Talent Management Specialist

Working Schedule

• Talent Management Specialists typically work full-time, with overtime, nights, and weekend work possible. They may travel for recruitment events or training sessions.

Typical Duties

• Develop and implement talent acquisition and management policies and strategies
• Assess current and future workforce talent gaps
• Collaborate with HR and department heads regarding personnel needs
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and retention programs
• Visit college campuses. Attend job fairs or other recruitment events
• Screen and interview candidates. Call or email references
• Conduct pre-employment assessments, in some cases, to measure skills, job knowledge (or mastery), personality, integrity, physical ability, or other tests pertinent to the role
• Verify candidates’ education and prior employment history
• Initiate security clearance checks, criminal background checks, credit checks, or conduct substance screening, per employer requirements
• Design and manage training and development initiatives
• Implement performance management systems
• Develop succession planning frameworks
• Monitor employee satisfaction rates
• Facilitate leadership development and coaching programs
• Work with HR to extend offers to hire with details related to terms and conditions of employment or contract

Additional Responsibilities

• Refer highly qualified candidates who were not hired to other potential employers
• Use applicable HR software and data analytics tools
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations
• Stay up-to-date on trends and best practices

Soft Skills

• Analytical
• Communication skills
• Detail oriented
• Emotional intelligence
• Empathy
• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Organization
• Persuasive
• Planning
• Problem-solving
• Strategic thinking
• Teamwork
• Time management

Technical Skills

• Data analysis and HR analytics programs, such as ADP Workforce 
  Now, BambooHR, IBM Kenexa, Oracle HCM Cloud, Tableau, Visier, and Workday
• Human capital management (i.e., “the process of hiring the right people, managing workforces effectively and optimizing productivity,” per ADP)
• Knowledge of employment laws and regulations
• Performance management systems
• Recruitment software
• Talent development frameworks
• Training program design
• Workforce planning

• Employment services
• Corporations
• Educational institutions
• Governmental agencies
• Healthcare organizations
• Non-profits
• Tech companies

Talent Management Specialists are on the hook to ensure their organizations have the right workforce to reach established goals. That means balancing strategic planning with day-to-day tasks such as recruitment and employee development. At the same time, competing organizations have their own experts out there trying to snag the top candidates, too.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential to build trust and foster positive relationships with leadership and employees. There’s also the challenge of managing expectations from both sides!

Employees, for instance, obviously want fair career growth opportunities. Managers might focus more on increased productivity and strategic alignment with organizational goals. Talent Management Specialists have to navigate the demands of all parties to ensure optimal outcomes for all. When situations become high-pressure, such as during major organizational changes and staff shake-ups, they’ve got to be the voice of reason, keeping things calm while making prudent decisions.

In today’s bustling business landscape, talent management relies heavily on technology. Data analytics and AI have transformed how organizations predict talent needs by finding skill gaps. This helps to optimize workforce planning and align talent acquisition strategies with short and long-term goals.

Employee wellness is also in the spotlight when it comes to talent management. Companies are integrating wellness programs, mental health resources, and stress management workshops in the hopes of building resiliency and boosting productivity.

Meanwhile, remote work and flexible schedules are causing talent managers to develop new strategies for engaging dispersed teams. Flexibility and innovative communication methods are necessary to attract top talent and improve retention in the modern world of remote and hybrid work!

Talent Management Specialists often have a passion for helping others and an interest in human behavior. They might have enjoyed activities that involve teamwork and organizing events or projects.