Knife River, a company proudly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KNF), is looking for a Talent Acquisition & Programs Specialist to attract and develop the next generation of talent across our West Region. This role drives full-cycle recruiting and leads early career initiatives to support growth in a dynamic industrial environment.
What You'll Do
- Support full-cycle recruiting initiatives across the West Region, including sourcing, screening, requisition coordination, and hiring manager partnerships.
- Proactively source candidates and develop pipelines for skilled trades, operations, technical, and early-career roles.
- Collaborate with regional HR leaders, hiring managers, and business leaders on workforce planning across multiple locations.
- Coordinate the West Region internship program and support college recruiting, campus engagement, and career fairs.
- Assist in recruiting for field-based roles like equipment operators, mechanics, drivers, and plant personnel.
- Support succession planning and mentorship initiatives for leadership development and internal mobility.
- Review and update job descriptions while supporting improvement of recruiting tools and hiring processes.
- Maintain candidate pipelines through applicant tracking systems and prepare recruiting reports and metrics.
- Organize and support recruiting events, career fairs, training programs, and other regional workforce activities.
- Manage calendars, communications, and resources across stakeholders and multiple time zones as a regional point of contact.
- Coordinate scheduling, materials, and logistics for regional programs and events.
- Take on special projects that enhance the company’s people strategy.
What We're Looking For
- A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Three or more years of experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, workforce development, or HR operations.
- Demonstrated experience supporting full-cycle recruiting, including sourcing, screening, and partnering with hiring managers.
- Experience recruiting for skilled trades, field operations, technical professionals, and early-career talent, preferably in construction, industrial, or operational environments.
- Experience supporting college recruiting, internship programs, or workforce development initiatives.
- Proven ability to plan and coordinate events like career fairs, training sessions, or hiring initiatives.
- Experience using applicant tracking systems (ATS) and sourcing tools like LinkedIn to maintain candidate pipelines.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple recruiting initiatives and programs simultaneously.
- A valid driver’s license and willingness to travel across the West Region, including overnight stays.
Nice to Have
- Experience supporting recruiting and HR operations within the construction materials supply and contracting industry.
- Experience recruiting for hourly, skilled trades, and field-based roles like equipment operators or mechanics.
- Experience supporting college recruiting, internship programs, or partnerships with trade schools or apprenticeship programs.
- Experience using UKG (UltiPro), Smartsheet, or a similar HRIS or applicant tracking system.
- Experience leveraging LinkedIn Recruiter, digital sourcing tools, or recruiting platforms.
- A professional HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR, or progress towards certification.
Technical Stack
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Recruiting platforms
- LinkedIn Recruiter
- UKG (UltiPro)
- Smartsheet
- Microsoft Office
Team & Environment
Works closely with HR leadership and regional executives.
Work Mode
This position is based in the West Region. A valid driver’s license and willingness to travel across the region are required.
Knife River is an equal opportunity employer.
