Talent Acquisition Business Development

ERIK PLESSET

email: ********@*****.*** mobile: 949-***-**** Location: Raleigh, NC Remote/Hybrid

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: Strategic Talent Acquisition Leader with 20+ years of progressive experience in full-cycle recruitment, talent strategy, and organizational development. Founded Ocean Sales, LLC in 2014 at the request of retiring Bechtel Vice Presidents seeking continued executive search support, establishing a flexible recruitment consultancy recruiting direct employment and independent consulting engagements. Proven track record of sourcing top-tier talent across diverse industries, including technology, engineering, government, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, renewables, chemicals, and oil & gas. Maintain Ocean Sales as an active professional services platform, supporting independent consulting projects and complementing direct employment opportunities to ensure continuous professional growth and market engagement.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Full Lifecycle Recruitment

Advanced Sourcing Techniques

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Talent Mapping & Workforce Planning

Technical & Specialized Recruiting

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Data-Driven Recruiting Metrics

Employer Branding

Diversity & Inclusion Sourcing

CRM and Recruitment Technologies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ocean Sales, LLC Independent Talent Acquisition Consultant (Continuous, 2014 - Present)

Management of talent acquisition and business development consulting firm as a flexible, professional services entity supporting strategic career transitions and independent consulting opportunities and providing talent acquisition, business development, and recruiting services across multiple industries. Serve as a professional platform for managing diverse career engagements, including:

Contract-based recruitment support

Professional consulting services

Strategic career development and networking

Provide agile business infrastructure to support interim talent acquisition projects

Direct employment, contract work, and independent client engagements

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist SSOE Group, Toledo (Remote, 1/2022 - 9/2024)

Conduct full life-cycle recruitment for engineering, leadership, corporate, and other departments as required.

Cultivate and nurture strong relationships with hiring managers, internal stakeholders, candidates, and professional networks. Heavily focused on passive candidate recruiting.

Assess candidate strengths against position requirements, recommending top candidates to hire managers through thorough screening and assessment interviews.

Establish and participate in networking groups to stay informed about hiring trends and industry updates and identify talent for challenging roles.

Uphold a positive brand image and reputation as an industry leader.

Ocean Sales, LLC Independent Talent Acquisition Consultant (2014 - 2022)

Strategic talent acquisition professional specializing in end-to-end recruitment solutions across diverse industries, identifying, attracting, and securing top-tier talent for complex organizational needs. Demonstrated expertise in managing full-cycle recruitment processes, leveraging advanced sourcing techniques, and building collaborative partnerships with clients, hiring managers, and stakeholders.

Core Recruitment Capabilities:

Full lifecycle recruitment strategy development

Advanced candidate sourcing and screening

Complex requisition management across multiple sectors

ATS and CRM platform optimization

Metrics-driven recruitment performance tracking

Stakeholder engagement and talent mapping

Key Recruitment Achievements:

Successfully recruited 225 critical positions for TSMC Semiconductor Fab Plant, supporting large EPC and General Contractors across operations, corporate, project/field, and engineering domains

Implemented targeted recruitment strategies for specialized roles requiring security clearances, including the US Forces Korea Regional Data Center project

Developed comprehensive recruiting approaches for tech-focused roles in cloud infrastructure, security architecture, and specialized engineering positions

Managed recruitment for diverse sectors, including semiconductor, government, healthcare, and technology industries

Specialized Recruitment Expertise:

Technical recruiting for engineers, architects, skilled traders, and specialized technical roles

Advanced Boolean search and innovative sourcing techniques

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Management

Diversity and inclusion-focused talent acquisition strategies

Technical Writer & Human Resources Consultant (Contract Role)

July 2016 to January 2017, Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) - Washington, DC

Recruit to source & process twenty-three senior civilian leadership positions.

Developed detailed briefs outlining the new organizational structure.

Crafted compelling justifications for the revised staffing organization.

Authored persuasive rationales for higher pay grades.

Assembled comprehensive hiring packages.

Project Manager Recruitment Specialist Cisco Systems, Global Technical Assistance Center (Contract) (1/2016 - 7/2016)

Recruited 350 technical service engineers across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East

Coordinated efforts with six regional recruiters

Developed comprehensive program plans and managed complex recruitment change initiatives

Prepared executive-level reports and tracked recruitment metrics

Ocean Sales, LLC Independent Talent Acquisition Consultant (9-2014 – 1/2016)

Founded Ocean Sales, LLC after several retiring Bechtel Vice Presidents specifically requested continued recruitment support, leading to the establishment of a dedicated executive search and talent acquisition consultancy. Leveraging deep industry relationships and expertise from Bechtel experience, developed comprehensive recruitment solutions for senior executives and technical professionals across energy, infrastructure, and engineering sectors.

Key Transition Achievements:

Successfully transitioned executive relationships into founding client base

Established reputation as a trusted recruitment partner for senior leadership positions

Expanded services beyond initial executive search to full-spectrum talent acquisition

Built a sustainable business model supporting both direct client engagement and contract opportunities

Senior Recruitment Specialist, Bechtel, Frederick, MD (7/2011 - 9/2014)

As one of the world's most significant engineering, procurement, construction, and project management companies, Bechtel Corporation undertakes massive and complex projects across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, energy, mining, and telecommunications.

Managed Executive Search practice, handling 80-100 VP and higher-level requisitions

Implemented SAP SuccessFactors Applicant Tracking System

Administered LinkedIn recruiting platform with 20 seats

Coordinated on-site recruiters and managed agency contracts

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Project Management Professional (PMP) - Bechtel University

Six Sigma Green Belt - Cisco Academy

Certified Search Professional & Leadership Recruiter - The Sourcing Institute

Technical Proposal Writing Certification - Bechtel

Advanced Boolean Search & Sourcing Techniques

EDUCATION Associate of Arts, Business Administration Orange Coast Community College

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Current Deputy Executive Director (Volunteer) - METRAX Indigenous Corporation

US Coast Guard Veteran, Radioman 2nd Class, Six-year Service

Eagle Scout

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