What are the responsibilities and job description for the Talent Acquisition & People Experience position at J2?
At J2, we know that people come first. Whether you’re designing a roadway, leading a site survey, or building careers, relationships are the foundation of everything we do. As we continue to grow across the Mid-Atlantic, we are seeking a dynamic professional to lead talent acquisition and shape a people-first experience that fosters careers and strengthens our culture.
We are open to candidates at various levels – from experienced specialists to strategic directors. Title and compensation will reflect your experience and the vision you bring. This position reports directly to the President, working closely with HR, the leadership team, and external workforce solutions providers.
YOUR IMPACT
This is not a high-volume, transactional recruiting role. It’s a strategic opportunity to shape the future of J2’s workforce through thoughtful hiring, meaningful development, and initiatives that inspire people to stay and grow with us.
RECRUITMENT & WORKFORCE STRATEGY
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for roles across technical and administrative teams
- Build proactive sourcing strategies and talent pipelines for critical positions
- Partner with department heads and leadership to forecast needs, optimize hiring plans, and support team growth
- Work with external agencies and partner with them to fill strategic roles
- Create and track key hiring metrics such as time-to-fill and candidate engagement
RETENTION & CULTURE BUILDING
- Champion and implement programs that drive engagement, professional development, and long-term career growth
- Support onboarding, mentoring, and employee lifecycle experiences that align with J2’s People First values
- Identify drivers of turnover and develop strategies to increase retention and team cohesion
- Track and report on employee experience and retention metrics
RECRUITING OUTREACH & TALENT REPRESENTATION
- Partner with Marketing to ensure job postings and candidate-facing materials align with J2’s values and culture
- Represent J2 at career fairs, networking events, university outreach, and industry recruiting functions
- Be the primary point of contact for external agencies working on strategic hires
- Share insights from candidates and team members to help strengthen the candidate experience and communicate J2’s people-first culture
- Support consistent messaging about what it’s like to work at J2 across recruiting touchpoints
WHAT YOU BRING
- 5 – 15 years of experience in recruiting, retention, employee engagement, or related HR functions
- Ability to build trusted relationships with employees at all levels of the organization
- Experience in professional services or AEC environments is a plus – but not required
- Comfort with recruiting platforms, ATS tools, and talent analytics
- Strong communicator, creative thinker, and culture builder
- Strategic mindset paired with the ability to roll up your sleeves and execute
WHAT WE OFFER
- A hybrid, flexible work environment with five office locations in Northern Virginia
- Mentorship-driven culture where your voice matters and your impact is visible
- Open leadership structure with direct access to decision-makers
- Commitment to your career development – with access to training, coaching, and growth pathways
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and bonus opportunities
- The opportunity to define and lead J2’s approach to people and talent
Let’s Build the Future of J2 – Together
This is your chance to join a firm where grit meets gratitude, relationships drive results, and careers are designed with your future in mind.
J2 is a multidisciplinary engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying firm that serves the Northern Virginia region. As a people-first organization, we have made it a top priority to invest in our employees, clients, and community. J2 is committed to fostering professional development through inclusive team-bonding events, challenging and dynamic projects, and career road-mapping support. Drawing from our industry expertise and legacy of community impact, our talented and passionate team has helped build a portfolio of some of the highest-profile private and public developments across the DMV.