KRISTIN STAUNTON
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Senior human resources leader with commercial understanding of creative and marketing businesses, who brings broad capabilities across recruiting strategy, talent development, employee relations, and coaching. Expertise in aligning workforce planning with business objectives, fostering employee retention, and enhancing organizational culture to drive impactful results.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of People and Operations
DEEPLOCAL, part of the WPP Network
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
02.2023 - Current
- Lead global talent strategy, including workforce planning, pipeline development, performance management, and onboarding processes that support retention and employee well-being across creative, technical, and operational teams.
- Partner with senior leadership and hiring managers to prioritize recruiting needs, align talent strategies with business objectives, and ensure a high-touch experience for candidates and stakeholders.
- Analyze compensation and market data to create job architecture frameworks and consistent salary bands that support equitable hiring, and competitive positioning.
- Lead recruitment marketing initiatives, including a website redesign, to better showcase culture, innovation, and career opportunities to prospective talent and partners.
Senior Talent Partner
WhoCo
Remote
04.2022 - 02.2023
- Served as a trusted advisor and recruiting partner to high-growth, venture-backed startups, helping founders and executives define hiring needs, build recruiting strategies, and close top talent.
- Developed, managed, and grew client relationships as the first full-time talent team hire, resulting in repeat business and revenue growth for the company.
- Led business development meetings to understand client needs, gather feedback on hiring outcomes, and identify opportunities for new or expanded services.
- Tracked and analyzed recruitment data (pipeline health, time-to-fill, conversion metrics) to drive continuous process improvement, inform strategy, and establish success metrics shared with internal and external stakeholders.
Assistant Director / Career Consultant
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
Pittsburgh, USA
05.2017 - 04.2022
- Coached undergraduate and graduate students majoring in design, business, and marketing on career exploration, job search strategies, and professional development through workshops, small group sessions, and 1:1 advising.
- Partnered with faculty and academic departments to develop a career curriculum that prepared students for competitive roles in industry, aligning programming with employer expectations and hiring timelines.
- Leveraged career platforms and technology (e.g., Handshake and related tools) to track student engagement and outcomes and to support effective employer outreach and recruiting events.
Director of Talent Strategy
DEEPLOCAL
Pittsburgh, USA
11.2013 - 09.2016
- Developed and led talent strategy, organizational design, and cultural initiatives during a period of significant company growth and eventually an acquisition by WPP.
- Designed and launched Deeplocal’s first internship program by building strong relationships with local and national universities and creating high-impact recruiting events.
- Led the transition from outdated HR systems to a unified HRIS platform, improving reporting, planning, and strategic workforce insights.
Account Director
DEEPLOCAL
Pittsburgh, USA
08.2011 - 11.2013
- Managed key client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact, and ensuring a high level of satisfaction, which led to repeat and expanded businesses.
- Collaborated with creative teams to scope and pitch new business proposals, contributing to significant revenue growth.
- Oversaw multiple concurrent project timelines and budgets, ensuring that deliverables met or exceeded client expectations.
Human Resources Director
LOWE WORLDWIDE
New York, USA
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Led talent development and organizational effectiveness efforts for approximately 300 employees, partnering with senior leadership on workforce planning and change management.
- Championed diversity and inclusion initiatives that helped the agency earn a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from Interpublic Group.
- Managed a complex offboarding process related to an agency merger with Deutsch NY, ensuring a positive employee experience.
Recruitment Manager
LOWE WORLDWIDE
New York, USA
09.2006 - 12.2008
- Managed the summer internship program and early-career recruiting efforts, building strong relationships with universities and student organizations.
- Coordinated full-cycle hiring across creative and corporate functions, ensuring a positive candidate experience and alignment with business needs.
Education
Ed.M. and M.A. - Counseling Psychology
Columbia University, Teachers College
New York, NYBachelor of Arts - Psychology
Tulane University
New Orleans, LASkills
- Employee relations and risk mitigation
- Culture building
- Talent development
- Team leadership and coaching
- Recruiting strategy
- Data analysis
- Program management and event coordination
- Recruitment marketing and communications
- Process improvement and operational efficiency
Technology And Tools
- Applicant Tracking & HRIS: Lever, Greenhouse, Ashby, Taleo, Bamboo, Workday
- Career & CRM Platforms: Handshake, HubSpot, AirTable
- Collaboration: Slack, G Suite, Microsoft Office Suite
Timeline
Head of People and Operations
DEEPLOCAL, part of the WPP Network
02.2023 - Current
Senior Talent Partner
WhoCo
04.2022 - 02.2023
Assistant Director / Career Consultant
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
05.2017 - 04.2022
Director of Talent Strategy
DEEPLOCAL
11.2013 - 09.2016
Account Director
DEEPLOCAL
08.2011 - 11.2013
Human Resources Director
LOWE WORLDWIDE
01.2009 - 01.2010
Recruitment Manager
LOWE WORLDWIDE
09.2006 - 12.2008
Ed.M. and M.A. - Counseling Psychology
Columbia University, Teachers College
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Tulane University