Talent Acquisition Specialist

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. is seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist to drive end-to-end hiring across designated business areas. This hybrid role in Florham Park, NJ focuses on partnering with managers to shape recruiting strategies, build robust talent pipelines, and ensure a superior candidate experience. The position offers a salary range of $65,000 to $70,000 per year and requires a minimum of three years of full-cycle recruiting experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete hiring process for assigned areas, guiding activities from intake discussions through offer and onboarding.
• Collaborate with hiring managers and leaders to craft recruitment plans aligned with workforce goals, while advising on market trends, candidate availability, compensation benchmarks, and competitive practices.
• Design and execute innovative sourcing and recruitment marketing initiatives to build diverse pipelines, engage active and passive candidates, and attract top talent for current and future needs.
• Ensure an exceptional candidate experience through proactive communication, relationship management, and a smooth recruitment journey.
• Lead intake meetings and coach managers on interview planning, candidate evaluation, selection decisions, and recruitment best practices to support consistent hiring outcomes.
• Manage relationships with external recruiting partners, staffing agencies, job boards, and sourcing vendors to maximize effectiveness and ROI.
• Utilize recruiting metrics, analytics, and market intelligence to assess performance, identify opportunities, and drive continuous improvement.
• Partner with Compensation and business leaders to develop competitive offers aligned with market conditions and internal equity.
• Maintain accurate candidate records and recruiting activity in the ATS while ensuring compliance with employment laws, policies, and data privacy requirements.
• Fulfill additional responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

• At least three years of full-cycle recruiting experience in corporate, agency, or high-volume talent acquisition environments.
• Proven success sourcing, attracting, assessing, and hiring across various functions and levels, with strong knowledge of best practices, methodologies, and evaluation techniques.
• Strong consulting, communication, and relationship-building skills to partner with managers and leaders, shaping strategies and influencing decisions.
• Knowledge of employment-related hiring regulations, including pay transparency and compliance standards.
• Proficiency with ATS, LinkedIn Recruiter, sourcing platforms, AI-powered recruiting tools, and other TA technologies.
• Ability to leverage recruiting metrics, market intelligence, and talent insights to inform decisions and drive process improvements.
• Experience managing external recruiting vendors, staffing partners, and job board relationships.
• Familiarity with employer branding, recruitment marketing, and candidate engagement strategies.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and adaptable, capable of handling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while delivering strong candidate and hiring manager experiences.

Technologies

• LinkedIn Recruiter
• Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
• AI-powered recruiting tools
• Sourcing platforms

Benefits

• Medical plans
• Dental plans
• Vision plans
• 401k with annual discretionary match
• Life insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Paid time off with paid holidays
• Broad range of other benefits

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Barnes & Noble Education is dedicated to empowering every individual. Our mission supports students, faculty, and schools while adapting to the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. We strive to foster an environment where diversity and individuality are celebrated, and every employee can thrive.