Talent Acquisition Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. In this role, you will be part of a team that is responsible for spearheading our college and early-career recruiting efforts, supporting company recruiting initiatives, and enhancing our talent acquisition strategies. You will collaborate closely with the recruiting team and hiring managers to identify, engage, and attract top talent.

This is a great fit for someone early in their HR or recruiting career who's ready to roll up their sleeves, contribute meaningfully, and learn the ins and outs of talent acquisition - from campus recruiting to sourcing hard-to-find talent. You'll get exposure to headhunting skills, process improvement, and strategic recruiting - all within a company that values consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

You won't just be filling roles - you'll help shape how we find, attract, and retain great people for the future of our business.

What You'll Do

• Support college and early-career recruiting efforts, including planning and attending career fairs, campus events, and coordinating follow-up with candidates.

• Build and maintain relationships with key schools, career centers, faculty, and student organizations.

• Support our internship program, including planning, logistics, and candidate engagement.

• Partner with hiring managers to understand job requirements and assist in sourcing and screening candidates for a range of roles.

• Assist in recruiting a pipeline of candidates for entry-level positions within our trainee programs (Sales, Production Management, Purchasing, Design, etc.).

• Assist in presenting job offers and coordinating a smooth onboarding experience for new hires.

• Help strengthen UFP's employer brand through your interactions with candidates, universities, and external partners - always representing who we are and what we stand for.

• Look for ways to improve how we recruit - bringing a continuous improvement mindset to daily work, documentation, and communication.

• Use basic recruiting data to help assess outcomes and improve strategies.

• Contribute to other HR projects or team initiatives as needed.

Who We're Looking For

• Someone who is passionate about HR and recruiting, and who's eager to learn and take on more responsibility over time.

• Strong communicator with good judgment, who is comfortable working with hiring managers, students, and external partners.

• A team player who values consistency, is dependable, and follows through on commitments.

• Open to learning new tools, processes, and ways to improve how we work.

• Willing and able to travel during key recruiting seasons (January-March, September-November).

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in recruiting, HR, or university career services preferred (internship experience will be considered).

• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems; experience with Workday is a plus.

• Understanding of EEO, FLSA, and affirmative action guidelines preferred.

• Position is based at our Grand Rapids, MI corporate office.