Job Search Status
Open to workDesired start date: Open to discussion
Open To Work
Gwen Zappala
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Groveland,MA
Work Preference
Summary
Results-driven Talent Acquisition professional with 10+ years of experience recruiting exempt, non-exempt, and high-volume roles across medical/healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and corporate environments. Proven partner to senior leadership with a strong record of improving retention, advancing diversity sourcing, reducing time-to-fill, and delivering exceptional candidate experiences.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Draeger Medical, Inc.
Andover
11.2019 - Current
- Partner with hiring managers, senior leaders, and HR teams to develop and execute workforce plans and full-cycle recruitment strategies for exempt and non-exempt roles.
- Reduced average time-to-fill through proactive sourcing, pipeline development, and improved intake processes.
- Built diverse candidate pipelines using LinkedIn Recruiter, ATS databases, niche job boards, and targeted outreach.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to leadership on market trends, talent availability, and hiring strategies.
- Deliver a high-touch, inclusive candidate experience aligned with employer branding goals.
Human Resources Recruiter (Contract through the Nagler Group)
The Provident Bank
Amesbury
05.2019 - 11.2019
- Collaborated with hiring managers to identify staffing needs and recruit top talent across banking and corporate roles.
- Improved candidate quality and hiring outcomes by refining job descriptions and sourcing strategies.
- Strengthened diversity sourcing efforts by expanding outreach to community organizations, colleges, and professional networks.
- Increased offer acceptance rates through consistent candidate communication and relationship-building.
- Supported onboarding initiatives that contributed to improved new-hire engagement and retention.
- Enhanced employer brand visibility across job boards and online platforms.
Senior Recruiter (Internal – Long-Term Contract via Korn Ferry)
Lonza
Portsmouth
02.2017 - 05.2019
- Executed multi-channel sourcing strategies supporting technical, scientific, and corporate hiring needs.
- Achieved top global recruiter ranking (2x) for number of roles filled monthly.
- Leveraged competency-based interviewing to improve quality-of-hire and first-year retention.
- Built diverse pipelines through targeted outreach and inclusive sourcing practices.
- Acted as a trusted recruitment advisor to internal stakeholders.
HR / Corporate Recruiter
Zwicker & Associates, P.C.
Andover
07.2015 - 02.2017
- Designed cost-effective recruiting strategies for high-volume and professional roles.
- Developed pipelines to support sustained hiring demand and business growth.
- Implemented recruiting metrics to track time-to-fill, source effectiveness, and retention outcomes.
- Conducted structured follow-ups with new hires to improve engagement and early retention.
Senior Human Resources Recruiter
PCF
Billerica
09.2011 - 07.2015
- Managed recruitment for 30+ exempt, non-exempt, and temporary roles across multiple locations.
- Increased diversity of candidate slates by expanding sourcing channels and community partnerships.
- Improved hiring manager satisfaction through consultative recruiting and interview coaching.
- Negotiated competitive offer packages contributing to higher offer acceptance and retention rates.
- Represented the organization at diversity-focused job fairs and community events.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Art
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Skills
- Full-cycle recruitment
- Workforce planning
- Candidate sourcing
- ATS management
- Diversity hiring
- Talent pipelines
- Employer branding
- Offer negotiation
- Interview coaching
- Relationship building
- Communication skills
- Problem solving
- Strategic advising
- Applicant tracking systems
- Engagement strategies
- Recruitment metrics
- Video interviewing
- Stakeholder management
- Employee referral programs
- Strategic sourcing
- EEO compliance
- Compensation negotiation
- Social media recruitment
- Behavioral interviewing
- Candidate assessment
- Passive candidate recruiting
- Diversity and inclusion
- Executive search
- Campus recruitment
- Candidate pipeline management
Timeline
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Draeger Medical, Inc.
11.2019 - Current
Human Resources Recruiter (Contract through the Nagler Group)
The Provident Bank
05.2019 - 11.2019
Senior Recruiter (Internal – Long-Term Contract via Korn Ferry)
Lonza
02.2017 - 05.2019
HR / Corporate Recruiter
Zwicker & Associates, P.C.
07.2015 - 02.2017
Senior Human Resources Recruiter
PCF
09.2011 - 07.2015
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Art
University of Massachusetts Lowell