Vanessa Denise Burrell
Jacksonville
Summary
Strategic Talent Acquisition Leader with over 20 years of experience driving enterprise-level recruiting operations, workforce planning, and organizational talent strategy across complex, high-demand environments. SPHR-certified HR professional with a proven track record of leading full-cycle recruiting, building scalable talent pipelines, and advising executive leadership on workforce strategy and organizational performance. Recognized for leading large-scale recruiting operations supporting hundreds of hires annually, managing geographically dispersed teams, and developing data-driven recruiting strategies that attract top-tier talent including healthcare professionals, engineers, attorneys, and technical specialists. Known for transforming recruiting functions into high-performing, results-driven operations aligned with business growth and long-term workforce objectives.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
4048
4048
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Talent Acquisition Leader (Assistant Chief Recruiter)
United States Navy Talent Acquisition Group Jacksonville
Jacksonville
01.2022 - Current
- Lead enterprise-level recruiting strategy and execution across multiple regions, overseeing full-cycle talent acquisition operations supporting large-scale workforce demands
- Direct recruiting initiatives for high-level and specialized roles including healthcare professionals, engineers, attorneys, and technical personnel
- Manage and develop a workforce of 300+ personnel, driving performance, accountability, and leadership development across recruiting teams
- Partner with executive leadership to align talent acquisition strategies with organizational workforce goals and long-term growth objectives
- Analyze labor market trends, recruiting metrics, and workforce data to improve hiring outcomes and optimize recruiting performance
- Utilize Salesforce CRM and HRIS systems to track pipeline performance, forecast hiring needs, and drive data-informed decision making
Regional Talent Acquisition Leader (DLCPO)
United States Navy
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Directed multi-state recruiting operations across high-volume territories, leading workforce acquisition strategy and execution across multiple locations
- Managed full-cycle recruiting operations and hiring strategy across geographically dispersed teams
- Built and scaled talent pipelines to meet aggressive hiring goals in competitive labor markets
- Coached and developed recruiting leaders, improving team performance, hiring outcomes, and operational effectiveness
- Implemented process improvements and performance strategies that increased recruiting efficiency and candidate quality
Talent Acquisition Team Lead (LPO)
United States Navy
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Led recruiting teams responsible for sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding candidates across multiple markets
- Managed end-to-end recruitment lifecycle while ensuring alignment with workforce needs and compliance standards
- Trained and developed recruiters in sourcing strategy, candidate engagement, and performance execution
- Analyzed recruiting performance data to improve hiring success rates and pipeline effectiveness
Talent Acquisition Specialist (Recruiter)
United States Navy Recruiting Command
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Executed full-cycle recruiting operations in a competitive market, sourcing and onboarding qualified candidates into specialized roles
- Built and maintained strong talent pipelines through outreach, partnerships, and community engagement
- Managed applicant tracking systems and ensured compliance with hiring policies and procedures
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Human Resource Management
Southern New Hampshire University
Executive Leadership School -
Naval War College
Skills
- Talent Acquisition Strategy
- Full Cycle Recruiting
- Executive Recruiting
- Workforce Planning
- HR Business Partnering
- Organizational Leadership
- Recruiting Operations Management
- Talent Pipeline Development
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Workforce Analytics
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Change Management
- Leadership Development
- Salesforce CRM
- HRIS Systems
- Microsoft Office
Certification
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), HRCI
- Certified Counselor, USMAP
- Google AI Essentials
Personal Information
Title: Senior Director of Talent Acquisition | Workforce Strategy | Organizational Leadership
Security Clearance
Active U.S. Department of Defense Clearance
Timeline
Senior Talent Acquisition Leader (Assistant Chief Recruiter)
United States Navy Talent Acquisition Group Jacksonville
01.2022 - Current
Regional Talent Acquisition Leader (DLCPO)
United States Navy
01.2018 - 01.2022
Talent Acquisition Team Lead (LPO)
United States Navy
01.2014 - 01.2018
Talent Acquisition Specialist (Recruiter)
United States Navy Recruiting Command
01.2012 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Human Resource Management
Southern New Hampshire University
Executive Leadership School -
Naval War College