Talent Acquisition Clearance Specialist

Where people get better at life!

Join us in our mission to make a difference and shape a more inclusive future.

The Center for Disability Services offers hope, innovation and achievement to the people we support. For 80 years, we have been one of upstate New York’s largest providers of programs and services for individuals who have disabilities. Many of the innovative programs and vital services that we offer are not available elsewhere.

What We Are Looking For: Talent Acquisition Specialist – Onboarding and Clearances

We are seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to guide candidates through pre-employment clearances and onboarding. This position serves as the candidate’s primary contact following the recruiter’s offer handoff, helping new employees complete required steps and prepare for orientation.

Approximately 25% of this role involves recruitment support, including application review, phone screening, interview scheduling and hiring events.

Benefits:

• No-cost and low-cost health insurance options
• Tuition reimbursement
• Generous paid time off
• Dental and vision insurance
• Employee referral programs
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability
• Eight company-paid holidays
• Retirement matching

Responsibilities:

• Independently manage an assigned caseload of candidates from offer handoff through pre-employment clearance and orientation, providing clear instructions, timely follow-up and assistance with onboarding requirements.
• Initiate and track background checks, fingerprinting, regulatory clearances, exclusion checks and driving record checks as required by the position and program.
• Complete employment and professional references, verify education and credentials, and coordinate outstanding occupational health requirements.
• Review candidate files for completeness and accuracy, determine readiness to start under established requirements, and postpone tentative start dates when necessary.
• Escalate background findings or other concerns requiring HR, Compliance, Legal or leadership review.
• Complete the employer review of Form I-9 documentation and coordinate required new-hire paperwork and Workday onboarding activities.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and audit-ready candidate records, clearance documentation and communications in Workday.
• Support recruiters with application review, candidate phone screens, interview scheduling, hiring events and coverage during absences.
• Collaborate with recruiters, hiring managers and Talent Acquisition leadership to resolve barriers and provide a positive candidate experience.

Requirements:

• Associate degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least 1–2 years of related experience in Human Resources, onboarding, background screening, Talent Acquisition or a related function, including experience administering employment background checks and/or regulated pre-employment clearance processes.
• Strong organizational, communication, documentation and follow-up skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple candidates and competing deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, apply established requirements accurately and recognize matters requiring additional review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
• Experience with Workday Recruiting or HCM.
• Knowledge of OPWDD, DOH, OCFS, NYSED/DOE and/or New York City clearance requirements.
• Experience in healthcare, human services, education, disability services or another highly regulated environment.
• Recruiting experience, including application review, phone screening and support for high-volume hiring.

At The Center for Disability Services, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees and the people we support. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any protected class of job applicant or employee in our employment practices.

Compensation Range:

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Early Access to Pay with RAIN
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)