Talent Acquisition Specialist - Food Manufacturing - Flexible Schedule in Glendale Heights, Illinois at U.S. Spice Mills, Inc.

About U.S. Spice Mills

For over 40 years, U.S. Spice Mills has been a trusted supplier of pure spices, herbs, and seasonings to some of the nation's leading food brands — and as an essential business in the food industry, we've built our reputation on Quality, Consistency, and Service. We're a close-knit, family-oriented company that's growing and evolving, offering real opportunity for the right people to make an impact and build a lasting career.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced, personable, and results-driven Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead recruiting efforts across our organization. This role will be responsible for filling both hourly roles and salaried leadership positions, partnering closely with hiring managers to understand each role's unique requirements and translating that into compelling job postings that attract top talent.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recruiting professional who thrives on autonomy, enjoys building relationships with hiring managers, and takes pride in crafting job descriptions and sourcing strategies that generate strong candidate pipelines. We're looking for someone who will go the extra mile — a true partner and support system for a growing company, not just someone filling requisitions. This position begins as a part-time independent contract role with the potential to grow into a full-time position that includes broader HR Generalist/Supervisor responsibilities (e.g., onboarding, employee relations, policy administration).

Key Responsibilities

Recruiting & Sourcing

• Manage full-cycle recruiting for both hourly and salaried/leadership positions across three company locations

• Source candidates using a variety of platforms including LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and other relevant job boards and sourcing tools

• Build and maintain a strong, active candidate pipeline for recurring and hard-to-fill roles

• Screen resumes, conduct phone/video interviews, and coordinate interview logistics with hiring managers

• Provide frequent, proactive updates to hiring managers and the HR team on recruiting progress, maintaining a scorecard and key metrics for each open requisition

Partnership with Hiring Managers

• Meet with hiring managers to understand role requirements, team dynamics, and must-have vs. nice-to-have qualifications

• Ask thoughtful, clarifying questions to ensure job requirements are clearly defined before sourcing begins

• Serve as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process, providing market insight and candidate feedback

Job Description & Employer Branding

• Write clear, engaging, and accurate job descriptions/postings designed to maximize qualified applicant volume

• Ensure postings reflect company culture and professionally represent the organization to prospective candidates

• Continuously refine postings and sourcing strategy based on applicant response and quality

Post-Hire Support

• Partner with the hiring manager once a position is filled to help outline a structured onboarding/training plan for the new employee

• Support a smooth transition from hire to productive team member

Professionalism & Communication

• Represent the company professionally in all candidate and hiring manager interactions

• Communicate clearly and confidently, both in writing and verbally, with candidates ranging from hourly production staff to executive leadership

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in talent acquisition/recruiting; experience in food manufacturing or a related industrial/manufacturing environment strongly preferred

• Demonstrated success filling both hourly roles (production, quality, office, maintenance, etc.) and salaried leadership positions

• Proven expertise sourcing candidates via LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and other applicant tracking/sourcing platforms

• Proficient with Google Suite and Microsoft Office; able to utilize AI as a supportive tool

• Strong written communication skills with a portfolio or examples of job postings that have driven strong applicant response

• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills; comfortable engaging with hiring managers and leadership

• Highly professional presence and demeanor

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple open requisitions, and meet deadlines with minimal oversight

• Reliable transportation required; must be willing and able to travel between all company locations (Glendale Heights, IL and Chicago, IL) as needed

• Must be comfortable working around strong aromas, as this role involves onsite interactions at our spice manufacturing facilities and distribution center offices.

• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus

Work Arrangement

• Flexible schedule with regular travel between all company’s locations; reliable transportation required

• Approximately 25–30+ hours per week

• Part-time, independent contractor (1099) arrangement to start, paid at $40–$45/hour

• Potential to transition into a full-time employee role with expanded HR Generalist / Supervisor responsibilities (e.g., onboarding, employee relations, policy administration) based on performance and business need

*The pay range listed above reflects the rate the company reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Actual pay offered will be determined based on factors such as the candidate's skill set, relevant experience, education, and other job-related qualifications.