Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois · 2 days ago
Senior Talent Strategy & Optimization Specialist
Springfield, IL
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$99K/yr - $154K/yr
6+ years expTeachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois is dedicated to delivering expert pension service to Illinois public educators. The Senior Talent Optimization Specialist is responsible for advancing workforce effectiveness through integrated talent optimization and oversight of talent acquisition, ensuring that workforce investments translate into measurable business performance.
Education
Responsibilities
Drive integrated talent optimization by connecting workforce planning, skills and role design, talent acquisition, learning and development, succession planning, and performance and retention. This includes working with HR Business Partners and leaders to assess current and future talent needs
Align roles and capabilities with business priorities
Hire for both present and future skills
Develop employees to meet emerging organizational requirements
Prepare internal talent for critical roles
Foster engagement and growth of high-performing employees
Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and risks across the talent lifecycle hiring, development, performance, engagement, and retention) and translate insights into targeted interventions
Analyze workforce and talent data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities; translate insights into actionable strategies and recommendations
Contribute to organizational change initiatives by assessing talent impacts and supporting readiness, capability building, and adoption
Provide strategic oversight for talent acquisition and recruitment activities, ensuring alignment with organizational values, diversity objectives, and workforce priorities
Establish and maintain recruitment standards, processes, and metrics to promote consistency, efficiency, and a high-quality candidate experience
Partner with hiring leaders to support effective workforce planning, position scoping, and selection strategies
Monitor recruitment outcomes and labor market trends to continuously refine sourcing and hiring approaches
Provide daily operations and leadership oversight to the TRS recruiting team
Serve as a subject matter expert on recruitment best practices, employment branding, and selection methodologies
Collaborate cross-functionally with Communications, Learning & Development, and Change Management to support integrated talent initiatives
Partner with Learning & Development to develop and deliver HR training that strengthens skills, drives consistency, and supports organizational performance
Develop tools, resources, dashboards, and guidance to support leaders in making informed talent decisions
Communicate complex talent insights in a clear, compelling manner to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership
Ensure compliance with applicable employment laws, policies, and internal standards across all talent programs
Continuously assess and refine approaches based on outcomes, feedback, and evolving business needs
Perform other duties as required or assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
Minimum of 6–8 years of progressive experience in talent management, workforce planning, or organizational development, with demonstrated involvement in talent acquisition or recruitment
Experience overseeing or leading recruitment functions or enterprise hiring initiatives
Professional certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, or related credentials)
Experience working in fast-paced, complex environments
Demonstrated ability to think beyond individual roles or programs to understand how talent, structure, processes, and culture interact across the organization
Ability to anticipate long-term workforce needs, evaluates downstream impacts of talent decisions, and design integrated solutions that support organizational goals rather than isolated fixes
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to identify trends, diagnose challenges, and inform strategic decisions
Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships with leaders, HR business partners, and cross-functional stakeholders to effectively influence decisions and drive organizational change
Ability to navigate ambiguity and shift priorities with confidence and adaptability
Ability to communicate concepts in a clear, concise, and audience-appropriate manner. Listens actively, asks thoughtful questions, and tailors messages to support understanding, alignment, and informed decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups
Proven ability to lead complex initiatives in dynamic, change-driven environments
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Benefits
Medical, dental and vision coverage
TRS retirement pension plan
Option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans
Reciprocal system to other state and local pension plans (SERS, SURS, IMRF, etc.)
Company
Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois
The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) is one of the largest pension systems in the United States.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageRecent News
2025-04-22
Company data provided by crunchbase