Recruitment Specialist

Close Date: August 25, 2026, 12:00 a.m.

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System

Salary: $66,826.00 - $96,061.79, commensurate with experience

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long-term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY
The Recruiting Specialist performs technical and administrative work supporting end-to end full-cycle talent acquisition including coordinating recruitment processes, sourcing candidates, and managing hiring workflows from job posting through onboarding. Reporting to the Recruiting Supervisor, this position serves as the primary operational coordinator for assigned recruitments, ensuring hiring activities are conducted efficiently, consistently, and in alignment with established procedures.

The role works closely with hiring managers, candidates, HR staff, and external partners to support full-cycle recruitment execution. The Recruiting Specialist manages applicant tracking activities, coordinates interviews, assists with candidate evaluation processes, and ensures required documentation and approvals are completed throughout the hiring lifecycle. Through organized workflow management and responsive communication, this position supports timely hiring outcomes and positive candidate experiences.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Recruitment Workflow Coordination

• Coordinates recruitment activities from requisition approval through onboarding.
• Posts job announcements and manages recruitment timelines.
• Reviews requisitions for completeness and required approvals.
• Tracks recruitment status and hiring progress.
• Ensures adherence to established hiring procedures.

Candidate Sourcing & Outreach

• Conducts candidate sourcing activities using approved recruitment platforms.
• Screens applications for minimum qualifications based on established criteria.
• Communicates with candidates regarding application status and next steps.
• Supports recruitment outreach initiatives and hiring events.
• Maintains candidate pipelines for recurring positions.

Interview Coordination & Support

• Schedules interviews and coordinates logistics with hiring managers and candidates.
• Prepares interview materials and evaluation tools.
• Ensures interview documentation is completed and collected.
• Maintains communication throughout interview processes.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Administration

• Maintains accurate applicant records within recruitment systems.
• Updates candidate status and workflow stages.
• Ensures required documentation is uploaded and retained.
• Generates recruitment reports as requested.

Hiring Manager Guidance

• Provides procedural guidance to hiring managers regarding recruitment steps and timelines.
• Assists managers with completion of required hiring documentation.
• Monitors hiring progress and follows up on pending actions.
• Escalates delays or issues to supervisory staff.

Pre-Employment & Onboarding Coordination

• Coordinates pre-employment activities including background checks and required screenings.
• Prepares onboarding documentation and communicates next steps to new hires.
• Ensures hiring documentation is completed prior to start dates.
• Coordinates onboarding activities with HR Administration staff.

Compliance & Documentation Support

• Maintains recruitment records consistent with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures hiring documentation is complete and audit-ready.
• Supports equal employment opportunity documentation practices.
• Identifies missing or incomplete records and follows up as needed.

Continuous Improvement & Recruitment Optimization

• Identifies recurring recruitment workflow challenges.
• Assists with improvements to recruitment processes or tools.
• Supports recruitment initiatives and special projects.
• Participates in hiring events and outreach efforts.

Core Competencies

Recruitment Process Execution: Ability to administer recruitment activities accurately and efficiently within established procedures.

• Manages recruitment workflows consistently.
• Maintains organized hiring processes.
• Supports timely hiring outcomes.
• Ensures procedural compliance.

Candidate Engagement and Customer Service: Ability to communicate professionally with candidates and hiring managers.

• Provides clear and timely communication.
• Maintains professional candidate interactions.
• Supports positive hiring experiences.
• Demonstrates responsiveness.

Organization and Workflow Management: Ability to manage multiple recruitments simultaneously.

• Tracks deadlines effectively.
• Maintains organized records.
• Prioritizes assignments appropriately.
• Meets operational timelines.

Attention to Detail and Documentation Accuracy: Ability to maintain precise recruitment records.

• Reviews materials carefully.
• Maintains accurate system data.
• Ensures documentation completeness.
• Produces reliable outputs.

Collaboration and Coordination: Ability to work effectively across HR and operational departments.

• Builds cooperative relationships.
• Coordinates activities across stakeholders.
• Supports shared goals.
• Adapts to changing priorities.

Technology and ATS Proficiency: Ability to utilize recruitment systems effectively.

• Maintains accurate system entries.
• Navigates applicant tracking tools.
• Supports reporting activities.
• Maintains data integrity.

Compliance Awareness: Ability to follow hiring procedures aligned with organizational requirements.

• Applies procedures consistently.
• Maintains audit-ready records.
• Recognizes irregular situations.
• Escalates concerns appropriately.

Professionalism and Integrity: Ability to represent the organization professionally throughout recruitment processes.

• Maintains confidentiality.
• Demonstrates fairness and neutrality.
• Upholds organizational standards.
• Exercises sound judgment.
• Commitment to equitable hiring practices and inclusive candidate engagement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Recruitment processes and hiring workflows.
• Applicant tracking systems.
• Administrative coordination practices.
• Confidentiality and recordkeeping requirements.

Skill in:

• Coordinating multiple recruitment activities.
• Communicating professionally with diverse stakeholders.
• Maintaining organized records and systems.
• Scheduling and workflow management.

Ability to:

• Follow established procedures consistently.
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Provide procedural guidance to hiring managers.
• Maintain confidentiality of applicant information.
• Work collaboratively within a team environment.
• Identify issues requiring escalation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field and two (2) years of recruitment, HR support, or administrative coordination experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Experience supporting high-volume recruitment environments.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems.

Conditions of Employment
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

How To Apply
Apply online at https://www.charlottenc.gov/City-Government/City-Jobs

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected].

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.