Gabriela Palacio
Summary
Dynamic Talent Acquisition Lead with proven success in full-cycle recruitment and stakeholder management. Expertise in recruitment analytics and behavioral interviewing, driving effective hiring strategies that enhance team performance and diversity.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Regional Talent Acquisition Lead
ZF Friedrichshafen
Northville
02.2023 - Current
- Directed a team of six recruiters, focusing on performance enhancement and career development.
- Led full-cycle recruitment efforts for senior leadership roles within technical and engineering divisions.
- Leveraged analytics tools and SuccessFactors to fulfill talent acquisition metrics.
- Created global training sessions promoting diversity in recruitment practices.
- Partnered with hiring managers to define job specifications and candidate criteria.
- Interviewed candidates, assessing both skills and cultural compatibility.
- Conducted extensive reference checks and background investigations on selected candidates.
Senior Technical Recruiter
ZF Friedrichshafen
Northville
05.2022 - 02.2023
- Served as acting Talent Acquisition Lead for U.S. And Canada.
- Partnered with hiring managers to identify talent needs and tailor recruitment strategies accordingly.
- Directed full-cycle recruitment, from job description creation to candidate onboarding.
- Led negotiation process for offers, ensuring alignment with hiring manager expectations.
- Organized feedback and escalation meetings with recruiters and HR business partners.
- Handled recruitment for 20–30 simultaneous managerial and individual contributor positions.
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
05.2021 - 05.2022
- Implemented equitable hiring practices to enhance diversity through resume de-identification and manager training.
- Developed comprehensive behavioral and competency-based interview guides for standardized evaluations.
- Managed full-cycle recruitment process, encompassing sourcing, screening, interviewing, onboarding, and stakeholder training.
- Facilitated interviews and directed debrief discussions to ensure fair assessments of qualified candidates.
Talent Acquisition Specialist
ZF Friedrichshafen
Livonia
10.2018 - 04.2021
- Executed talent acquisition strategy during WABCO/ZF merger, securing over 75 hires within first year.
- Directed full recruitment process for 30–40 positions at once, partnering with HR and hiring managers.
- Sourced talent using Applicant Tracking Systems, CRM platforms, and major job boards like Monster and Indeed.
- Co-chaired Southeast Michigan Women’s Resource Group and Regional Diversity Council to foster inclusion.
Recruiter
Aerotek
Ann Arbor
07.2017 - 10.2018
- Managed full life-cycle recruitment for technical and non-technical roles, implementing effective sourcing strategies.
- Conducted over 1,500 phone screens and more than 480 internal interviews, resulting in over 70 accepted offers.
- Screened and evaluated resumes to identify qualified candidates for interviews.
- Cultivated relationships with candidates to improve overall recruitment experience.
Education
BBA - Advertising
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI04-2017
Skills
- Stakeholder management
- Full-cycle recruitment
- Competency assessment
- Candidate sourcing and analytics
- Applicant tracking systems
- Behavioral interviewing
- Contract negotiation
Certification
ADP Certified Professional Recruiter
Timeline
Regional Talent Acquisition Lead
ZF Friedrichshafen
02.2023 - Current
Senior Technical Recruiter
ZF Friedrichshafen
05.2022 - 02.2023
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
University of Michigan
05.2021 - 05.2022
Talent Acquisition Specialist
ZF Friedrichshafen
10.2018 - 04.2021
Recruiter
Aerotek
07.2017 - 10.2018
BBA - Advertising
Western Michigan University