- Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development
- Behavioral Psychology
- Autism Advocacy & ABA
- Community Outreach & Volunteerism
- Professional Networking
- Leadership Development
- Health & Wellness
- Continuous Learning
Shayna Persaud
New York
Summary
Healthcare recruiting and ABA network management professional with 5+ years of experience recruiting, onboarding, and developing relationships with ABA providers and behavioral health professionals. Proven background supporting full-cycle recruitment, provider engagement, talent pipelines, and network expansion across Commercial and Medicaid markets. Known for building trusted relationships, partnering cross-functionally, and delivering an exceptional candidate and provider experience.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ABA Network Manager
Optum | UnitedHealth Group
01.2025 - Current
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for ABA providers across New York, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont, identifying high-quality BCBAs and ABA organizations to strengthen Commercial and Medicaid provider networks.
- Build and maintain long-term relationships with ABA providers, practice owners, and clinical leadership to develop sustainable provider pipelines and improve network adequacy.
- Partner with providers throughout recruitment, contracting, credentialing, onboarding, and activation, ensuring a seamless experience from initial outreach through network participation.
- Collaborate with Contracting, Credentialing, Clinical, Operations, and Network Leadership to remove onboarding barriers, accelerate provider activation, and improve recruitment outcomes.
- Manage targeted provider outreach and market expansion initiatives using Salesforce, Provider Express, CAQH, Facets, and reporting tools to support strategic network growth.
- Serve as a trusted relationship manager by resolving escalated provider issues, strengthening provider engagement, and improving long-term retention.
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist – ABA Provider Recruiting
UnitedHealth Group
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Managed full-cycle recruitment for Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and other behavioral health professionals supporting ABA operations.
- Developed proactive sourcing strategies through LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards, referrals, and passive outreach to build robust ABA talent pipelines.
- Conducted candidate screening, behavioral interviews, and qualification assessments to ensure alignment with hiring requirements.
- Partnered with hiring managers to prioritize requisitions, identify workforce needs, and deliver high-quality candidates while managing multiple concurrent openings.
- Coordinated interviews, offers, onboarding, and pre-employment activities while delivering an exceptional candidate experience.
- Maintained ATS data integrity, recruiting metrics, compliance documentation, and hiring reports.
Talent Acquisition Specialist
UnitedHealth Group, ProHEALTH Care Associates
- Supported full-cycle recruitment for clinical and administrative healthcare professionals across multiple specialties.
- Sourced, screened, interviewed, and qualified candidates while partnering closely with hiring managers to meet staffing priorities.
- Coordinated interviews, offers, onboarding activities, and candidate communications while maintaining a high-quality recruitment experience.
- Maintained applicant tracking system (ATS) records, recruiting documentation, and hiring metrics with accuracy and confidentiality.
- Built candidate relationships and talent pipelines to support ongoing hiring initiatives.
Vocational Coach
Bridges to Adelphi
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Coached individuals with disabilities toward competitive employment while partnering with employers and community stakeholders.
Registered Behavior Technician
Yellow Bus ABA
01.2021
- Implemented individualized ABA treatment plans under BCBA supervision while collecting behavioral data and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.
- Delivered one-on-one ABA therapy and supported behavior intervention plans for pediatric clients.
Education
Master of Science - Industrial And Organizational Psychology
Baruch College
New York, NY01.2024
Skills
- ABA Recruitment
- Full-Cycle Recruiting
- RBT Recruitment
- BCBA Recruitment
- Talent Acquisition
- Candidate Sourcing
- Talent Pipelines
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Candidate Screening
- Interviewing
- Hiring Manager Partnership
- Provider Onboarding
- Credentialing Coordination
- Relationship Management
- Applicant tracking systems
- Data-driven decision making
- Onboarding processes
Accomplishments
- Recruited and onboarded 75+ ABA providers across 5 states, improving network capacity and provider access.
- Managed a high-volume pipeline of 100+ active candidates while maintaining 98%+ SLA compliance.
- Reduced average provider onboarding time by 30% through process improvements and cross-functional collaboration.
- Partnered with 50+ clinical and operational stakeholders to successfully fill critical provider needs.
Affiliations
- Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - Member
- Young People in Recovery - NYC Chapter Lead
Certification
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) 40 hour training
- HIPAA Privacy & Security Training
- Cultural Competency & Diversity Training
- Motivational Interviewing Training
- Mental Health First Aid
- Mandated Reporter Training
Interests
Timeline
ABA Network Manager
Optum | UnitedHealth Group
01.2025 - Current
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist – ABA Provider Recruiting
UnitedHealth Group
01.2022 - 01.2024
Vocational Coach
Bridges to Adelphi
01.2021 - 01.2022
Registered Behavior Technician
Yellow Bus ABA
01.2021
Talent Acquisition Specialist
UnitedHealth Group, ProHEALTH Care Associates
Master of Science - Industrial And Organizational Psychology
Baruch College