Entry Level Talent Acquisition Jobs in Reston, VA

Looking to Build a Career in Talent Acquisition?

This is an early-career opportunity for someone with experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, staffing, or candidate sourcing who is looking to build a long-term career in Talent Acquisition. This is not an entry-level role and requires prior experience supporting recruiting activities in a staffing agency, recruiting agency, or corporate Talent Acquisition environment. This role offers the chance to develop a strong foundation in Talent Acquisition while preparing for broader recruiting responsibilities over time.

This candidate will work in our Washington, DC office on a hybrid basis, with 1-2 days in the office per week.

At Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), we lead the planning, development, and management of the places that shape and strengthen communitieswhere people live, learn, work, and play. B&D partners with institutions, municipalities, and organizations to shape and deliver complex real estate and capital projects, providing strategic insight and end-to-end advisory services across the full project lifecycle.

B&D recently joined forces with Project Management Advisors, bringing together two nationally recognized leaders in program management and real estate advisory services. Together, the combined firm offers expanded capabilities across industries and throughout the full project lifecyclefrom early-stage strategy and planning through execution and beyond.

At B&D, Talent Acquisition plays a critical role in supporting the firm's growth and success. The people we hire directly impact our ability to serve clients, deliver complex projects, and strengthen communities across the country. This role goes beyond coordinating interviews and onboarding logistics. You'll help create exceptional candidate and new hire experiences while contributing to the growth of a high-performing, people-focused organization.

This position will initially focus on recruiting operations, interview coordination, onboarding, and candidate experience. As you develop and gain experience, you'll have opportunities to take on sourcing, candidate engagement, and recruiting projects.

How You'll Contribute

• Post and manage job advertisements across B&D's career site, applicant tracking system, and external job boards.
• Coordinate interview scheduling, candidate communications, and interview logistics.
• Schedule interview debrief meetings and ensure timely communication between hiring teams and Talent Acquisition.
• Communicate professionally with candidates throughout the hiring process, ensuring a positive candidate experience from application through the hiring process.
• Support consistency in recruiting processes across offices and regional teams.
• Assist with internship recruiting and seasonal hiring initiatives.

• Coordinate onboarding schedules and first-day logistics for new hires.
• Ensure all pre-employment documentation is completed accurately before start dates.
• Manage background check initiation, tracking, and completion.
• Support I-9 verification and onboarding compliance activities.
• Coordinate new hire orientation sessions and ensure managers are prepared for employee onboarding.
• Distribute onboarding materials and welcome gifts.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure new hires are accurately reflected in internal systems and communications.

• Monitor the HR inbox and respond to recruiting-related inquiries professionally and promptly.
• Maintain accurate recruiting data within the applicant tracking system and assist with reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve recruiting workflows, candidate experience, and operational efficiency.
• Support career fairs, university recruiting events, and employer branding initiatives.
• Assist with recruiting projects, process improvements, and other Talent Acquisition initiatives as the team continues to grow.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in talent acquisition, recruiting, staffing, or candidate sourcing, with exposure to activities such as candidate outreach, sourcing, screening, applicant management, recruiting coordination, or other direct recruiting functions
• Experience working in a staffing agency, recruiting agency, professional services organization, consulting environment, or corporate Talent Acquisition team is strongly preferred
• Interest in building a long-term career in Talent Acquisition and developing recruiting skills over time.
• Experience working with an Applicant Tracking System.
• Experience in a corporate Talent Acquisition team or staffing agency environment is strongly preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to quickly learn new HR technologies and systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to professionalism and detail.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and comfort navigating ambiguity.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated respect for diverse teams, perspectives, and backgrounds.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for recruiting events, university engagement, training, or firmwide/team meetings.

A strong Talent Acqusition Coordiantor don't just complete tasks; they look for ways to improve them.They will exhibit:

• Learning Agility & Resourcefulness: You learn quickly, embrace new challenges, and proactively seek solutions.
• Ownership & Initiative: You take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments, and identify opportunities to improve processes.
• Relationship Management & Communication: You build trust through professionalism, responsiveness, and strong communication with candidates, hiring managers, and colleagues.
• Systems Thinking: You see how processes connect, stay organized, and look for ways to improve efficiency and consistency.

Impactful Mission- Be part of meaningful work that helps shape the places where people live, learn, work, and connect.

Learning & Growth -We invest in mentorship, leadership development, and continuous learning at every stage of your career.

Strong Culture -Entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, integrity, and excellence drive how we work together.

Robust Benefits-Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, and prescription coverage, a targeted 7% employer-contribution 401(k), generous PTO, cell phone reimbursement, and more.

To get started, our application process includes a resume, an optional (recommended) cover letter, and a short set of essential questions. We look forward to getting to know you.

The target base annual salary range for this role is currently $65,000- $75,000. Pay scales are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors unique to each candidate, including, but not limited to, job-related skills, relevant education, experience, certifications, candidate abilities, and pay relative to other team members.

Brailsford & Dunlavey is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Brailsford & Dunlavey participates in E-Verify