Talent Acquisition Specialist

This position is open until filled. Applicants applying prior to September 10, 2026, will be included in the first application review. The State Human Resources Division is seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist to support the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The state of Montana recently implemented a centralized human resources model, which includes central HR and agency-embedded support. This agency-embedded position builds and maintains candidate pipelines for rural health care facilities that provide critical services across Montana. This role is hands on recruiting: you’ll hunt for talent, drive outreach, and keep applicant flow moving so hiring managers can focus on selecting the best candidates. You’ll work directly with HR Partners and facility leadership, step in when other recruiters are unavailable, and use your insight into sourcing channels and applicant behavior to shape how roles are marketed and filled. If you enjoy owning search strategies, solving hiring bottlenecks, and seeing your recruiting work translate into staffed units and better service for communities, this is your chance to do high impact recruiting with a strong mission behind it. Travel within Montana will be required to support onsite recruitment activities for rural healthcare facilities, including career fairs, community events, and meetings with facility leadership. Because this is a new position, the exact amount of travel may vary over time as we refine how the role is used. This position reports to an agency-embedded HR Manager. Employees new to the State of Montana will serve a one‑year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check, including the Child Protection Services registry. Applications that do not include all required documents (resume and cover letter) will not be reviewed. When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. Finalists will be required to provide three professional references to remain under consideration. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Working knowledge of recruitment and selection, outreach, and applicant tracking. * Strong written and verbal communication skills. * Ability to independently prioritize work. * Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills. * Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate discretion. * Ability to identify recruitment barriers and recommend practical improvements. * Comfort with applicant tracking, recruiting, and human resource information systems (HRIS) systems and ability to effectively learn new systems. Minimum Qualifications: * Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or public administration, psychology, marketing, communications, or a closely related field. * Three years of job-related experience in human resources or recruiting, including sourcing candidates, recruitment and selection support, applicant tracking, or related HR services. Other combinations of education and experience that clearly demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for this role may be considered. If you have developed comparable skills through work experience, training, or education, you are encouraged to describe that in your application materials. Benefits of Working for the State of Montana: * Work/life balance. * Family-friendly policies. * Dedicated and caring colleagues. * Health coverage. * Retirement plans. * Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays (combination of up to 38 per year). * Opportunities and room for professional growth. * Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under PSLF. As a service-oriented employer, the state seeks employees who are passionate about customer service and committed to the DPPHS mission: Serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, and well-being, and empower independence. Title: Talent Acquisition Specialist Location: Helena Requisition ID: 26142188