Talent Acquisition & Retention Advisor

Position Overview:

The Talent Acquisition Advisor & Retention for KIPP KC Public Schools is a key role responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive strategies for attracting, recruiting, and selecting highly qualified and diverse staff. This position manages the full recruitment life cycle, ensuring an efficient, equitable, and seamless candidate experience. The Advisor will drive innovative recruitment initiatives, leverage data analytics, and collaborate closely with school leaders and the Managing Director of HR & Talent to meet the staffing needs and support its educational mission.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Full Recruitment Life Cycle Management

  • Design, implement, and evaluate strategies for talent acquisition, hiring, onboarding, and retention.

  • Oversee and manage the end-to-end recruitment process, from vacancy posting and candidate sourcing to interviewing, offer extension, and onboarding coordination.

  • Ensure a seamless, positive, and efficient candidate experience throughout the recruitment and selection process.

  • Demonstrated capacity to manage 25 - 30 active requisitions with a high degree of organization, accuracy and attention to detail.

  • Create, edit, and refine job descriptions to ensure accuracy and consistency, and alignment with organizational needs and role requirements.

  • Strong sourcing skills and familiarity with various social media platforms and ATS systems.

  • Collaborate with the external communications partner creating recruiting collateral, including position announcements, advertising, communications, and marketing strategies.

  • Provide comprehensive weekly recruiting updates to stakeholders, delivering pipeline status, progress, and hiring priorities.

• Strategic Recruitment

  • Analyze recruitment data and metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, source of hire) to assess effectiveness and continuously improve talent acquisition processes.

  • Develop and execute strategic recruitment plans and initiatives to address school-wide staffing needs.

  • Identify and implement innovative recruitment strategies, sourcing channels, and outreach activities to build a robust and diverse talent pipeline; including advanced sourcing techniques (e.g., LinkedIn Recruiter and Boolean search) to engage passive and active candidates inclusively.

  • Stay abreast of talent market trends, compensation benchmarks, and best practices in educational recruitment.

• Compliance & Equity

  • Ensure all recruitment and hiring practices comply with federal, state, and local employment laws.

  • Manage and maintain the applicant tracking systems (ATS) to ensure data fidelity.

  • Facilitate presentations and training to advise hiring managers/interview teams on recruitment and interview practices.

  • Support HR audits and reporting related to recruitment and staffing data.

• Branding & Partnership Development

  • Partner with the Managing Director of HR & Talent to develop and implement innovative strategies to build a pipeline of qualified candidates. 

  • Oversee pipeline development programs (e.g., Become a Teacher program, student teacher program), including the partnerships (e.g., university, professional organizations,  affiliation agreements. 

  • Plans and executes on-campus/ off-campus recruiting activities such as career fairs and/or networking forums.

• Additional Responsibilities

  • Administrator onboarding retention surveys/new hire surveys and employee satisfaction surveys.

  • Partner with the HR Team validating employee credentialing and certifications.

  • Assist with organizational training.

  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Education or related filed  or relevant experience

• Minimum of five (5)  years of progressive experience in talent acquisition or recruitment.

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic sourcing, interviewing techniques, and effective recruitment strategies

• Public School, Charter School or University recruiting experience highly preferred

• Knowledge of employment laws and human resources policies, procedures, and practices. 

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.  

• Ability to work under deadlines; to be flexible in meeting the ever‐changing needs of the department, and fast pace work environment.

• Ability to maintain honesty and integrity in all aspects of the job.

• Proficiency in applicant tracking systems (e.g., Smart Recruiter and BambooHR or other comparable systems) and creative platforms such as Canva, Constant Contact and/or Photoshop

• Strong analytical skills

• Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities, project timelines, and hiring needs

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication (verbal, written, and presentation), and negotiation skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse candidates and stakeholders.

• Excellent computer skills, including Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Sheets

• Relevant professional certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, Certified Professional in Recruitment - CPR).

• Attend work and arrive in a timely manner.  

Additional Information

Skills and Competencies:

• Commitment to KIPP KC’s mission and values

• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse environment

• Demonstrates a commitment 

• Fosters an inclusive environment for students, staff, and families

• Works effectively with colleagues and stakeholders

• Builds strong relationships within the KIPP KC community

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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 

• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school or office throughout the workday.

• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region. 

Work Environment

• Reports to work Monday-Friday, onsite

• Typical school or office environment with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel to work locations.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary is based on years of experience, educational background, and level of expertise.

As a full-time KIPP Kansas City employee, you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Kansas City benefit plans. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, as well as life insurance, fertility, and disability plans.

KIPP Kansas City is committed to the professional growth and development of our staff. We provide numerous opportunities for advancement, ongoing professional development, and leadership training to help you achieve your career goals.

KIPP Kansas City provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

About the Company

About KIPP Kansas City Public Schools:

KIPP Kansas City Public Schools is part of a nationwide network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. Our strength as a region serves as a catalyst for empowerment, change, and hope.

Founded in 2007, KIPP Kansas City Public Schools began with KIPP Endeavor Academy, serving approximately 31 fifth-grade students. Today, we educate approximately 1,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with our community continuing to expand. Together with families and communities, we strive to create joyful, academically excellent schools that equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue their chosen paths—whether college, career, or beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and contribute to a more just world.