Talent Acquisition Specialist II

We're looking for an experienced, relationship-driven Talent Acquisition Specialist to join our growing Talent Acquisition team in either Atlanta, GA or Chicago, IL.

The ideal candidate is a technical recruiter with hands-on experience sourcing and recruiting top talent across the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. You understand the unique skill sets required for technical and professional roles, know where to find exceptional candidates, and are proactive in building talent pipelines through direct sourcing, networking, and industry engagement.

In this role, you'll lead full-cycle recruiting efforts to attract and hire exceptional people who align with our core values of Honesty, Dedication, and Relationships. You'll partner closely with hiring managers, source and engage passive candidates, coordinate the interview process, and ensure every candidate has a positive, professional experience from first conversation through onboarding.

If you're energized by building relationships, uncovering hard-to-find talent, managing multiple technical requisitions, and delivering an outstanding candidate experience, we want you to help us find and hire the people who will power MacKay's continued success.

Ready to make an impact? Let’s talk!

Key Responsibilities:

Recruitment Execution

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for a variety of technical and corporate roles across the company, with a primary focus on the East Coast and Midwest regions, including engineering, surveying, construction management, environmental, and corporate support positions.
• Partner closely with hiring managers to understand technical requirements, business needs, hiring timelines, and team dynamics to ensure an efficient and effective recruiting process.
• Develop and execute sourcing plans to identify and engage both active and passive candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter, industry networks, employee referrals, professional associations, and other sourcing channels.
• Post positions, screen applicants, coordinate interviews, facilitate candidate assessments, and manage offers while maintaining consistent communication with candidates and hiring teams.
• Execute recruiting initiatives and sourcing campaigns in support of the company's talent acquisition priorities and hiring goals.
• Maintain accurate candidate records and recruiting activity within the applicant tracking system, ensuring data integrity and a seamless hiring process.

Talent Pipeline & Candidate Experience

• Proactively source and build pipelines of qualified engineering and technical talent to support current and future hiring needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with universities, professional associations, industry organizations, and community partners to strengthen MacKay's recruiting efforts.
• Represent MacKay at college career fairs, industry conferences, networking events, and other recruiting activities to promote the organization as an employer of choice.
• Deliver a best-in-class candidate experience through clear communication, timely follow-up, and professional engagement, ensuring every candidate experiences a transparent, responsive, and positive hiring process.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective candidates, keeping high-potential talent engaged for future opportunities.
• Ensure recruiting activities comply with employment laws, company policies, and equal employment opportunity practices.

Tools & Systems

• Utilize our Greenhouse (ATS) and other recruiting technologies to manage candidate flow and ensure data accuracy.
• Collaborate with the Communications Department to develop engaging job postings, social media content, and outreach campaigns that enhance our visibility with potential candidates.
• Work with the Human Resources department to coordinate onboarding and ensure pre-employment requirements are met for all candidates.

Reporting & Insights

• Provide regular updates to the Talent Acquisition Lead on recruiting progress, open requisitions, and market challenges.
• Track predetermined key recruitment metrics to help refine and improve processes over time.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 4-6 years of experience in talent acquisition in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industry or an adjacent industry.
• Experience developing sourcing strategies and utilizing multiple candidate attraction channels, including LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards, networking organizations, employee referrals, and social media platforms.
• Proven track record of successful hiring and pipeline strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and solve hiring challenges. 
• Strong understanding of employment laws, hiring best practices, and market trends.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS). Experience with Greenhouse and Rippling is preferred. 
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and with an asynchronous team in a hybrid setting.

Why Join MacKay?

A people-first culture
At MacKay, we put people first. We are committed to creating an environment where employees can grow, contribute, and do their best work. We support well-being, encourage balance, and create space for people to succeed both professionally and personally.

Meaningful work and real impact
Our teams take on complex infrastructure and environmental challenges that support critical systems and shape the places where people live and work. Every role contributes to delivering that work and making it successful.

Growth and opportunity
We are in an exciting phase of growth, expanding across geographies, services, and markets. That growth creates opportunities for our employees to take on new challenges, build their careers, and contribute in new ways as the company evolves.

A strong and trusted foundation
Built on more than 50 years of experience, MacKay has developed a reputation for quality work, strong relationships, and dependable results. You’ll be part of a team with a solid foundation and a clear direction for the future.

Opportunities to share in success
We provide opportunities for employees to participate in ownership and build long-term financial value as the company grows.

Our Values

At MacKay, our values guide how we work, collaborate, and support one another.

• Honesty. We build trust through transparency, integrity, and accountability.
• Dedication. We are committed to the success of our team members, clients, and communities.
• Relationships. We foster lasting connections that strengthen our work and the teams around us.

Who We Are

MacKay is an infrastructure and environmental services firm built on more than 50 years of experience and a growing collective of expertise.

We are in an exciting phase of growth, expanding our reach, strengthening our capabilities, and bringing together talented teams across the country. That growth is creating new opportunities for our employees to take on meaningful work, collaborate across disciplines, and build long-term careers.

Every role at MacKay contributes to the success of our projects and the clients we serve. Whether your work is technical or operational, you are part of a team that delivers quality, builds relationships, and moves projects forward.

We’re looking for dedicated, talented individuals who deliver excellence, thrive in collaborative environments, and value both meaningful work and work-life balance. If this sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you. 

Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as various market and business considerations.