Senior Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Partner

The Chicago Zoological Society is a leading conservation organization and has an exciting, fast-paced work environment and a family friendly atmosphere. We are very customer focused, as we host over 2 million guests to Brookfield Zoo each year. We are committed to conservation in the broadest sense, and we take PRIDE in every aspect of our operation. Our employees enjoy a unique work environment in a beautiful park-like setting that is based on respect, openness, cooperation, and involvement. At Brookfield Zoo, we work hard and we play hard! Employees are proud to work for the Chicago Zoological Society and are committed to our important conservation mission. Our dedicated staff has a true sense of purpose and a strong commitment to animals and conservation.

As a Talent Acquisition and Human Resources team member, the Senior Recruiter/ Talent Acquisition Partner is responsible for assisting with and/or managing the hands-on daily full-life cycle recruitment process from posting, sourcing and interviewing to offer negotiations and successful on-boarding of new hires through establishing relationships and partnering with hiring managers. As a Senior Recruiter, you will be responsible for recommending and implementing optimal recruitment strategies to proactively and effectively manage open positions; conducting thorough screening and in-depth behavioral interviews to refer the most qualified candidates to the hiring manager; and, negotiating job offers and conducting post offer follow-up with candidates. This also includes (1) performing testing as needed, (2) conducting complete and thorough background and reference checks on all final candidates prior to hire, (3) maintaining appropriate records and documentation of recruitment activity, decisions and efforts in accordance with established practices, (4) completing file documentation in accordance with established procedures The Senior Recruiter is also responsible for actively participating in job fairs and other recruitment events, cultivating relationships with community contacts, and actively contributing toward effective recruiting metrics such as cost per hire, time to fill, customer satisfaction, etc.

Position Requirements and Specifications
The position requirements include the following:

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Behavioral Science, Psychology, or other closely related field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience required.
• Five plus years directly relevant full-cycle "corporate/in-house" recruitment experience required, including successfully managing volume including full-time exempt, non-exempt, management level and niche positions with results orientation.
• Proven ability to actively, creatively, and effectively source candidates through various recruitment strategies not limited to but including targeted research, cold calling, internet, professional networking, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in recruitment function including screening candidates, behavioral-based interviewing, candidate management, capture strategies, offer negotiations, legal compliance and other HR systems, processes and procedures.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills required; strong attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple projects with minimal supervision. Demonstrated initiative and ability to take action on information and resolve complex issues using sound business judgment.
• Computer proficiency required in Microsoft Office Excel, Word, and Outlook. Experience using an ATS system required.
• Highly professional appearance and demeanor. Strong customer focus and appropriate service approach. Demonstrated collaboration skills and ability to build strong internal and external relationships. Must be a team player with willingness to get involved and assume additional responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain confidential information required.
• Solid interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, required.
• Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.
• Must be able to reliably attend various recruitment and community outreach related events, mostly local to the greater Chicago area, transporting various collateral and other related material/equipment.
• Valid driver's license required. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire. Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents.
• Regular workweeks of 40-45 hours+, including some evenings and weekends. Some local travel required to attend conferences and support remote recruiting events.

The desirable/preferred qualifications include the following:

• Behavioral Interview Training Certified and AIRS certification a plus.
• Non-profit experience desirable; some agency experience a plus.
• Experience using HRIS or similar system highly preferred.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information
The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities / Women / Veterans / Disabled.