The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is seeking a strategic, high-energy Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Learning and Talent Acquisition, this leader serves as the chief architect of our statewide recruitment enterprise. You will lead a dedicated team of hospital recruiters based across Georgia, driving a sophisticated search strategy that spans the full spectrum of talent—from frontline clinical staff to C-suite executive leadership for the State Office. This role is focused exclusively on recruitment innovation, high-touch candidate experiences, and the development of long-term workforce pipelines.

DBHDD – Who We Are

Established in 2009 by the Governor and General Assembly, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) operates state hospitals and provides community-based services statewide through contracted partners. Our mission is to lead an accountable and effective continuum of care, supporting all Georgians with behavioral health challenges and intellectual and developmental disabilities. As Georgia’s vital public safety net, our vision is to ensure easy access to high-quality care that guides the uninsured and underinsured people we serve toward a life of recovery and independence.

Key Strategic Responsibilities

Strategic Workforce Development

· Workforce Pipeline Innovation: Design and lead a comprehensive "Future Workforce" strategy by establishing deep-rooted partnerships with universities, colleges, and high schools across Georgia.

· Academic & Clinical Partnerships: Serve as the primary liaison for medical residency programs, nursing schools, and psychology doctoral programs to create seamless pathways from graduation to public service at DBHDD.

· Strategic Sourcing: Move beyond traditional job boards to develop proactive sourcing models, including internship-to-hire programs, campus recruitment tours, and vocational outreach.

· Workforce Intelligence: Utilize predictive analytics to identify long-term staffing trends and develop proactive pipelines for hard-to-fill clinical and forensic roles.

Recruitment & Experience Optimization

· The Candidate Journey: Lead the complete redesign of the recruitment, interview, and onboarding experience to ensure it is seamless, engaging, and reflective of DBHDD’s mission.

· Interview Excellence: Develop and implement standardized, competency-based interview frameworks and train hiring managers on behavioral interviewing techniques and bias mitigation.

· Onboarding Integration: Partner with the Learning team to ensure the transition from "Candidate" to "Employee" is cohesive, providing new hires with a high-touch introduction to the agency's culture and operations.

· Employer Brand Storytelling: Modernize the agency’s recruitment marketing, leveraging digital platforms and social media to showcase the impact of a career in state behavioral health.

Leadership & Stakeholder Influence

· Advisory Role: Serve as the subject matter expert for Senior and Executive Leadership on talent market trends, providing data-driven recommendations to improve hiring competitiveness.

· Team Empowerment: Lead and mentor a team of recruiters, shifting their focus from administrative processing to proactive talent scouting and relationship building.

· Process Modernization: Drive continuous improvement of recruitment technologies and automated tools to reduce "time-to-fill" while increasing the quality of hire.

· Diversity & Inclusion: Embed inclusive hiring practices into every stage of the recruitment lifecycle to ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.

Process Optimization & Candidate Experience

· The Candidate Journey: Lead the redesign of recruitment, interview, and onboarding processes to ensure a seamless, professional experience for candidates at all levels.

· Interview Rigor: Develop competency-based interview frameworks and provide training to hospital leadership on behavioral interviewing and bias mitigation.

· Employer Brand Narrative: Modernize the DBHDD recruitment brand, positioning the agency as the premier employer for mission-driven behavioral health professionals in the Southeast.

Education and Experiences:

· Bachelor’s degree in human resources, organizational psychology, business administration or related field

· 5–10 years of proven experience in talent acquisition and/or workforce development; including experience with the full-cycle of recruitment and onboarding using various techniques, technologies, and evaluation methods.

· Knowledge and experience of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Candidate Management Systems (CMS).

· 2-5 years of experience as a manager or senior lead of a team.

The Ideal Candidate

· Experience: 7+ years of progressive recruitment leadership, with a proven track record of building university relations or workforce pipeline programs.

· Relationship Builder: Exceptional ability to network and influence external partners (Deans, Career Centers, and Community Leaders) and internal executive stakeholders.

· Visionary Thinker: A passion for "the big picture” - moving from reactive hiring to a proactive, multi-year workforce sustainability model.

· Education: Bachelor’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, or a related field; SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

· Position located at DBHDD state offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and teleworking is available.

· Ability to sit for prolonged periods while working at a desk and on a computer.

· A valid driver’s license as this position requires frequent travel (up to 50%) to DBHDD hospitals and regional offices throughout Georgia.

Join Our Team

We prioritize providing 24/7 care to individuals while offering structure and work-life balance for our teams. We understand that a happy and supported team is essential for delivering high-quality care. By fostering a supportive environment with work-life balance, we empower our team members to bring their best to serve those in need. We are inspired by the dedication and passion of our team members and take seriously our responsibility to ensure everyone feels supported, prepared, and encouraged to contribute to our mission and vision.

As a DBHDD employed team member you will receive:

Paid Time Off

· Vacation Leave: 15 days annually (Years 1–5), 18 days (Years 5–10), and 21 days (10+ years).

· Sick Leave: Accrue 10 hours per month (15 days annually).

· Holidays: 13 paid state holidays plus 1 dedicated educational leave day.

· Parental Leave: 6 weeks of paid leave for new parents.

Health and Wellness Benefits

· Flexible Healthcare: We offer three Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plans, three Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), and four Medicare Advantage Plan options for retirees enrolled in Medicare.

· Comprehensive Coverage: Dental, vision, life, dependent life, legal, and disability insurance options.

· Flexible Spending: Healthcare and childcare spending accounts (FSA).

· Wellness Incentives: Programs designed to reward healthy lifestyle choices; including the Employee Assistance Program.

Retirement

· Georgia State Employees’ Pension and Savings Plan (GSEPS): a combination Defined Benefit/ Defined Contribution plan. Please see additional information within this packet.

· Defined Benefit Plan (pension): Multiple pension plans are available based on the type of entity you are employed by and your length/years of service.

· Defined Contribution Plan (401(k)): New employees are automatically enrolled at a 5% contribution rate, allowing for the maximum employer match to be contributed to the employee’s account.

· 401(k) or 457 Rollovers: New employees can roll over a qualified retirement account from a previous employer through the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia (ERSGA).

Be Here

To learn more about the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, visit our website at Home - Careers at DBHDD

DBHDD is an Equal Opportunity Employer that promotes diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status regarding public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.