About Loftness Loftness Specialized Equipment is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer that has been designing and manufacturing high-quality agricultural and vegetation management equipment for over 70 years. Our product lines include vegetation management equipment, crop shredders, grain bagging systems, and other specialized solutions used by professionals across North America. At Loftness, we take pride in innovation, quality, customer success, and the people behind our products. Position Summary The Recruiter is responsible for developing and maintaining a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates to support the workforce needs of Loftness Specialized Equipment, with a primary focus on manufacturing, production, and skilled-trade positions. This role takes a proactive, hands-on approach to recruiting by building relationships with prospective candidates, schools, technical colleges, training programs, workforce organizations, and community partners throughout the local and regional area. The Recruiter manages the day-to-day recruiting process from job posting and candidate sourcing through applicant screening, interview coordination, pre-employment activities, onboarding, and offboarding. The position works closely with Human Resources and company leadership to anticipate staffing needs, keep the hiring process moving, and create a positive experience for candidates and new employees. Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates for manufacturing, production, skilled-trade, and other positions as needed.
• Proactively source candidates through job boards, social media, employee referrals, community contacts, schools, training programs, workforce organizations, career fairs, and other recruiting channels.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective candidates, including individuals who may not be immediately available for employment.
• Work with Human Resources and department leadership to understand current hiring needs and anticipate upcoming workforce requirements.
• Create, post, maintain, and refresh employment opportunities across appropriate job boards and recruiting platforms.
• Monitor job posting performance and adjust content, placement, sourcing methods, and recruiting channels to improve applicant quality and response.
• Review applications and resumes, conduct initial candidate screening, and identify qualified candidates for hiring manager consideration.
• Coordinate interviews, candidate communication, follow-up, employment offers, and pre-employment requirements in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Maintain accurate and organized applicant, candidate, recruiting activity, and hiring records.
• Track recruiting sources and activity to help identify the most effective methods for generating qualified candidates. School, Training & Community Relationships
• Develop strong working relationships with area high schools, technical colleges, trade schools, training programs, workforce development organizations, and other employment resources.
• Expand recruiting relationships throughout the local and regional area to increase awareness of employment opportunities at Loftness and strengthen the available candidate pool.
• Coordinate and participate in career fairs, hiring events, school visits, community events, and other recruiting activities.
• Promote manufacturing careers and Loftness employment opportunities to students, instructors, counselors, workforce professionals, and prospective employees.
• Identify opportunities for internships, work-based learning, apprenticeships, and other programs that can support the company's long-term workforce pipeline. Onboarding & Offboarding Responsibilities
• Coordinate the administrative onboarding process for new employees, including required employment documentation and pre-employment requirements.
• Coordinate new-hire start dates, orientation schedules, communications, and materials with Human Resources and supervisors.
• Assist with new employee orientation and maintain communication with new hires leading up to and immediately following their start date.
• Follow up with new employees and supervisors during the introductory employment period to help identify onboarding or retention concerns.
• Coordinate employee offboarding documentation and administrative processes, including exit interviews as requested.
• Collect and communicate relevant candidate, new-hire, and departing-employee feedback that may help improve recruiting, onboarding, and retention efforts. Required Skills & Abilities
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with an outgoing, professional, and approachable communication style.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple candidates, openings, interviews, and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to proactively identify and pursue candidates rather than relying solely on incoming applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and consistent follow-through with candidates and hiring managers.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and develop creative approaches to recruiting in a competitive labor market.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, entry-level applicants, experienced tradespeople, managers, educators, workforce professionals, and community partners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive applicant and employee information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, online job boards, applicant tracking systems, social media, and related recruiting technology.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where staffing needs and priorities can change quickly. Education & Experience
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, or a related field preferred.
• Previous recruiting, talent acquisition, staffing, human resources, or comparable professional experience preferred.
• Experience recruiting for manufacturing, skilled trades, production, agriculture, construction, or similar industries strongly preferred.
• Experience developing relationships with schools, technical colleges, workforce organizations, or community recruiting resources preferred. Work Environment & Travel
• This position is primarily based at the Loftness facility in Hector, Minnesota and regularly interacts with employees and candidates in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Local and regional travel is required for school visits, career fairs, recruiting events, workforce development activities, and relationship-building efforts.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, with regular movement throughout the manufacturing facility and at recruiting events.

Position Expectations This role requires consistent initiative, organization, responsiveness, and follow-through. The successful candidate will be comfortable actively seeking out prospective employees, building long-term recruiting relationships, maintaining a strong candidate pipeline, and managing the details necessary to move qualified candidates efficiently through the hiring and onboarding process.

Pay:

$28.00 - $32.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person