What are the responsibilities and job description for the Recruiter position at NCTD?
Description
Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Recruiter is responsible for full lifecycle talent acquisition and recruitment efforts for both direct and contracted employees of the District. The Recruiter will partner with hiring managers and stakeholders to determine staffing needs, design and implement recruitment strategies, develop and deliver outreach and sourcing initiatives, screen and select candidates, coordinate interviews and selection, administer pre-employment processes, and evaluate recruitment effectiveness. This role supports the District’s mission, vision, and business objectives by ensuring the attraction, selection, and onboarding of high-performing talent in a manner that fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, and alignment with the organization’s values.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The Recruiter performs recruiting and talent acquisition functions in a high-volume, fast-paced transit environment. This role requires the ability to work with minimal supervision, build strong relationships across multiple departments (operations, maintenance, administrative, contractor partners), and influence hiring outcomes. While the Recruiter does not necessarily supervise direct reports, they may coordinate contract staffing or recruitment event staff and will serve as a subject matter resource to hiring managers and HR colleagues on best practices in sourcing, interviewing, diversity hiring, and process improvement. The role requires flexibility, adaptability, and the capacity to manage multiple open requisitions simultaneously in a union-represented transit setting.
Supervision Received and Exercised
This position reports to the Director of Human Resources. This position does not have any direct supervisory responsibility but may be required to supervise professional, paraprofessional, and/or support staff. However, the Recruiter may coordinate, lead, or oversee staffing event teams, vendor-partners, or contract recruiters. Further, this position is expected to participate in the sharing of expert knowledge and as a vital member of various project teams that may be instituted.
Working Conditions
Normal working conditions for this position are in an office. Business travel may be required periodically between District sites, governmental agencies, consultants’ facilities, and other locations as required. Transit operations are 24/7, 365 days per year, which requires this individual to work a variety of days and shifts to ensure training is being properly implemented; this includes evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. The work environment may include participation in job fairs, mobile/on-site recruiting events, and coordination of candidate testing or screening locations.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop and execute innovative digital recruitment marketing strategies across LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, and other relevant social media platforms to attract top-tier talent and build employer brand awareness
- Leverage social media analytics and recruitment marketing tools to identify, engage, and nurture passive candidates through targeted outreach campaigns and content that resonates with key talent pools
- Create compelling social media content including job postings, employee spotlights, and company culture stories that drive candidate engagement and expand reach within specialized talent communities
- Build and maintain a strong digital presence by actively participating in industry-specific online forums, professional groups, and social networks to establish relationships with potential candidates and industry influencers
- Utilize digital advertising platforms (LinkedIn Recruiter, programmatic job ads, Transit Talent, sponsored posts) to optimize candidate sourcing efforts and track ROI on recruitment marketing initiatives
- Partner with department managers, contractor leads, and HR stakeholders to identify current and future staffing needs, develop competency-based job descriptions, and refine selection criteria.
- Design and execute recruitment strategies and sourcing approaches appropriate to the transit industry (operations, maintenance, administrative), including job board advertising, social media sourcing, career fairs, educational partnerships, community outreach, union collaboration, and contractor partner engagement.
- Manage full-cycle recruitment: create/revise job postings, screen resumes/applications, conduct preliminary telephone or video interviews, coordinate with hiring managers for face-to-face interviews, perform reference/background checks, prepare and extend job offers, and track candidate progress.
- Administer pre-employment testing and screening (drug/alcohol, physical, operator certifications, background, union-required screenings) in compliance with federal, state, local laws, union contracts, operator regulations, and District policies.
- Serve as a brand ambassador and represent the District at recruiting events, career fairs, trade schools, community outreach programs, local high schools/colleges, and partner organizations to build a talent pipeline of diverse, qualified candidates.
- Monitor and report key recruiting metrics (e.g., time to fill, source of hire, cost per hire, quality of hire, diversity of candidate pipeline) and provide recommendations for continuous improvement of the recruitment process.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant employment laws, regulations (EEO, ADA, FMLA, DOT, FTA, etc.), union agreements, contractor/vendor agreements, District policies, and record-keeping requirements.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in HRIS systems and generate regular reporting for HR leadership and operational stakeholders.
- Collaborate with HR, Learning & Development, and operations leadership to help onboard new hires effectively and ensure a smooth transition from offer to productive employee.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a directly related field and at least three (3) years of full-cycle recruitment experience.
OR
- Associate’s degree and five (5) years of relevant recruitment experience. For a transit agency setting (operations/maintenance heavy), experience recruiting in transportation or unionized environments is highly desirable.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job, such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements outlined in law or regulation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience in a public transportation or transit agency environment preferred
- Experience recruiting for operations, maintenance, or frontline roles (e.g., bus operators, rail technicians, maintenance staff).
- Familiarity with DOT/FRA/FTA regulations and collective bargaining agreements.
- HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) or advanced training in talent acquisition.
- Spanish language proficiency (or other second language) is beneficial for outreach in diverse communities.
Certificates/Licenses
- Possess and maintain a California driver’s license, Class C, and a satisfactory driving record for the last five years.
- Maintain compliance with the District’s policy regarding Conflict of Interest and Ethics.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain annual access to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
General Requirements
- Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work performed.
- Knowledge of transit and rail industry skills is desired.
- Gathering data, analyzing findings, and applying logic and reason.
- Researching industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
- Ability to interpret and apply local, state, federal, and industry rules and regulations accurately and effectively.
- Authoring and preparing original reports and documents,
- Exercising political acumen, tact, and diplomacy.
- Ability to create and maintain good working relationships through excellent communication and teambuilding skills, including the ability to engage successfully with both internal and external contacts and the public.
- Providing customer service.
- Utilizes strong technical capability to manage data, troubleshoot problems, provide user support, and enhance operational efficiency.
- Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public, and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information (both verbally and in writing) and to receive work direction.
Supplemental Information
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
The employee must possess the ability to use the phone and computer for extended periods, manual dexterity to complete clerical functions and work with office equipment, and lift equipment up to 25 pounds on a daily basis. The employee must be able to hear, see, and communicate verbally to exchange information. The employee must be able to physically travel between District locations and other destinations, work in the evenings when required, work in hazardous conditions, and negotiate a variety of different and irregular terrain, as is typical along a railway right of way. The employee may be subject to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and chemicals. The employee must be able to walk, climb, balance, bend, carry, push, reach, sit, and stand.
Machines / Tools / Equipment
- Ability to operate a personal computer and Microsoft Office Suite programs.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment, including a fax and scanner machine, copy machine, and telephone.
- Ability to carry and operate a mobile device.
Application Information: All applicants must complete and submit an online application at www.gonctd.com/careers. A job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check. Salary based upon experience, not to exceed midpoint of stated range. NCTD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Retirement: NCTD participates in the CalPERS retirement program with a benefit formula of 1.5% @ 65 for PEPRA new members. Benefits are calculated based on your age at retirement, the number of years of service credit with CalPERS and the average of your monthly compensation over the past 36 months (36 months average highest hourly pay rate).
457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan: NCTD offers a Voluntary Deferred Compensation Savings Plan through VOYA Financial Services. Employees are eligible to enroll any time after the date of hire. The plan allows you to contribute pre-tax and/or post-tax dollars into selected funds of your choice. The plan also allows you to:
- Contribute up to amount specified annually by the IRS
- Catch-up plan for those 50 of up to amount specified annually by the IRS
- Is portable, can be rolled over into another qualified retirement plan
- Employer match into a 401(a) account (50% up to 8% of employee compensation; Max NCTD contribution of 4%)
Medical Insurance: NCTD offers a rich variety of HMO and PPO plans to choose from and contributes towards your monthly medical premiums, if the coverage you select costs more than the amount NCTD contributes, then payroll deductions will be withheld on a pre-tax basis.
Dental Insurance: NCTD offers two different dental plans for employees and their eligible dependents (HMO and PPO) from a reliable dental insurance provider. Human Resources can provide information regarding annual insurance provider and available plans. Both plans are part of NCTD’s cafeteria plan (pre-tax payroll deductions for monthly premiums).
Vision Insurance: NCTD offers vision services for employees and their eligible dependents through a reliable vision insurance provider. Human Resources can provide information regarding annual insurance provider and available plan. The plan is part of NCTD’s cafeteria plan (pre-tax payroll deductions for monthly premiums).
The benefits include:
- $10.00 co-pay for Annual Exam
- No charge for standard lenses every 12 months
- $125 retail allowance for frames every 2 years; OR $125 toward the contact lens.
Life Insurance: NCTD cares for its employees, and thus provides at no cost to the employee group life insurance in the amount of $50,000 (coverage includes Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Accelerated Death benefits). Additional life insurance is available for you and your eligible dependents at your expense. * Tax reporting is required for any amounts over $50,000, per IRS guidelines. Supplemental life insurance coverage premiums are deducted on a post-tax basis.
Long Term Disability Insurance: NCTD offers voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance. You may elect units of $100 up to 60% of your hourly wage to a maximum of $6,000/month. Deductions are post-tax, coverage 24/7, limitations or exclusions, and benefits are payable to age 65 or for two years (whichever is longer).
Flexible Spending Account Plan: NCTD offers two core FSA plans and two Commuter plans. Health Care and Dependent Care plans are “Use It OR Lose It” calendar year plans (Jan. 1st – Dec. 31st). The Commuter Transit and Parking plans do not have a “use it or lose it” policy. Plans are as follows:
- Health Care Spending Account:
- May contribute up to amount specified annually by the IRS
- Dependent Care Spending Account:
- May contribute up to amount specified annually by the IRS (including limitations if married)
- Commuter Transit Accounts:
- May contribute up to amount specified annually by the IRS
Disability Insurance: Employees contribute to California State Disability Insurance (SDI). The current contribution rate is 1.1% of earnings and is totally paid by the employee. After the 7-day waiting period, SDI pays a percentage of employee’s salary up to a maximum of $1,540.00per week, for up to 52 weeks. SDI may be coordinated with Paid Time Off (PTO).
Accident Insurance: NCTD offers voluntary accident insurance. You may elect coverage for you and your dependents for a flat monthly rate. Deductions are post-tax.
Critical Illness Insurance: NTD offers voluntary Critical Illness insurance. You may elect coverage up to $10,000 in increments of $2,500, for you and between $2,500 - $5,000 for your dependents, not to exceed 50% of coverage amount. Deductions are post-tax.
Administrative Holidays: NCTD recognizes 10 paid holidays per year: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
PTO (Paid Time Off): All NCTD Regular, Probationary, and Limited-Term employees shall receive Paid Time Off (PTO). PTO shall be taken at reasonable times approved by the employee’s supervisor.
PTO shall be earned equally in each pay period during the year in accordance with the following schedule, based on the number of years of NCTD service completed:
- 0 through 3.99 years of service completed: 120 hours per year (15 days)
- 4.00 through 9.99 years of service completed: 176 hours per year (22 days)
- 10 and more years of service completed: 216 hours per year (27 days)
Transportation Passes: All NCTD employees receive an identification “PRONTO Card” which can be used to ride the following NCTD/MTS transit services (BREEZE, FLEX, SPRINTER, COASTER, MTS Bus, Trolley) at no charge. Eligible family members also receive a pass for NCTD public transportation at no charge (paratransit excluded).
Bereavement Leave: NCTD offers paid bereavement leave.
Employee Assistance Plan: The EAP offers assistance in areas such as:
- Emotional Support
- Work/Life Balance
- Family Care
Family Status Change: This allows you to add/drop dependents from current benefit plan elections per IRS “Qualifying Events.” If a “Qualifying Event” occurs, you MUST contact HR within 30 days of event, (Qualifying Event must relate to the benefit change you are requesting).
Please contact Human Resources should you have any questions regarding NCTD Benefits.
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