Jamal Thompson

About Jamal Thompson

I’m a Talent Acquisition professional who operates at the intersection of people-first decision-making, policy compliance, and operational accuracy within a large public-sector school system.My interest in talent acquisition began while serving as the search committee co-chair for professional and paraprofessional staff at Norfolk State University. I supported candidate evaluation, participated in interview panels, and helped facilitate structured selection processes, including the Resident Assistant Institute.My first formal role within a Human Resources office was with Chesterfield County Public Schools, where I entered the talent acquisition space supporting districtwide substitute staffing.I expanded my experience through short term contract recruiting roles via staffing agencies such as Aston Carter and Robert Half. I also completed professional development work with the recruitment team at Cook Out Restaurants, supporting recruiting initiatives within the food service industry and broadening my understanding of high-volume, industry-specific recruiting.I later moved into a full-cycle talent acquisition role with Rivers Casino Portsmouth, supporting hiring across casino operations and food and beverage roles. I led the initiative to establish a partnership with Old Dominion University, resulting in a formal memorandum, and supported pre-planning efforts for the implementation of an internship program to strengthen early talent pipelines.Today, I manage the hiring process end to end, from sourcing and pipeline development through offer issuance, compensation placement, contract classification, onboarding readiness, and orientation. I ensure candidates and leaders clearly understand expectations, compensation, and employment status before decisions are made, and I consistently apply licensure requirements, compensation business rules, and employment policies. Hiring actions are documented through employment agreements, Notices of Appointment (NOAs), and Notices of Personnel Change (NOPCs).I also have a strong professional interest in employee leave, accommodation, and compliance work, particularly ADA and FMLA, and I’m intentional about continuing to build expertise in these areas.My professional philosophy is simple: put people first, be accurate and transparent, apply policy consistently, and understand the downstream impact of every decision.If you value thoughtful talent acquisition work that balances human impact, compliance, and execution, let’s connect.

Experience

1. Senior Human Resources Specialist Talent Acquisition

   Richmond Public Schools

   Jan 2025 — Present

   Own the end-to-end hiring lifecycle for all full-time contracted positions across 20 sites (14 elementary schools, 2 preschools, 2 High Schools, Early Head Start at John Marshall, and Head Start at Richmond Success Academy).• Source candidates and build talent pipelines using social media and Handshake, in collaboration with universities, educator preparation programs, job fairs, and information sessions.• Vet and pre-screen candidates for eligibility, rehire status, licensure readiness, and school-level fit; coordinate interviews and serve as primary point of contact for school principals and the Cluster 1 Principal Director.• Pre-determine licensure eligibility based on Virginia Department of Education requirements; coordinate with Licensure when additional review is required.• Apply district compensation business rules to calculate creditable experience, determine salary step placement, and ensure equitable pay decisions.• Calculate and communicate prorated salary details for non-12-month contracts (9.5, 10, and 11-month), including daily rates, remaining contract days, total prorated salary, and estimated semi-monthly pay prior to offer acceptance.• Prepare and issue official offer letters and employment contracts, assigning probationary or continuing contract status in accordance with School Board policy.• Process employment actions, including Notices of Appointment (NOAs) and Notices of Personnel Change (NOPCs) for hires, transfers, promotions, position changes, and salary updates.• Coordinate onboarding and facilitate new employee orientation, managing invitations, materials, and session flow as primary facilitator.• Serve on the Strategic Staffing Central Team, supporting annual staff validation and districtwide staffing alignment.• Collaborate cross-functionally with the Budget department, Benefits & Compensation, Licensure, Teacher Leader Pathways, and Employee Relations.

Education

• Regent University

  Master of Education - MEd, Student Counseling and Personnel Services

• Norfolk State University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Sociology