Position Summary: The Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist will oversee the full recruitment life cycle for executive, high-priority, and hard-to-fill positions, while also building capacity for the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (YMCA) through manager recruitment training and best-practice guidance. As the first dedicated role of its kind, this position will set the standard for talent acquisition strategy, candidate experience, and hiring manager partnership, ensuring the YMCA attracts and hires top talent aligned with the mission and values.

Core Responsibilities:

• Executive Recruitment: Lead end-to-end hiring for executive-level positions, ensuring a targeted, strategic, and confidential process.
• High-Priority Recruitment: Manage searches for critical, niche, and time-sensitive roles, leveraging innovative sourcing techniques to identify top candidates.
• Manager TrainingGuidance: Develop and deliver coaching, tools, and training for hiring managers on effective, equitable recruitment practices.
• Full-Cycle Hiring Ownership: Drive the entire recruitment process including job definition, sourcing, screening, interviewing, selection, offer negotiation, and onboarding.
• Creative Outbound Strategy: Design and execute proactive outreach campaigns to engage passive candidates using diverse channels and methods.
• Candidate Experience: Ensure all candidates receive a respectful, timely, and engaging experience that reflects the organization’s culture and builds its employer brand.
• Hiring Team Partnership: Collaborate closely with hiring teams to align on job requirements, facilitate interview debriefs, and support consistent, fair candidate evaluation.
• Process Improvement: Continuously review and refine recruitment processes to improve efficiency, diversity, and quality of hires.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of full-cycle recruitment experience, including at least two years in executive or specialized hiring.
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement innovative sourcing strategies.
• Knowledge of applicable employment laws and best hiring practices.
• Experience providing recruitment training or coaching to hiring managers.
• Proficiency in applicant tracking systems (ATS) and sourcing tools.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking: Able to design and execute recruitment plans that align with organizational goals.
• Relationship Building: Skilled in developing trust and credibility with candidates, managers, and senior leaders.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence and advise.
• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Results Orientation: Focused on achieving hiring goals while maintaining quality and candidate experience.
• Cultural Alignment: Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all hiring efforts.

• Executive Recruitment: Lead end-to-end hiring for executive-level positions, ensuring a targeted, strategic, and confidential process.
• High-Priority Recruitment: Manage searches for critical, niche, and time-sensitive roles, leveraging innovative sourcing techniques to identify top candidates.
• Manager TrainingGuidance: Develop and deliver coaching, tools, and training for hiring managers on effective, equitable recruitment practices.
• Full-Cycle Hiring Ownership: Drive the entire recruitment process including job definition, sourcing, screening, interviewing, selection, offer negotiation, and onboarding.
• Creative Outbound Strategy: Design and execute proactive outreach campaigns to engage passive candidates using diverse channels and methods.
• Candidate Experience: Ensure all candidates receive a respectful, timely, and engaging experience that reflects the organization’s culture and builds its employer brand.
• Hiring Team Partnership: Collaborate closely with hiring teams to align on job requirements, facilitate interview debriefs, and support consistent, fair candidate evaluation.
• Process Improvement: Continuously review and refine recruitment processes to improve efficiency, diversity, and quality of hires