Talent Acquisition Specialist (Contract)

JOIN THE BEST TEAM IN SPORT & SPIRIT At Varsity Brands, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and every educator wants to make a difference. It takes a team to make a real impact, and through our two divisions – BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit – and our network of 6,000+ employees and independent representatives, we are proud to partner with a wide range of educational institutions and club and professional sports to transform the student journey in SPORT and SPIRIT. Location: Hybrid - Farmers Branch, TX HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT: We are seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist to serve as a dedicated sourcing partner within the Talent Acquisition team. This role provides high-volume, high-quality candidate sourcing across the business while carrying a specific area of specialty focus (e.g., Retail/Operations, Corporate/Professional, Manufacturing, IT, or another assigned business vertical). The Talent Acquisition Specialist operates as a sourcing engine that supports Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialists and Talent Advisors across the business. This role builds pipelines, engages passive talent, and hands off qualified candidates for advisor/specialist-led screening, interviewing, and offer management, while flexing to support sourcing surges in other specialty areas as business needs dictate. WHAT YOU WILL DO: Specialty Sourcing (Primary Focus) Own top-of-funnel sourcing for an assigned specialty area, building and maintaining a consistent pipeline of qualified, engaged candidates. Partner closely with the Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist and/or Talent Advisor who owns full-cycle recruiting for that specialty to understand hiring priorities, role nuances, and target profiles. Conduct market mapping and passive candidate research specific to the specialty area's talent pools, competitors, and skill sets. Provide an initial layer of candidate qualification (resume review, basic screening) before handing off to the owning Specialist/Advisor for full-cycle progression. Cross-Business Sourcing Support Serve as a shared sourcing resource across all business roles, flexing support to other specialty areas during volume surges, backfills, or time-sensitive searches. Create and post requisitions/advertisements and maintain accurate, timely records in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Build and nurture talent communities/pipelines in the ATS/CRM (e.g., Workday, Phenom) for future and recurring needs. Represent the company at job fairs, campus events, and other recruiting/branding events as needed. Partnership & Collaboration Act as the sourcing layer that enables Talent Advisors and Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialists to focus on strategic partnership, candidate advisement, and offer/close activities. Communicate pipeline status, sourcing metrics, and market insights regularly to the Specialist/Advisor and broader Talent Acquisition team. Collaborate with HR and hiring teams to ensure sourcing approaches align with business goals, diversity objectives, and workforce planning. Compliance & Operational Excellence Ensure compliance with employment laws, OFCCP/EEO requirements, and internal policies throughout the sourcing process. Maintain accurate documentation of sourcing activity, candidate dispositions, and source-of-hire data in the ATS. Support special projects and process-improvement initiatives related to sourcing and talent acquisition. QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Solid sourcing skills (Boolean search, passive candidate outreach, LinkedIn Recruiter, CRM/ATS tools). Experience using Workday HCM or similar ATS/CRM preferred. Ability to quickly learn the hiring profile, market, and language of an assigned specialty area. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills; comfortable partnering with more senior recruiters and advisors. Ability to manage multiple sourcing pipelines/priorities in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel). Working familiarity with employment law and recruiting compliance best practices. Bilingual (English/Spanish) is helpful. Willingness to travel occasionally for training or recruiting events. Education, Certification and Experience 2+ years of experience in recruiting, sourcing, or a related talent acquisition support role. Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent experience. Experience with Phenom CRM or similar ATS/sourcing tools is a plus. PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP, or AIRS sourcing certification is a plus. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. #LI-BD1 Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. OUR VALUES Service - We lead with heart. We champion community. Passion - We love what we do. It fuels our purpose. Integrity - We do what we promise. We own our actions and decisions. Respect - We earn it by giving it. Because everyone deserves it. Innovation - We never stop striving to be better. For ourselves and our community. Transparency - We are committed to openness and honesty in everything we do. OUR BENEFITS We are committed to putting you and your families first. For benefits eligible roles, we offer a variety of choices and costs as well as program enhancements that align with our responsibility to elevate the employee experience. Some of our offerings include: Comprehensive Health Care Benefits HSA Employer Contribution/ FSA Opportunities Wellbeing Program 401(k) plan with company matching Company paid Life, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability Generous My Time Off & Paid Holidays Varsity Brands Ownership Program Employee Resource Groups Access to Financial Coaching and member-owned Credit Union St. Jude Partnership & Volunteer Opportunities Employee Perks including discounts on personal apparel and equipment! Eligibility for company-sponsored benefits is determined by scheduled work hours, and the terms of the applicable benefit plans. Benefit offerings and eligibility requirements may vary by position and are subject to change in accordance with plan documents and applicable law. Varsity Brands companies are equal opportunity employers. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.