Talent Acquisition & HR Specialist

Education - It's in Our DNA

At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Talent Acquisition & HR Specialist to drive recruitment efforts and support key HR functions. In this role, you’ll develop and implement sourcing strategies, partner with hiring managers, and manage vendor relationships to attract top talent. You’ll also play a vital role in onboarding, employee relations, and workplace policies—helping to build a positive and supportive workplace culture.

How You'll Make an Impact

Talent Acquisition:

• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle, from job requisition to onboarding.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies using job boards, social media, networking, and employee referrals.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to understand talent needs and create tailored hiring plans.
• Provide expertise in job description development, interview structuring, and candidate evaluation.
• Build and maintain relationships with third-party vendors, including job boards and staffing agencies.
• Monitor and assess vendor performance to ensure alignment with hiring goals and budgets.
• Evaluate and optimize recruitment platforms and tools to enhance hiring efficiency.
• Ensure a seamless candidate and hiring manager experience through clear and timely communication.
• Stay informed about industry trends, salary benchmarks, and talent market dynamics to refine recruitment strategies.
• Handle confidential hiring matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Partner with the compensation team to ensure salary recommendations align with company structures.
• Work with different HR and leadership teams to support workforce planning and future talent acquisition needs.
• Maintain accurate candidate data in ATS systems while ensuring compliance with data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Train and guide hiring managers on best recruitment practices and policies.
• Additional recruitment responsibilities as required.

HR Support:

• Assist with onboarding and new employee orientation to ensure smooth transitions for new hires.
• Provide guidance on HR policies, procedures, and workplace best practices to employees and managers.
• Support HR initiatives including but not limited to performance management, employee engagement, diversity, and policy implementation.
• Maintain compliance with labor laws, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure accurate HR documentation and record-keeping.
• Additional HR responsibilities as required.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Minimum of 3 years of full-cycle recruitment experience, preferably in a corporate or agency setting.
• Proven ability to recruit for diverse roles, including technical, niche, and leadership positions.
• Expertise in ATS, recruitment tools, and sourcing platforms (e.g., LinkedIn Recruiter).
• Knowledge of pay transparency laws and hiring regulations.
• Data-driven approach to hiring strategies.
• Strong organizational skills to manage recruitment and HR responsibilities.
• Prior experience in multiple HR functions, such as employee relations, compliance, onboarding, or performance management.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Familiarity with employer branding and AI recruitment tools.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and results-driven.
• Adaptable in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Understanding of HR policies, procedures, and employment regulations, with experience handling sensitive employee relations and supporting initiatives in performance management, training, and compliance.

Note: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance three (3) days per week. Applicants should be within a commutable distance to the Basking Ridge, NJ area.

How We Elevate Our Employees

We believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed specifically to support you in every aspect of your life. At BNED, we offer a variety of programs and resources to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees by offering a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits.

The hiring range for this position is $60,000 - $67,000. The actual pay may vary based on factors such as professional experience, skills, and competencies.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Barnes & Noble Education we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.

Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, protected veteran status, race, religion or sexual orientation.

#INDBNED

Salary : $60,000 - $67,000