Under the direction of the Human Resources Manager, this Talent Acquisition Specialist role supports Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois by partnering with hiring managers to plan and deliver recruiting strategies. The position is based in Springfield, IL and is focused on sourcing, screening, and managing both internal and external talent acquisition needs.

Working closely with HR leadership, you will help strengthen the overall recruiting function through data-driven decisions, diverse recruiting practices, and coordinated candidate communication throughout the hiring process.

Key Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Human Resource Manager and TRS hiring managers to develop long-term talent strategies and optimize the talent acquisition function.
Design talent-related processes, practices, and strategies with an emphasis on diverse recruitment activities.
Manage candidate expectations by communicating regularly and maintaining a positive candidate experience.
With the HR Business partner, calculate, analyze, and interpret recruitment metrics (including time to fill, vacancy rate, offer acceptance rates, and declination reasons) to advise leaders on strategy and set realistic expectations on time to fill, compensation, candidate pool quality, and market feedback.
Partner with HR Business Partners to understand workforce needs, role priorities, and organizational objectives, aligning talent acquisition efforts with broader HR strategies.
Source and engage active and passive talent and connect candidates to current job opportunities.
Build relationships with leaders to understand recruiting needs and develop candidate pools to fill vacancies.
Track sourcing metrics and provide regular reporting on candidate pipelines, outreach success, and hiring progress.
Screen resumes and applications for key qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
Conduct initial outreach and prescreening interviews to assess skills, interest, and availability.
Serve as a talent advisor to candidates, supporting meaningful interactions that reflect company culture, values, and long-term career opportunities.
Schedule interviews and manage candidate communications through the hiring process.
Maintain candidate databases and ensure accurate, up-to-date records in the applicant tracking system (ATS).
Support employer branding initiatives to promote TRS as an employer of choice.
Stay current on labor market trends, competitive hiring practices, sourcing tools, recruiting technologies, and talent availability to inform recruiting strategies.
Create job requisitions and monitor approvals in the HRIS system to support timely position filling across the organization.
Market open positions via the agency’s careers page and job boards such as Indeed and LinkedIn, and attend recruitment events and career fairs as needed.
Work with Communications to develop advertisement materials, such as flyers, digital media, and promotional products.
Use social media, resume databases, Boolean searches, industry contacts, and professional networks to source candidates, including for hard-to-fill roles.
Identify competency questions for interview consistency and quality in collaboration with hiring managers.
Assist with job postings to ensure clarity, inclusivity, and alignment with company values.
Draft and use templates for TA communications (application received messages, knockout notices, interview requests, rejection emails, and offer letters).
Support diverse, inclusive, and equitable hiring practices.
Assist with talent acquisition projects and initiatives such as internship programs and internal career pathing.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or experience in lieu of a degree; Master’s Degree preferred.
Five (5) years of experience in Talent Acquisition, including experience recruiting and/or sourcing top talent.

Technologies

Applicant tracking system (ATS)
HRIS
Indeed
LinkedIn

Compensation and Location

Springfield, IL (onsite)
Salary range: USD 70,243 - 109,579 per year

Benefits

Employees hired after August 17, 2001 participate in the TRS retirement pension plan.
Full-time and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans.

Reasonable Accommodation

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities.
Applicants should tell the State if they require reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview, or participate in any other hiring-process activity.
To receive reasonable accommodation during the hiring process, certification of disability is required from a physician, psychiatrist, school official, or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor.
Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents in the Additional Documents section for each application.
Questions can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [email protected] or by phone at (217) 524-7514.

Employment Sponsorship

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (for example, H-1B).
The State cannot provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students.
To be considered for permanent employment, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Salary History Disclosure

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, the State does not seek, request, or require an applicant’s wage or salary history.
Applicants should not include wage or salary information in their resume or other application materials.

How to Apply

Submit applications through the TRS Careers Website: Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois.
Do not click the Apply button.
Follow all instructions and include all required documents.
You will not be considered if you attach CMS100, CMS100b, or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.
TRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
If you need reasonable accommodation when completing the application, interviewing, or completing any pre-employment testing, contact Human Resources at (217) 814-2111 or [email protected].
Hiring decisions are not based on or affected by political factors, including political sponsorship, affiliation, or support.

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Job Description