General Manager, Talent Acquisition

About the Role

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is seeking an accomplished, strategic, and operationally focused General Manager, Talent Acquisition to lead and evolve the agency’s recruitment function. This role oversees both Talent Acquisition Strategy and Talent Acquisition Operations, enabling our workforce to meet the mission of building, managing, and maintaining our world-class transportation infrastructure. The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader, capable of overseeing a high-performing team, driving innovation in recruitment practices, and ensuring operational excellence and compliance across all hiring activities.

As the General Manager, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team and serve as the senior point of contact for recruitment across the agency. You will partner closely with business unit leaders, HR colleagues, and external vendors to attract, hire, and onboard diverse and highly qualified internal and external talent at all levels—from operations and maintenance to executive leadership. This role is a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, with responsibility for aligning recruitment practices with agency priorities, ensuring exceptional candidate and hiring manager experiences, and managing systems, processes, and analytics that underpin scalable, efficient, and compliant hiring practices. 

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Provide visionary leadership to the entire Talent Acquisition function, including recruitment and operations teams (18–20 staff).

• Coach, mentor, and develop staff while fostering a high-performance, accountable, and inclusive culture.

• Serve as the agency’s lead representative on all matters related to recruitment and internal mobility.

• Collaborate with other divisions in Human Resources to drive the work, resolve issues and evolve the agency’s recruitment and internal mobility functions. 

• Oversee executive recruitment directly and manage executive search partners.

• Manage Recruitment Process Outsourcing contract as well as all other division contracts and partnerships and division budget.

Talent Acquisition Strategy

• Design and implement innovative talent acquisition strategies that align with agency goals and support internal mobility, diversity, and future talent pipelines.

• Collaborate with senior leadership across Human Resources and business lines to forecast staffing needs and develop targeted recruitment plans.

• Champion diversity and inclusion throughout all recruitment efforts, leveraging sourcing strategies and community partnerships to attract diverse talent.

• Lead recruitment marketing initiatives in partnership with internal stakeholders to elevate the agency’s employer brand.

Operational Excellence

• Build and oversee a Talent Acquisition Operations function that delivers efficient, consistent, and candidate-friendly processes.

• Manage the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, including process design, documentation, change management, and compliance.

• Ensure hiring practices adhere to agency policies, union contracts, and legal requirements.

• Lead vendor selection, management, and contract negotiations (including ATS, background checks, RPOs, and job boards).

• Conduct regular audits and implement compliance protocols to ensure hiring practices meet applicable laws and agency policies.

Technology, Analytics & Process Improvement

• Oversee and optimize applicant tracking and recruitment systems (e.g., Jobvite, PeopleSoft).

• Establish and monitor KPIs and dashboards to assess team performance, hiring effectiveness, and workforce planning.

• Use data analytics to identify trends, support strategic decision-making, and inform recruitment and operational improvements.
• Drive continous improvement initiatives and promote operation agility through metrics, process redesign and automation.

Additional Information

This position is based at 4 World Trade Center but will require regular travel to other Port Authority locations and recruitment events in the NY/NJ region.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
• A minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in Talent Acquisition or a related Talent function, with leadership experience across both recruitment and operations functions.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in a unionized and/or public-sector environment.
• Expertise in using and optimizing ATS and HRIS platforms (e.g., Jobvite, PeopleSoft).
• Knowledge of employment law, OFCCP guidelines, and compliance standards.
• Experience managing external recruiting vendors and RPO partnerships.
• Track record of successfully implementing DEI initiatives in recruitment.
• Collaborative, empathetic, and mission-oriented leader with a hands-on, “working manager” mindset.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with ability to influence and build credibility at all organizational levels.
• Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven project management skills with experience leading cross-functional initiatives and change management efforts.

Selection Process

The application process varies by position, but typically includes an initial phone interview for qualified candidates, followed by a more in-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). Selected candidates who are made a conditional job offer will be asked to undergo a background check.

Compensation & Benefits

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package, hybrid work options for many positions, and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.

Click here for more information about benefits, our culture, and career development opportunities.