Talent Acquisition Specialist

October 22, 2026
Cloquet, MN, US
$60,000 – $75,000/yr
Know someone at Upper Lakes Foods?
Opens a LinkedIn search of your own network. We never see your connections.

Meet Upper Lakes Foods

Upper Lakes Foods is the largest independent, wholesale food distributor in Minnesota. The company has three facilities located in Cloquet, MN, Northfield, MN and Janesville, WI. We distribute food throughout the Upper Midwest. Upper Lakes Foods specializes in serving foodservice operators such as independent restaurants, assisted living facilities, schools, and national and regional foodservice chain accounts with a strong focus on customer service. Simply put, the mission is to build value for each customer, employee, supplier and community we serve by bringing the best; the best products, best people and best ideas.

The Details of the Talent Acquisition Specialist at Upper Lakes Foods

Great recruiting is about more than filling an open position. It's about building relationships, creating talent pipelines, understanding what hiring managers need, and giving candidates a reason to choose Upper Lakes Foods.

As our Talent Acquisition Specialist, you'll own recruiting initiatives across a variety of positions, with a strong focus on delivery drivers, transportation, distribution, and other hard-to-fill roles. You'll source candidates, build community partnerships, support hiring managers, attend recruiting events, and look for creative new ways to reach great talent.

You'll spend your time

  • Developing creative sourcing strategies and talent pipelines.
  • Partnering with hiring managers to understand their staffing needs.
  • Finding and engaging candidates through social media, job boards, referrals, schools, CDL programs, career fairs, and community partnerships.
  • Screening and interviewing applicants.
  • Coordinating interviews, offers, and pre-employment activities.
  • Building relationships with candidates, schools, workforce organizations, and community partners.
  • Promoting Upper Lakes Foods and helping strengthen our employer brand.
  • Tracking recruiting results and identifying what's working and where we can improve.
  • Creating a responsive, professional, and welcoming candidate experience.

You may be a great fit if you

  • Have 2+ years of recruiting, talent acquisition, HR, or related experience.
  • Enjoy sourcing and aren't afraid to reach out to passive candidates.
  • Can build strong relationships with both candidates and hiring managers.
  • Are organized, responsive, and comfortable managing multiple positions at once.
  • Enjoy finding new solutions for difficult recruiting challenges.
  • Have experience recruiting drivers, warehouse/distribution employees, or other high-volume positions. That's a plus, but not required.

Ready to take recruiting beyond the job posting?

Join Upper Lakes Foods and help us build the talent pipelines that support our continued success.

Full job description available on the Upper Lakes Foods Careers page.

"We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin."