Manager, Talent Engagement & Acquisition

Department: Administration, Talent & Culture

Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt

Location: Washington, DC

Working Conditions: Hybrid - Employees work a hybrid schedule of 2 days—usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays—in the office

Supervisor: Director of Talent & Culture

Target Start Date: Fall 2026

Salary range: $75,000 - $80,000

Summary

The Manager, Talent Engagement & Acquisition will serve as a strategic partner to the Director of Talent & Culture and company leaders through advancing the employee experience while overseeing talent acquisition activities across the company’s domestic and global workforce.

The role will advance and improve the user experience (UX) of our recently implemented HRIS platform, Paylocity, while enriching the recruiting and onboarding experience of our newly hired talent across the Academic Travel Abroad (ATA) and CET Academic Programs (CET) brands and for the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA). As a manager on the Talent & Culture team, the ideal candidate will have hands-on experience aligning HR technology with broader company goals to improve talent management, performance, and organizational development while leveraging effective communication skills. 

What you’ll do…

HRIS Improvements and Management (60%)

• Championing the use of the HRIS platform as an engagement and learning tool with the Technology team while focusing on platform effectiveness and following up on service tickets. Working closely with individual users to ensure a positive user experience
• Partnering with the Director and with People Managers on recruitments, hiring and onboarding, while identifying retention risk points and areas of improvement with the employee experience 
• Collaborating with the Director to support performance management cycles, including developing manager guidance, timelines, quality review, and follow-up actions 
• Supporting the full employee lifecycle through maintaining recruiting workflows, onboarding processes, new hire orientations, job change documentation, recognition, learning and development initiatives and as needed, succession planning
• Facilitating internal communications that reinforce culture, transparency, and process changes (e.g., benefits/open enrollment communications, project updates, change communications) 
• Leading employee feedback practices (pulse checks, surveys, stay interviews, exit interviews) and synthesizing insights into proposed actions for leadership 

Talent Acquisition (30%)

• Leading hiring strategy conversations with Hiring Managers to align recruiting approaches with workforce planning, budgets, and inclusion goals
• Overseeing job posting strategies, employer branding, and outreach across ATA, CET, and FEA brands 
• Supporting partner relationships with staffing agencies and external recruiting partners
• Monitoring recruitment data and candidate experience metrics; recommending improvements to processes and tools 
• Developing and maintaining training and reference materials for recruitment and hiring processes

Partnership & Employee Support (10%)

• Serving as a cross-functional HR partner capable of collaborating with peers in Technology and our People Manager stakeholders 
• Developing working knowledge of employee benefits, perks, and healthcare options to better support new hires during onboarding and open enrollment processes 
• Preparing leadership-facing summaries, insights, and recommendations related to hiring, engagement, and retention 
• Supporting workforce planning and recruitment alignment with organizational priorities 

We’re looking for…

Required Skills and Attributes

• A bachelor’s degree 
• A minimum of 5 years of experience supporting a cross-functional HR team 
• Adept in multi-functional HRIS platforms such as Paylocity, Paycom, Workday, PeopleSoft, etc.
• Proficiency with navigating Applicant Tracking Systems and Onboarding tools a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation experience
• Enthusiasm for working in person with individuals and teams 
• Demonstrated ability to own and lead projects independently
• Basic knowledge of US employment and anti-discrimination laws, regulations, and best practices:
• Specific knowledge of Title VII and EEOC regulations 
• Knowledge of Form I-9 compliance a plus 
• An active or recent HR certification strongly preferred (e.g., SHRM-CP, aPHR, PHR, CEBS) 
• Sound judgement, tact and discretion, adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, and problem-solving skills

Location Requirement

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. Employees are required to work from our Washington, DC office on a regular weekly basis. Applicants must reside within commuting distance and be able to meet this onsite requirement; candidates seeking fully remote work will not be considered.

To Apply

Please attach your resume and a cover letter to our application form. Applications missing any of these components will not be considered. The successful completion of a background check, including professional references, is required for this position. Candidates must possess work authorization to work for any employer in the US as visa sponsorship is unavailable.

For best consideration, please apply by August 16, 2026.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. 

If you have a special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Description of the Organization

Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. is an educational travel and study abroad provider for many universities, cultural, and media organizations, as well as a growing number of commercial brands. We believe in celebrating and learning about people and cultures through travel and education. Riding the post-war wave of interest in travel to Europe, ATA launched operations in 1950 by assisting universities and institutions in the creation of group travel programs for their members. Every ATA program is designed to change perspectives, deepen understanding, and engage communities, showcasing the stories—both told and untold--of the places and people we visit. 

Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. is committed to work/life balance and flexibility, and we engage in a reduced-hour work week.