March 29, 2024

NAVAIR Wins Award for Recruitment Efforts

From left: HCMD Executive Director Lisa Ringlen, NAVAIR Assistant Commander, Corporate Operations and Total Force Gary Kurtz, NAVAIR Recruiting and Retention Program Manager Tania Dawson, NAVAIR Special Recruitment Branch Lead Suzanne Perry, and Deloitte Director of DoD Human Capital John Speigel, accept the Human Capital Management Defense Award for NAVAIR's innovative recruitment program March 14. (Photo courtesy of World Wide Business Research)

NAVAIR won a Human Capital Management Defense Award for its innovative recruitment program at an awards ceremony March 14.

Specifically, NAVAIR’s National Recruitment Program was recognized for attracting top talent, implementing an effective recruitment strategy and demonstrating improvements in the hiring process. Winners were announced at the annual HCMD conference in Arlington, Va.

Thanks to its Recruitment Program, NAVAIR hired 1,530 of the 203,609 civilians in the Department of the Navy in fiscal year 2011, according to Recruiting and Retention Program Manager Tania Dawson.

One key strategy is the program’s award-winning use of social media and marketing. For example, NAVAIR’s Facebook page includes special veterans and careers applications to encourage interested candidates to apply online. There is also a video tailored to wounded warriors posted on the command’s YouTube channel.

NAVAIR’s creative recruitment advertisement in the National Association of Colleges and Employers “Job Choices” magazine won a Student Choice Award for its direct, simple appeal, bright colors and diversity.

In addition, program staff members participate annually in more than 75 external recruiting events at colleges and job fairs nationwide. Using a structured analytics process, NAVAIR targets areas of low participation, such as Hispanics and Asians. Their efforts have paid off: From fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2011, the command experienced a 10 percent increase in Hispanic hires and a 48 percent increase in Asian hires.

NAVAIR has also led the Navy in executing the Naval Acquisition Development Intern Program, hiring 129 entry-level acquisition professionals in 2011, including 12 individuals with disabilities and five combat wounded warriors. This three-year paid program provides professional development to promote the growth of entry-level professionals in finance, contracting, logistics, science and engineering and is an important initiative within the Navy to build the acquisition workforce.

The annual HCMD awards honor, recognize and promote successful human capital initiatives implemented throughout the federal government. A judging panel selected the winners from a group of finalists in each of five categories.

For more information, watch the conference video.

Source: NAVAIR Headquarters

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