Greater Chicago Midwest HERC

The Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a key role in helping to elevate Aurora University's recruitment efforts and employer brand by coordinating talent acquisition programs and activities that support a diverse, mission-aligned workforce. This position is central to the implementation of the Aurora University's Talent Acquisition program, translating strategy into day-to-day recruiting practice.

This is a great opportunity for someone who truly enjoys recruitment and wants to lean into the full recruitment life cycle?from sourcing and screening through interview coordination and hiring?while applying professional judgment to support hiring managers, search committees, and candidates. The Talent Acquisition Specialist leads recruitment, ensures a smooth and positive hiring experience, and partners closely with stakeholders to promote consistent, high-quality, and equitable hiring practices.

As part of the Office of People and Culture, this role is execution-focused with meaningful opportunity to influence how recruitment processes work in practice, making it ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on recruiting, problem-solving, and helping others navigate the hiring process effectively while contributing to continuous improvement of the recruitment function.

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will manage and support recruitment activities across the university.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage assigned searches across the full recruitment life cycle?from requisition and posting through screening, interviews, and hire.
• Source and identify qualified candidates, including for hard-to-fill roles, using approved sourcing tools, targeted outreach, and re-engagement of prior applicants or pipelines.
• Review applications and conduct or support screening activities to assess qualifications and move candidates forward appropriately.
• Coordinate interviews and hiring steps, resolving scheduling, communication, or documentation issues to keep searches moving.
• Support selection, offers, and pre-employment processing, exercising judgment to identify issues and escalate when needed.
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for hiring managers, search committees, and candidates throughout the recruitment process.
• Provide practical guidance and training to hiring managers and search committees on recruitment processes, expectations, and system use.
• Maintain accurate records and data in the applicant tracking system and ensure recruitment activities comply with employment laws and university policy.
• Monitor recruitment activity and basic metrics to support operational insight and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to process refinements, templates, training resources, and recruitment initiatives that support effective implementation of the Talent Acquisition program.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking someone who is experienced, steady, and service-oriented?someone who knows how recruiting works and can apply good judgment day to day.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience supporting recruitment or HR operations.
• Experience coordinating applicant tracking systems and interview processes.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and regulations related to hiring.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and move work forward in a dynamic environment.

• Experience sourcing candidates using platforms such as LinkedIn or similar tools.
• Experience providing procedural or system-based guidance or training to managers or staff.
• Higher education experience.

About Aurora University

Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work. We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a se...nsitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

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