a fast-paced setting
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively across competing demands
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across teams
• Comfortable working in an in-office, multi-site environment with a high level of visibility and collaboration
• Self-starter with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset and ability to work independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience recruiting in high-volume, fast-paced environments (behavioral health, healthcare, or similar service-based industries preferred)
• Familiarity with RBT certification requirements or clinical/field-based hiring
• Experience building candidate pipelines through community outreach, events, and referral programs
• Strong ability to use recruiting data and metrics to drive decision-making and improve outcomes