Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist, Executive Search

Job Title: Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist, Executive Search

Location: USO-TW Building ATL

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Job ID: 300469

About Us

The University System of Georgia (USG) is comprised of 25 higher education institutions as well as the University System Office (USO). Within the USO, our administrative operations are primarily housed in the Trinity Washington Building located in downtown Atlanta. Our Information Technology Services (ITS) division is located in Athens.

The University System of Georgia Shared Services Center (SSC) is located in Sandersville. The Georgia Public Library System is located in Atlanta. The Georgia Archives is located in Morrow. The State of Georgia Records Center is located in Austell.

Location

Trinity Washington - 270 Washington Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30334

Job Summary

The Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist, Executive Search serves as a strategic member of the Executive Talent Unit, contributing to the design, execution, and continuous enhancement of executive recruitment strategy across the University System of Georgia (USG).Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Executive Talent and Search, this role helps shape the infrastructure, processes, and service delivery model for executive search operations while advancing a consistent, high-quality approach to identifying, attracting, and securing transformational leadership talent.

Working closely with the Vice Chancellor, and Institutional/Organizational leadership, the Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist, Executive Search supports complex and high-level executive searches across USG's 25 institutions and system office units to source, assess, and secure exceptional candidates.

The role is responsible for driving proactive executive sourcing strategies, managing candidate pipelines, conducting executive-level assessments, and ensuring a high-touch candidate and stakeholder experience throughout the search lifecycle.

This position plays a critical role in strengthening the University System's leadership pipeline by advancing innovative, service-oriented, and values-driven talent acquisition practices that support academic excellence, institutional effectiveness, student success, and public impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support execution of executive search engagements by ensuring timely, high-quality delivery across all phases of the search process.
• Manage multiple concurrent executive searches while balancing competing priorities, deadlines, stakeholder expectations, and confidential processes.
• Develop, draft, and edit, executive search materials including position profiles, advertisements, candidate correspondence, search timelines, interview guides, and committee presentations.
• Partner with the Vice Chancellor to execute executive recruitment strategies through market research, networking initiatives, talent mapping, sourcing strategies, candidate assessment, reference checking, due diligence, and stakeholder consultation.
• Lead proactive executive talent sourcing and market intelligence efforts and mapping by leveraging research methodologies, professional networks, industry intelligence, and targeted outreach strategies to identify and engage senior-level and passive candidates.
• Build and maintain robust executive talent pipelines through strategic relationship management, outreach campaigns, networking, and long-term engagement strategies.
• Monitor and manage candidate pipeline activity by tracking progress, maintaining data integrity, evaluating sourcing effectiveness, and adjusting recruitment strategies as needed.
• Conduct executive-level phone, virtual, and behavioral-based screening interviews to evaluate leadership competencies, qualifications, organizational fit, and readiness for advancement within the search process.
• Present and recommend highly qualified candidates to leadership and search committees through clear evaluation summaries, candidate insights, and strategic recommendations.
• Facilitate candidate progression through all stages of the executive search lifecycle while ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, search objectives, and leadership competencies.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment while managing sensitive candidate and institutional information.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of executive search operations, recruitment processes, candidate experience strategies, and talent acquisition best practices.
• Support development of a data-informed executive talent function through utilization of applicant tracking systems (ATS), CRM platforms, analytics, and reporting tools.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of five years of experience.
• Experience in talent acquisition, recruitment, executive search, human resources, sales, consulting, or other client-facing relationship-driven professional experience with transferable skills to executive recruitment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Evidence of experience in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
• Commitment to strict confidentiality to protect both institutional interests and candidate privacy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting executive recruitment, talent acquisition, search consulting, or higher education leadership searches.
• Resourceful, proactive, consultative, and results-oriented, with the ability to manage competing demands, engage prospects and candidates effectively, and contribute to strong hiring outcomes in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Resilience by sustaining momentum through confidential searches and shifting priorities while maintaining a high-touch candidate experience.
• Strategic agility by navigating complex, high-stakes searches, adapting to evolving leadership needs, and engaging executive profiles across functions.
• Advanced data fluency and market intelligence to leverage ATS/CRM platforms, talent analytics, and competitive insights to inform executive talent strategies and accelerate critical hires.
• Ability to build and steward long-term relationships by establishing credibility, maintaining confidentiality, and cultivating trust with high-caliber leaders as part of an ongoing talent pipeline.
• Ability to conduct rigorous executive-level assessments by facilitating in-depth behavioral and competency-based interviews that evaluate leadership effectiveness, strategic thinking, and organizational fit.
• Ability to communicate clearly and influence effectively through strong written and verbal communication with candidates and senior stakeholders.
• Highly organized and results-focused with the ability to manage multiple searches, prioritize effectively, and present well-qualified candidates.
• Strong judgment and accountability demonstrated through accurate candidate assessment and delivery of high-quality hiring recommendations.
• Drive and initiative demonstrated through persistence, ambition, tenacity, and a proactive approach to achieving results.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of Board of Regents policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of executive recruitment and talent acquisition principles, practices, and methodologies.
• Knowledge of sourcing strategies, candidate assessment techniques, and talent market trends.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in building relationships and engaging effectively with executive-level candidates and stakeholders.
• Skill in research, organization, project management, and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively multi-task.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and manage sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards.

More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are subject to federal and state laws, as well as the statutes, rules, and regulations of this organization, and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG). These Bylaws and Policies are available for inspection upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University System Office is an equal employment, equal access, and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the University System Office to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy, please contact the University System Office Human Resources at 404.962.3242. Individuals requiring disability related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources.

Background Check

Offers of employment are subject to a background investigation, including criminal records history, to determine eligibility for employment. Additionally, credentials and employment history stated in your application materials are also subject to verification.

For certain positions, a satisfactory credit check, MVR, or other relevant investigations may also be conducted. The University System Office holds the sole discretion in assessing eligibility for employment.