Junior Recruiter

Bowhead is seeking a Junior Recruiter to support mission-critical government services recruiting in Springfield, VA (onsite). This role offers the opportunity to grow your recruiting expertise through full-cycle hiring, proactive sourcing, and close partnership with hiring managers, while maintaining accurate records in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

What You’ll Do

• Manage a workload of approximately 15–20 active requisitions, prioritizing recruiting actions based on business needs and hiring timelines.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing requirements, develop compelling job descriptions, and define candidate screening criteria through intake discussions.
• Own full-cycle recruiting from initial sourcing through offer acceptance and onboarding support.
• Build talent pipelines for both active and passive candidates using ATS, job boards, professional networks, referrals, social media, recruiting events, and other resources.
• Research talent markets and proactively identify qualified candidates for current and anticipated hiring needs.
• Screen candidates to evaluate qualifications, technical skills, experience, communication abilities, motivation, and role and organization fit.
• Provide a positive, professional candidate experience through consistent communication throughout the process.
• Coordinate interviews and support communication between candidates and hiring managers.
• Collaborate through the selection process, providing recruiting insights and market feedback to support hiring decisions.
• Prepare and extend employment offers, assist with offer negotiations, and follow up to close offers successfully.
• Maintain timely and accurate candidate and requisition activity within the ATS.
• Ensure recruiting records and activities are managed according to company policies and applicable recruiting and employment requirements.
• Participate in proposal and capture recruiting, new contract transitions, recruiting events, career fairs, and other company-sponsored recruiting activities.
• Contribute to Talent Acquisition initiatives, process improvements, recruiting projects, and team best practices.
• Stay current on recruiting trends, sourcing techniques, labor-market conditions, and emerging tools and technologies.

What You Bring

• 1–2 years of recent full-cycle recruiting experience, preferably within a recruiting agency, government contractor, defense, or professional services environment.
• Experience recruiting for technical and/or professional positions.
• Hands-on experience working with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships with hiring managers and candidates.
• Proven capability to source qualified candidates using multiple strategies and tools.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage candidates, hiring managers, and employees at all levels.
• Comfort with proactive outreach, including cold calling and direct candidate engagement.
• Willingness to research talent markets and develop a network of candidates for current and future opportunities.
• Self-motivated, organized, goal-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Preferred Experience

• Experience recruiting for government contracts, including positions subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA).
• Familiarity with OFCCP recruiting requirements and guidelines.
• Experience recruiting within an 8(a), small business, or government contracting environment.
• Experience with iCIMS Applicant Tracking System.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related discipline.
• Familiarity with the government contracting bid and proposal process.
• Experience supporting recruiting for new business pursuits, contract awards, or program transitions.
• Experience recruiting for cleared, defense, intelligence, or other government-contractor positions.

Security and Eligibility

• No security clearance requirements currently; however, candidates must be able to successfully pass a background check.
• US Citizenship is required.
• Bowhead reserves the right to change this requirement if needed by business needs or contractual obligations.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time.
• Must be able to twist, bend, and squat periodically.

Tools You’ll Use

• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) including iCIMS Applicant Tracking System
• Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel

Salary: USD 55,000 - 60,000 per year

Location: Springfield, VA (onsite)