Jan 2025 – Present · 1 yr 2 mos

• KCA People (formerly Kirsty Craig Associates)
• Helping Businesses Achieve Hiring Excellence Through Strategic Recruitment Solutions
• With over 17 years of global recruitment experience, I specialise in transforming talent acquisition processes to enhance efficiency, improve candidate experiences, and reduce costs. My expertise spans managing agencies, leading internal talent teams, and consulting for organisations ranging from SMEs to multinational corporations.
• At KCA People, I lead the Hiring Excellence Programme, a subscription-based recruitment model designed to align hiring strategies with business objectives. By integrating cutting-edge AI and automation tools, we streamline recruitment processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and connect disparate systems to create seamless hiring workflows.
• Key Features of the Hiring Excellence Programme:
• Tailored Hiring Strategies: Supporting businesses to identify, attract, and retain top talent aligned with their organisational goals.
• AI and Automation Integration: Introducing advanced tools to optimise workflows, reduce time-to-hire, and enhance candidate engagement.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Delivering actionable insights to improve workforce planning and identify future talent gaps.
• My approach is built on collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, ensuring businesses are equipped with the tools and strategies they need to build exceptional teams.
• If you’re ready to revolutionise your recruitment process, let’s connect to discuss how the Hiring Excellence Programme can help you achieve your goals.

Mar 2024 – Jan 2025 · 10 mos

• KCA People (formerly Kirsty Craig Associates)
• I Help Businesses Achieve Hiring Excellence Through Strategic Recruitment Solutions
• With over 17 years of global recruitment experience, I specialise in transforming talent acquisition processes to drive efficiency, enhance candidate experiences, and reduce costs. My expertise spans managing agencies, leading internal talent teams, and consulting for organisations ranging from SMEs to multinational corporations.
• At KCA People, I spearhead the Hiring Excellence Program, a subscription-based recruitment model designed to align hiring strategies with business goals. By integrating cutting-edge AI and automation tools, including workflow solutions like Make.com, we streamline recruitment processes, reduce inefficiencies, and connect disparate systems to create seamless hiring workflows.
• Key Offerings of the Hiring Excellence Program:
• Tailored Hiring Strategies: Helping businesses identify, attract, and retain top talent aligned with their organisational objectives.
• AI and Automation Integration: Implementing advanced tools to optimise workflows, reduce time-to-hire, and improve candidate engagement.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Providing actionable insights to enhance workforce planning and identify future talent gaps.
• My approach prioritises collaboration, innovation, and excellence, ensuring businesses are equipped with the tools and strategies they need to build exceptional teams.
• If you're looking to revolutionise your recruitment process, let’s connect to discuss how the Hiring Excellence Program can support your business goals.

Jul 2022 – Feb 2024 · 1 yr 7 mos · Runcorn, England, United Kingdom · On-site

• As a seasoned HR and talent acquisition professional, I bring extensive experience in leading large-scale, multinational projects and implementing innovative recruitment strategies. I represented the UK in a European project to roll out an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) across 29 countries, collaborating with European C-level executives and HR leaders. We conducted workshops and questionnaires to ensure local alignment with brands, resulting in the final EVP being approved by the European MD and implemented for 34,000 employees.
• Key Achievements:
• European Project Leadership: Spearheaded the rollout of an EVP across 29 countries, ensuring local alignment through data-driven analysis and executive collaboration.
• Strategic Recruitment Implementation: Directed the group's overall recruitment strategy, enhancing talent acquisition through automation and AI. Developed target candidate market maps and launched multiple referral programs.
• Operational Excellence: Managed the opening of the Wakefield superfactory, ensuring union requirements were met. Turned around an underperforming team in a blue-collar environment, boosting efficiency and effectiveness.
• Cost Reduction and Efficiency: Reduced agency recruitment spend by 60% across the UK through AI, automation, and best practices. Managed national advertising budgets with targeted analytics.
• Team Leadership and Development: Led a national team of 20 direct reports, restructuring teams for agility and improved performance. Partnered with marketing to produce impactful publications and videos.
• My expertise blends strategic vision with operational execution, aligning recruitment and talent management with business goals. I leverage technology and data to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and build high-performing teams.

Feb 2021 – Jul 2022 · 1 yr 5 mos · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia · On-site

• During my tenure as a recruitment strategist for SME businesses in the Allied Health sector in Australia, I successfully developed and implemented comprehensive recruitment strategies. I enhanced Employee Value Proposition (EVP), company values, and culture to ensure a clear brand identity that attracted top talent. I created candidate market maps and engaged passive candidates through tailored communication strategies. I designed and executed multiple referral schemes and candidate pathways from local universities and colleges. Additionally, I established internship programmes for overseas final-year students and created graduate programmes that attracted new graduates aligned with company values and culture.
• I developed and launched targeted online job and career-related content, rewriting job adverts, role descriptions, website copy, and social media content. By implementing automated marketing tools, I streamlined the recruitment process and ensured consistent content distribution. I also trained individual and group staff on best recruitment practices, including interviewing skills, assessment techniques, and networking with target candidates.
• In this role, I led a team of virtual assistants who handled research, administrative tasks, and sales organisation. I worked closely with clients to understand their recruitment needs and tailored strategies to meet those needs. I created and managed strategies to attract candidates across various platforms, ensuring a strong online presence. Typically, I worked with clients for periods of 3 to 6 months, depending on business complexity, which resulted in a reduced dependency on external recruitment agencies and paid job adverts.
• I ceased operations due to relocation and the challenge of managing business operations across different time zones.

Sep 2020 – Feb 2021 · 5 mos · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

• As a Recruitment Consultant contracted to establish a new recruitment desk in the Community Services sector, I played a pivotal role in transforming the organisation's hiring capabilities. From scratch, I set up the recruitment desk, hired a dedicated recruiter, and built comprehensive client market maps. I developed and implemented processes for engaging with the market, ensuring scalability and efficiency.
• I provided training and guidance to the internal team, teaching the business how to effectively recruit within the Community Services sector. This included optimising job adverts, role descriptions, and recruitment marketing content, as well as implementing best practices for candidate engagement and assessment.
• Under my leadership, the department scaled ahead of schedule and significantly strengthened its recruitment processes. The improvements I implemented resulted in the department growing from strength to strength, winning a series of industry awards and establishing a robust presence in the sector.

Apr 2018 – Sep 2020 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Greater Sydney Area

• I led a comprehensive redesign of the recruitment strategy, staff training programmes, and the company website, significantly enhancing the candidate experience. I onboarded numerous new clients and established market-leading onboarding processes within the community services sector. By attending numerous career events and creating multiple candidate pathways from various community groups, I ensured a robust talent pipeline.
• At the peak of my tenure, I managed a team of up to 20 staff members. Despite the success and growth, COVID-19 restrictions severely impacted the business's bottom line, leading to my departure for the greater good of the company’s health.

Apr 2016 – Mar 2018 · 1 yr 11 mos · Greater Sydney Area

• I joined BoardRoom Limited to establish Australia’s first dedicated recruitment agency for company secretarial and governance professionals. This initiative represented a groundbreaking effort within the share registry business. We catered to a wide range of candidates, from entry-level graduates holding the Governance Institute of Australia Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance to ASX 20 Group company secretaries.
• At the time of inception, we were the sole dedicated agency in this niche. Our successful placements significantly reduced our parent company’s recruitment costs and propelled unprecedented growth in the corporate secretarial services sector. Our primary focus was on permanent placements, with particular success in placing Assistant Company Secretaries across various businesses along the eastern seaboard of Australia.
• As an active member of the Governance Institute of Australia, we quickly became the leading recruitment agency in this field. We transformed a modest operation into a £1 million business within our second year of trading.
• In addition to managing the BoardRoom Integrate business, I also oversaw internal recruitment for BoardRoom Limited across Australia. The company’s headcount exceeded 100, with approximately 30 roles to fill annually. My responsibilities included managing marketing, employer value proposition (EVP), and all content related to candidate attraction. I also participated in senior management meetings, contributing to the strategic direction and financial performance of our department.

May 2012 – Apr 2016 · 3 yrs 11 mos · Greater Sydney Area

• University Internship Programs:
• Macquarie University, Curtin University, and La Trobe University (Sydney): Designed and implemented three comprehensive internship programs from the ground up. These initiatives provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, aligning academic learning with industry requirements.
• Professional Experience with Navitas:
• Navitas Professional: Managed both domestic and international internship programs. Responsibilities included overseeing program operations, ensuring high-quality placement experiences, and fostering partnerships with industry leaders.
• Student Recruitment and Career Support:
• Successfully recruited over 100 students annually for entry-level, unpaid internships. These opportunities facilitated career advancement by enabling students to secure employment within their chosen fields in Australia.

Jun 2011 – May 2012 · 11 mos · Greater Sydney Area

• Relocation and Sponsorship: Personally recruited and sponsored by Michael Page International to move from the UK to Sydney, Australia on a 457 visa. This opportunity highlighted my expertise in the technology recruitment sector.
• Specialisation in Technology Roles:
• Dedicated Technology Recruiter: Achieved great success in recruiting for a variety of permanent technology roles within the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) sector. Key positions included:
• Project Managers
• Business Analysts
• Infrastructure Managers
• IT Managers
• IT Support roles at all levels
• ERP Specialists
• Web Developers
• Achievements:
• Successfully matched numerous candidates with suitable roles, significantly contributing to the growth and efficiency of clients' technology departments.

Nov 2008 – Jun 2011 · 2 yrs 7 mos · West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

• I was headhunted to a boutique agency from my first recruitment position with Progressive IT, an s3 business. Initially, I worked in the senior appointments space, focusing mainly on technology and projects. However, due to the Financial Crisis, I pivoted into the renewable energy sector and then into the nuclear energy sector. I successfully represented nuclear safety case officers throughout the UK.
• Finding my niche in the nuclear sector was a significant achievement, especially since many businesses were not hiring or paying recruitment fees at that time. Despite the challenging market conditions, I managed to build a thriving market.
• After a trying two and a half years in the UK, I decided to relocate to Australia to return to technology recruitment.

Jun 2007 – Nov 2008 · 1 yr 5 mos · West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

• I joined Progressive IT, an S3 business, without any prior sales experience. I was initially surprised by the challenges of learning sales and recruitment, but I was fortunate to receive industry-leading training. I began by working in the East Midlands market, specialising in IT infrastructure roles. Over time, I advanced to senior appointments in technology across the region, focusing on placing IT Managers, Project Managers, and Business Analysts. This experience was a steep learning curve, and I gained a great deal of knowledge in a short period, serving as an excellent introduction to the industry.

Sep 2006 – Jun 2007 · 9 mos · United Kingdom · On-site

• Physical Education, Science, Geography, Drama, Religious Education, English, Maths
• Initially appointed to the Physical Education department, quickly adapted to cover a wide range of subjects across the curriculum.
• Demonstrated flexibility and strong classroom management by effectively teaching diverse topics to students of varying ages and abilities.
• Built rapport with students and staff, contributing to a positive learning environment in each placement.

Jan 2004 – Jan 2006 · 2 yrs · New Hampshire - USA

• I worked at Kingswood for three summers in between University, I was responsible for the whole running of the Waterfront.
• Duties included all boating safety, lifeguard training, coaching of a number of water activities such as snorkelling, swimming, Kayaking etc

Sep 2002 – Aug 2004 · 1 yr 11 mos · Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, North Wales

• Voted as the Union President successfully for two consecutive terms (which is the maximum allowed tenure). My duties included a variety of roles from charity work, event management, giving talks to different student groups to looking after the financial budget. I represented the Union on the Corporation, Academic and Disability boards.