Technical Recruiter (Contract)

Position Summary:This contract role is responsible for leading and managing external staffing agency partnerships while executing full-cycle technical recruiting activities. The Contract Technical Recruiter oversees agency performance, ensures alignment with Ventura Foods’ hiring standards and service expectations, and partners closely with Hiring Managers and Human Resources to deliver high-quality, diverse talent. This role also drives requisition posting, sourcing, candidate assessment, interview coordination, offer support, and pre-employment activities, leveraging Ventura Foods’ Employee Value Proposition to deliver an exceptional candidate and Hiring Manager experience aligned with the Ventura Edge.Major Duties and Responsibilities:Partner with and oversee external staffing agencies supporting IT roles, managing the full agency lifecycle including vendor evaluation, expectation setting, budget alignment, and performance monitoring against KPIs (pipeline quality, time-to-fill, quality-of-hire, and candidate experience).Ensure agency partners fully understand role requirements, Ventura Foods’ Employee Value Proposition, and hiring expectations; evaluate and guide candidate submissions to maintain high quality and cultural alignment.Review applications and interview candidates to assess experience, skills, and compensation requirements; advance qualified candidates who meet role criteria and embody the Ventura Edge.Drive hiring excellence through effective candidate assessment, stakeholder alignment, debriefs, and discovery conversations to ensure successful offer acceptance and hire.Deliver an exceptional candidate, hiring manager, and team member experience by anticipating needs, resolving issues through closure, and collaborating closely with key stakeholders.Stay informed on industry trends, labor market conditions, and total rewards benchmarks; analyze staffing and headcount trends to support workforce planning and future hiring needs.Perform other duties and projects as assigned.Requirements:Bachelor’s degree required.Proven experience managing external recruiting agencies and third-party staffing vendors, including assessing agency effectiveness and serving as the primary point of contact required.2+ years of experience recruiting for Information Technology roles, preferably across multiple sites within manufacturing, distribution, or a related industry.Demonstrated ability to source talent through multiple channels, including online platforms, community-based organizations, and vocational or technical institutions.Food industry experience preferred.This role is remote, with preference for candidates located in the Pacific Time Zone or local to Irvine, CA (occasional travel to Irvine HQ as needed).Knowledge & Skills:Strong vendor and relationship management skills, including the ability to evaluate, select, and lead external staffing partners while tracking performance metrics and holding agencies accountable to SLAs.Proven recruiting expertise, including sourcing, assessing/interviewing, and presenting qualified talent to stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.Proficient direct sourcing capabilities, leveraging internal and external networks, market knowledge, and creative strategies to identify, assess, and deliver top talent while building future pipelines.Consultative communication style with the ability to build effective relationships across a diverse group of professionals.Innovative mindset with the ability to identify new and effective approaches to sourcing and talent attraction.High level of professionalism, sense of urgency, attention to detail, and ability to multitask and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.Independent, self-motivated team player with strong written and verbal communication skills.Experience using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) preferred.Proficiency with MS Office Products.