Talent Acquisition Specialist

Northwestern Mutual is seeking a dynamic Talent Acquisition Specialist to join our growing team in Chicago. As a critical member of our organization, you will play a pivotal role in identifying and attracting top talent to drive our company's growth and success. Leveraging your expertise in sales, business development, or recruitment, you will lead efforts to source and engage high-performing individuals who align with our company's values and objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on our organization's trajectory and contribute to building a high-performing team rooted in strong values and a culture of leadership development.

Our Core Values

Our core values are the foundation of everything we do:

• Power of Differences — We believe the best solutions come from bringing together people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences.
• Inclusivity — Every decision we make considers the full team. We build an environment where everyone has a seat at the table and every voice carries weight.
• Work Ethic — We take personal responsibility for our actions and trust in the process. Love the process and it will love you back. We show up consistently, day in and day out.
• Growth & Impact — We're driven by the pursuit of something greater, grounded in gratitude for the opportunity to do meaningful work. Everything we do today is building toward a bigger vision for tomorrow.
• Builders of Leaders — We don't just hire employees — we develop leaders. Every person on this team is a partner with the power to empower others, inspire action, and create a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement innovative sourcing strategies to attract top talent across referrals, networking, creating strong community relationships as well as job boards, university campuses and social media.
• Proactively source, screen, and interview candidates to assess qualifications, skills, and cultural alignment with our core values.
• Collaborate with leadership to understand growth needs and develop tailored recruitment strategies.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle, from initial candidate contact to offer and into onboarding.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with candidates, ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment process.
• Utilize data and analytics to track recruitment metrics and identify areas for improvement.
• Serve as a brand ambassador, representing our values and culture to prospective talent.
• Partner with Centers of Influence and leverage referral networks to expand the talent pipeline.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Experience in recruiting, sales, or business development (2-4 yrs)
• Proven track record of successfully building relationships utilizing a variety of strategies
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with candidates and hiring managers
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• A coachable, growth-oriented mindset with a passion for developing others
• Strong local network in the Chicago area is highly preferred

Perks

• Comprehensive training program and mentorship
• Clear career development pathways
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee assistance programs
• Paid time off

Compensation

• $68-72,000 base salary, bonuses up to $33,000 annually

Schedule

• Monday through Thursday in-office; Fridays remote
• 5307 South Hyde Park Blvd, Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60615

Education

• Bachelor's (Required)

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance