Talent and Operations Specialist

The Talent and Operations Specialist supports the execution of SEPA's hiring process and as a trusted partner to the Office of the COO. About 70% of the role manages full-cycle recruiting coordination under the Manager, Human Resources. The remaining 30% provides operational and administrative support to the Chief Operating Officer, whose portfolio spans finance, HR, legal, risk, technology, board governance, and organizational effectiveness.

This role suits someone who loves a well-run process, delivers a warm candidate experience, and wants to grow a career in people operations at a mission-driven organization.

Talent Acquisition (about 70%, reporting to the Manager, Human Resources)

• Partner with hiring managers to confirm position needs, refine job descriptions, and build interview plans.

• Post openings on the applicant tracking system (UKG), job boards, LinkedIn, and partner networks in the clean energy and association communities.

• Proactively source and engage passive candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, and professional networks to build diverse, ready pipelines for current and future roles.

• Translate intake conversations with hiring managers into a sourcing strategy, including target titles, organizations, and must-have skills.

• Stay current on emerging recruiting tools, practices, and labor market trends, and bring ideas that make our hiring process faster, fairer, and more data-informed.

• Screen applicants against role criteria and conduct initial phone screens.

• Schedule interviews across time zones and coordinate interview panels, materials, and feedback collection.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for candidates, keeping them informed and creating a welcoming experience that reflects SEPA's values.

• Maintain accurate candidate records and pipeline status in the ATS and in Monday.com tracking boards.

• Coordinate reference checks, background checks, and offer letter preparation in partnership with the Manager, HR.

• Notify candidates who are not selected promptly and respectfully.

• Hand off new hires to onboarding, coordinating with IT, payroll, and the hiring manager for a smooth first day.

• Track and report recruiting metrics such as time to fill, pipeline volume, and source of hire.

• Support employer branding, including job fair materials and outreach that broadens the depth and breadth of candidate pools.

• Help keep recruiting practices consistent and compliant with federal and multi-state employment requirements.

Office of the COO Operations Support (about 30%, reporting to the COO)

• Manage the COO's calendar, scheduling, and meeting logistics in partnership with the CEO's executive assistant.

• Prepare agendas, materials, and follow-up notes for the COO's standing meetings, including the weekly Operations leadership meeting.

• Track action items and deadlines across the COO portfolio and send timely reminders to owners.

• Assist with board and committee logistics, including document preparation and distribution.

• Coordinate vendor and outside counsel scheduling, contract routing, and invoice processing for the COO portfolio.

• Draft routine correspondence, format documents and presentations, and maintain organized shared files.

• Support logistics for all-staff meetings, staff retreats, and Operations initiatives in partnership with the HR and Organizational Effectiveness departments.

• Handle confidential and sensitive information with consistent utmost discretion.

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Experience recruiting for a remote, multi-state workforce.

• Experience in a nonprofit, association, or energy sector organization.

• Two to four years of experience in recruiting coordination, talent acquisition, HR administration, or executive support.

• Demonstrated and hands-on experience sourcing with LinkedIn Recruiter, including building and refining Boolean search strings; UKG ATS experience is a plus.

• Demonstrated curiosity about recruiting technology and best practices, with comfort adopting new tools and automating routine steps so more time goes to people.

• At least one year of experience providing administrative support to a senior leader, including managing a complex calendar, coordinating meetings, and preparing materials.

• Hands-on experience with an applicant tracking system

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage many requisitions and priorities at once.

• Clear, warm written and verbal communication with candidates, managers, and senior leaders.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and comfort learning project tools such as Monday.com.

• Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.

• Progress toward an HR credential such as aPHR, PHR, or SHRM-CP.

About SEPA

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the transformation of the electric power system so that it delivers clean, affordable, and resilient energy for all. We work at the intersection of technology, policy, and programs, convening utilities, regulators, policymakers, technology providers, and advocates around the hardest questions of the energy transition.

Nearly 1,000 member organizations turn to SEPA for trusted analysis, thought leadership, and the kind of neutral, collaborative space that is hard to find anywhere else in this industry. Guided by our 2025 to 2030 Strategic Plan, our work centers on three priorities:

• Grid: Strengthening and modernizing the distribution grid so that it is more flexible, resilient, and equitable.

• Growth: Enabling utilities and partners to meet rising demand cleanly, efficiently, and affordably.

• Globe: Sharing best practices and innovations from across the country and around the world so that progress moves faster everywhere.

Our Culture

Culture at SEPA is not something we declare. It is something our people built. Our five values came directly from staff, shaped by in-person staff retreats, employee surveys, our employee-led People & Culture Council and working sessions across the organization. They describe how we actually operate:

• Serve with Excellence. We hold a high bar for the work our members rely on, and we hold it for one another.

• Build Trust Through Transparency. We share context early, explain our reasoning, and say the harder thing when it matters.

• Act with Courage. We take on the questions the industry has not solved yet, and we are willing to be first.

• Own It Together. We carry the work across functions, and we share both the credit and the accountability.

• Include and Belong. We build a workplace where people from every background can contribute fully and grow, because better decisions come from a wider set of perspectives.

If you want to do work that shapes the future of the energy system, alongside colleagues who are deeply committed to both the mission and each other, you will find a home here.

ADA Requirements and Disclaimer

This position description generally indicates the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act expected of an incumbent. This role requires the ability to use standard office equipment and learn new software applications as necessary. This is a largely sedentary role; however, some traveling may be required. This position description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of an incumbent. An incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.