Talent Acquisition Operations Lead (Creative Design)

Wintrust provides community and commercial banking, specialty finance and wealth management services through its 16 bank charters and nine non-bank businesses. Wintrust delivers the sophisticated solutions of a large bank while staying true to the relationship-focused, personalized service of our community banking roots. We serve clients in all 50 states with more than 200 branch banking locations in Illinois, southwestern Florida, northwestern Indiana, west Michigan and southern Wisconsin and commercial banking offices in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Mich., and in key branch banking locations throughout Illinois. Our people are the heart of our business and we are proud to rank consistently as a top place to work. Wintrust is a $66 billion financial institution based in Rosemont, Illinois, and listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WTFC.”

Why join us?

• An award-winning culture! We are rated a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune (past 10 years) and Employee Recommended award by the Globe & Mail (past 6 years)
• Competitive pay and discretionary or incentive bonus eligible
• Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, a 401k plan with a generous company match and tuition reimbursement to name a few
• Family-friendly work hours
• With 175+ community bank locations, we offer opportunities to grow and develop in your career
• Promote from within culture

Why join this team?

• We have a culture that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit
• We offer multiple opportunities for development and upward mobility

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Talent Acquisition (TA) Operations Lead to drive operational excellence across our recruiting function. This role is responsible for leading core recruiting operations, ensuring process consistency, system optimization, reporting and analytics, vendor management, compliance, and continuous improvement efforts that support a best-in-class candidate, hiring manager, and recruiter experience.

What You'll Do

• TA Process Optimization:
  Design, implement, and continuously improve recruiting workflows, documentation, and SOPs across the hiring process (e.g., req approvals, sourcing, interviewing, offers).
• Systems and Tools:
  Own the administration and optimization of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and other TA tools. Partner with HRIS and IT on system enhancements, integrations, and user support.
• Data & Reporting:
  Deliver dashboards, metrics, and insights to support recruiting effectiveness, pipeline health, diversity, cost, and time-to-fill goals. Partner with People Analytics or HRIS as needed.
• Compliance & Governance:
  Ensure TA processes comply with relevant labor laws, OFCCP/EEO regulations, and internal audit standards. Conduct audits and provide training where needed.
• Vendor Management:
  Manage relationships with external recruiting vendors, including job boards, background check providers, scheduling tools, and search firms. Track utilization and performance.
• Training & Enablement:
  Support recruiter onboarding and training. Create resources and toolkits to upskill TA team members and hiring managers on process, tools, and compliance.
• Project Management:
  Lead or support TA initiatives such as new technology rollouts, recruiting projects, candidate experience improvements, or internal mobility programs.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in talent acquisition, with at least 2 years in a TA operations, HR operations, or project management role.
• Strong knowledge of applicant tracking systems (e.g., Workday, Greenhouse, iCIMS).
• Experience building or maintaining recruiting dashboards or reports using Excel, Power BI, or similar tools.
• Understanding of OFCCP/EEO requirements and recruiting compliance best practices.
• Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and influence without authority.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a regulated industry (e.g., financial services, healthcare, government contracting)
• Familiarity with LinkedIn Recruiter, CRM tools, scheduling automation, and background check vendors.
• Six Sigma, Lean, or project management certifications (e.g., PMP) a plus.

Benefits

Medical Insurance • Dental • Vision • Life insurance • Accidental death and dismemberment • Short-term and long term Disability Insurance • Parental Leave • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Traditional and Roth 401(k) with company match • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) • Employee Stock Purchase Plan at 5% discount • Critical Illness Insurance • Accident Insurance • Transportation and Commuting Benefits • Banking Benefits • Pet Insurance

Compensation

The estimated salary range for this role is $71,000 - $92,000, along with eligibility to earn an annual bonus. Actual salaries may vary based on several factors, such as a candidate's qualifications, skills and experience.

From our first day in business, Wintrust has been proud to serve a variety of unique communities and people from all walks of life.  To build a company that reflects the communities we serve, we believe that fostering a unique and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed will support our ongoing success.  Wintrust Financial Corporation, including community banking and financial services subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.