At Make-A-Wish® America, we are more than just a workplace — our mission is transformative. Together, we fulfill life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Inspired by one boy's wish to become a police officer, Make-A-Wish has, with the help of our volunteers, donors, staff, and supporters, granted over 600,000 wishes worldwide, making a profound impact on countless lives.

THE TEAM

Make-A-Wish America is the national headquarters for our organization, providing resources and support for our Chapters around the country. The People Team is comprised of innovative professionals who elevate our strategic talent programs for the national office, while extending resources and support to our chapters. 

THE ROLE 

The Senior Specialist, Talent Acquisition and Platform Operations is a key contributor to our mission by facilitating the full recruitment lifecycle, enhancing the candidate experience, and maintaining key HR systems and tools. This position is led by the Director of Platform Optimization and works in close consultation with People Business Partners to ensure alignment with organizational goals and talent strategies. The Specialist plays a vital role in attracting top talent, supporting inclusive hiring practices, and ensuring smooth onboarding and system operations.

WHERE YOU COME IN 

As the Senior Specialist, Talent Acquisition and Platform Operations at Make-A-Wish America you will: 

Talent Acquisition and Hiring

· Actively search for and connect with potential candidates, both directly and through outside partners

· Facilitates full cycle recruiting activities

· Conducts initial screening of candidates to assess their skills and experience

· Ensure new hires have a compliant and welcoming onboarding experience, including offer letters, background checks, and I-9 forms

· Works closely with hiring managers and interview teams to understand their needs and explain how the hiring process works, to include scheduling interviews

· Use fair and inclusive hiring practices to attract a wide range of candidates

· Share information about the company’s culture, benefits, and values to help attract top talent

· Improve the tools and systems used in the hiring process to make things run more smoothly

· Track and review hiring data (like how long it takes to fill a job or where candidates come from) to find ways to improve

HR Systems Administration

· Keep HR systems up to date and working well (like the applicant tracking system, payroll, learning tools, and employee recognition platforms)

· Fix system issues and work with IT or vendors when needed

· Manage who has access to HR systems and make sure the data is accurate

· Help with system updates and testing new features

Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Complete quarterly, annual HR Cycle work, like milestone anniversaries, people leader reports, org chart, etc.

· Work with other departments like IT, Finance, Legal, and HR to make sure systems and processes are aligned

· Help train others on how to use HR systems and tools

· Create and update guides and instructions for using HR tools and following HR processes

WHAT YOU’LL NEED 

Knowledge and Abilities:

Recruiting

· Ability to identify and attract top talent through sourcing activities, proactive outreach to passive candidates and matching talent to career opportunities

· Ability to evaluate resumes, conduct initial phone screens, and create a welcoming candidate experience

HR Technology & Systems Expertise

· Proficiency in multiple HR systems and platforms

· Understanding of system configuration, user permissions, and data workflows

· Familiar with HR system integrations

Process Improvement & Project Management

· Good at spotting problems and finding better ways to do things

· Can help improve how hiring and HR processes work

· Has helped with system upgrades or new tool rollouts

Compliance & Data Integrity

· Knowledge of employment laws and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, OFCCP, EEO)

· Attention to detail in maintaining accurate and compliant records

Communication & Collaboration

· Ability to assist colleagues to understand and best utilize HR systems and processes

· Strong written and verbal communication for documentation and cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

· 2+ years of general HR experience, with exposure to talent sourcing and recruitment.

· Experience supporting I-9 and eVerify programs

· Highly organized and detail oriented with ability to demonstrate initiative

· Experience with using and troubleshooting HR systems, experience with ADP a plus

· Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications is required

· Excellent communication and people skills to interact effectively with candidates and hiring managers

· Analytical skills to assess metrics and improve processes

· Negotiation and critical thinking skills to manage challenging searches and job offers

· Prior experience working in a nonprofit organization, desired

· Position may require travel to organizational conferences and events. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

BENEFITS 

• Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness
• Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential    
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options    
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish 
• Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance 
• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo 
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program   
• The organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station/adaptor to new hires 

TIME OFF 

• Up to 15 PTO days 
• 10 Sick Days 
• 11 Paid Holidays 
• 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service 
• 2 Personal Days accrued annually   
• Parental Leave

ALSO... 

• Employee Awards and Recognition Programs    
• Individual and Leadership Development     
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets   

*Monthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short/long term disability. 

Who We Are: 

Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Through our mission, we are uniting communities to grant life-changing wishes.   As the world’s largest wish-granting organization, we strive to create a sense of community and an environment where we warmly embrace our wish families, volunteers, and colleagues.

Joining Make-A-Wish means becoming part of a mission that believes in the power of a wish.  

Trouble submitting an application?

We’re thrilled that you’re interested in joining our mission! If you’re experiencing any hiccups while submitting your application, don’t worry – technology can be tricky sometimes. Here are a couple of quick tips to help you out:  

• Clear Your Cache and Cookies: Sometimes, a fresh start is all you need. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can often resolve submission issues.  
• Try a Different Browser: If clearing your cache doesn’t do the trick, switching to another browser might help. Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge are all great options. 

We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics. Make-A-Wish America utilizes E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.