Lead Recruiter

Location: Summerville or Orangeburg, SC facility

Employment Type: Full-Time onsite

About Hounen Solar America Inc. Hounen Solar America Inc. is a fast-growing U.S.

-based solar panel manufacturer dedicated to producing high-efficiency, "Made in USA" photovoltaic modules for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. With our state-of-the-art facility in Orangeburg, SC, already at 1 GW annual capacity, we are undergoing rapid expansion to reach 3 GW total production. This includes a new, advanced 2 GW assembly plant in Summerville, SC, set to come online soon. As a key player in America s clean energy transition, we are committed to innovation, sustainability, quality, and building a talented team to drive our ambitious growth.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Lead Recruiter to build and lead our talent acquisition function during this exciting period of hyper-growth. This hands-on leadership role will own full-cycle recruiting for all professional-level and above positions—including Directors, Managers, Engineers, Technical Specialists, and other salaried roles—across manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, and more. The Lead Recruiter will drive employer branding, streamline recruiting processes, enhance our ATS strategy, lead campus recruiting, partner closely with functional leaders, and establish robust talent selection criteria to attract and select top talent that aligns with our high-performance culture and clean energy mission.

• Lead full-cycle recruitment for professional, managerial, director-level, and technical positions, ensuring timely, high-quality hires to support rapid scaling from 1 GW to 3 GW capacity.
• Develop and execute employer branding initiatives to position Hounen Solar America as an employer of choice in the renewable energy and advanced manufacturing sectors (e.g., Linked In presence, career site enhancements, industry events, social media storytelling).
• Design and lead campus recruiting programs, building partnerships with universities, technical colleges, and STEM programs in South Carolina and beyond to create talent pipelines for entry-to-mid-level professional roles.
• Streamline and optimize the end-to-end recruiting process for efficiency and candidate experience, including sourcing strategies, interview protocols, offer management, and onboarding coordination.
• Partner closely with functional leaders (e.g., Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Quality) to understand hiring needs, define role requirements, assess candidates, and make data-driven selection decisions.
• Drive ATS (Applicant Tracking System) strategy: select, implement, or optimize tools; ensure data integrity; generate reports on recruiting metrics (time-to-fill, source of hire, diversity, cost-per-hire, etc.); and provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Establish and maintain company-wide talent selection criteria, competency frameworks, and interview standards to ensure consistent, fair, and effective hiring.
• Manage a small recruiting team (as it grows) or external partners/agencies; track recruiting KPIs and report progress to HR and executive leadership.
• Support diversity, equity, and inclusion in sourcing and selection to build a representative workforce.
• Stay current on labor market trends in solar/renewables manufacturing, compliance (e.g., OFCCP, EEO), and best practices in high-volume professional recruiting.

• Bachelor s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field (Master s preferred).
• 7+ years of progressive recruiting experience, with at least 3–5 years in a lead/senior/strategic recruiter role.
• Proven track record in fast-paced, high-growth environments (manufacturing, renewable energy, tech, or similar industries strongly preferred).
• Experience recruiting for technical/professional roles (e.g., engineers, managers, directors) in manufacturing or advanced industries.
• Strong knowledge of full-cycle recruiting, employer branding, campus recruiting, ATS systems (e.g., Workday, Greenhouse, iCIMS), and recruiting metrics/analytics.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build relationships with senior leaders and candidates.
• Demonstrated ability to establish processes, selection criteria, and branding strategies from the ground up.
• Knowledge of South Carolina labor market and renewable energy sector a plus.
• Ability to travel occasionally between Orangeburg and Summerville facilities (and other sites as needed).

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off).
• Opportunity to make a direct impact on a high-growth company shaping America s solar future.
• Collaborative, innovative work environment focused on sustainability and excellence.
• Professional development and career advancement potential as we expand.