Job Description

About Us:

With over 15 iconic restaurant destinations—and growing— Specialty Restaurants is a family-owned company with a proud legacy and an exciting future. Our portfolio includes award-winning favorites such as Rusty Pelican , Whiskey Joe’s , Castaway , and other unique waterfront and landmark locations across the country. Each concept is designed to deliver unforgettable dining experiences that combine breathtaking views, inspired cuisine, and exceptional hospitality.

For over six decades, Specialty Restaurants has remained committed to innovation, quality, and guest-centric experiences that stand the test of time. Our restaurants have been consistently recognized by OpenTable’s Most Scenic Restaurants , Diner’s Choice Awards , and numerous “Best Of” regional accolades , thanks to our passionate teams and deep-rooted culture of excellence.

As we continue to grow and elevate our brands, we’re looking for leaders who are just as passionate about people and hospitality as we are—people who want to be part of a company that celebrates its heritage while constantly evolving toward what's next.

Position Summary:

The Director of Talent Acquisition will lead and manage the full recruitment lifecycle—from strategic workforce planning and employer branding to sourcing, hiring, onboarding, and long-term talent pipeline development. This pivotal leadership role is charged with designing and executing innovative, scalable recruitment strategies that support the company’s continued growth across all restaurant brands and the support center. As a key cultural ambassador, this individual will play a critical role in shaping how we attract, engage, and retain top-tier talent—ensuring each hire aligns with our commitment to exceptional guest experiences and building high-performing, hospitality-driven teams.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead short- and long-term talent acquisition strategies aligned with company growth goals and brand identity.
• Manage and optimize all recruiting platforms and ATS (including but not limited to Indeed, LinkedIn, iSolved, social media)
• Post, update, and maintain attractive job ads while rewriting job descriptions to reflect evolving needs
• Own and execute the end-to-end hiring process for management and key hourly roles, including resume screening, candidate outreach, reference checks, and onboarding setup
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all inbound candidate inquiries and outbound sourcing efforts (cold and warm outreach; management level and above)
• Forecast staffing needs across restaurant and support center functions by partnering with operations and senior leadership
• Build and maintain strong talent pipelines for high-turnover and critical positions, including development of university and community partnerships
• Promote internal mobility by collaborating with hiring managers to identify and grow internal talent
• Ensure all hiring and recruiting practices comply with local, state, and federal employment laws
• Evaluate and manage recruiting tools, systems, and vendors—including major ATS platform transitions
• Provide training and coaching to field leadership on sourcing, interviewing, and hiring best practices
• Analyze hiring metrics, labor trends, and competitor strategies to improve efficiency and inform executive decisions
• Represent SRC at recruiting events, hospitality school partnerships, and industry job fairs
• Regularly present hiring updates, performance, and insights to the executive team

Required Experience/Skills

• 3+ years related experience required in a hospitality environment.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end recruitment strategy across multiple locations and departments
• Deep understanding of applicant tracking systems, recruiting platforms, and social sourcing strategies
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use hiring data to inform decisions
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence and partner across all levels of the organization
• Knowledge of hiring compliance and employment laws
• Passionate about people, culture, and creating exceptional candidate experiences.

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel locally to restaurant locations, job fairs, and conferences as needed (up to 25%).

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (seated or standing) for extended periods of time while working at a computer.
• Frequent use of a computer, including typing, data entry, and reviewing documents on-screen.
• Occasional lifting or moving of files, office supplies, or equipment up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, over video, phone, and email.

Disclaimer: The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; and is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recognize that people are our finest asset. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion or belief, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or sexual orientation or any other classification protected by law.

Specialty Restaurants Corporation maintains a drug free workplace. The Company will consider for employment qualified applications with criminal histories in a manner that is consistent with local, state, and federal law. All job offers are contingent upon successfully passing of a background check.

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