Albert C. Cato
******@**********.***/******@***.*** 408-***-****
Talent Acquisition, Recruiting and Project Management Professional
Accomplished Talent Acquisition Manager with a track record of 15+ years in leading global recruitment initiatives. Proficient in overseeing full-cycle recruitment processes and managing diverse teams to achieve hiring goals. Skilled in implementing effective employment branding strategies and fostering relationships with educational institutions to enhance diversity in internship programs. Expertise in optimizing recruitment lifecycle metrics and developing strategic HR programs for retention and succession planning. Proven ability to navigate complex hiring landscapes and deliver tailored staffing solutions across IT, engineering, and professional services sectors. Adept at leveraging ATS tools and industry best practices to streamline recruitment workflows and drive organizational success.
Skill Areas: Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Full Life Cycle Recruitment Sourcing and Screening Candidate Advocacy Salary Negotiation Reference Checks Onboarding Staffing Management Team Leadership Hiring KPI Management Data Analytics Workforce Retention Succession Planning Contingency and Temporary Placements HR Consulting Employee Relations Labor Employment Practices M&A Compensation and Benefits Performance Evaluations OFCCP/EEO Compliance Employer Branding Internal and External Branding Initiatives Recruitment Marketing Strategies Diversity and Inclusion College Partnerships (HBCUs) Diversity Promotion in Internship Programs Event Management Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Internet Sourcing Data Analytics SAAS Recruitment Agency Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ASICS Digital, Boston, MA – Remote (2021 - 2023)
Talent Acquisition Manager
•Spearheaded a recruiting team to consistently surpass hiring KPIs.
•Directed the selection and coordination of placement agencies for recruitment support.
•Executed both internal and external employment branding initiatives for ADI.
•Managed the entire recruitment process, including job postings, candidate sourcing, prescreening, interview scheduling, background checks, and onboarding.
•Optimized hiring processes to reduce time-to-start and cost-per-hire by developing strategic marketing plans, defining team roles, and establishing service-level agreements.
•Cultivated relationships with HBCUs and other colleges to enhance diversity in the ADI internship program, maintaining a robust presence in the technical and industry community.
•Coordinated and represented the company at job fairs and industry conferences, ensuring the company booth was adequately staffed.
•Collaborated with hiring managers to develop strategic sourcing and recruitment plans, building strong relationships to influence the recruitment process.
•Designed, developed, and implemented the talent review process to build an internal pipeline of top talent, aligning with business goals.
•Partnered with the People Operations team to develop and maintain programs for workforce retention, promotion, and succession planning, including creating job descriptions, performance standards, and evaluation instruments.
AC Protocol Consulting Group Inc., Pleasanton, CA (2006-2013, 2015-2025)
Sr. Recruiter/Staffing Manager - Contingency/Temporary Placements
•Led full life cycle recruitment for direct and temporary placements, specializing in IT, Engineering, Accounting, Finance, and other professional services.
•Mentored and trained hiring managers to implement best recruiting practices, enhancing overall hiring effectiveness.
•Expertly utilized multiple Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage and streamline the recruitment process.
•Acted as a candidate advocate, preparing candidates for interviews, debriefing them, and pre-closing on salary negotiations.
•Collaborated with hiring managers and interview teams to optimize recruitment processes, including reference checks, salary negotiations, and feedback on candidates.
•Cultivated a passion for improving the customer experience for candidates, new hires, hiring managers, HR managers, and business partners.
•Managed various contract assignments both onsite and virtually, placing professionals in diverse roles including IT, Engineering, Sales, Machine Learning, Data Science, AI, and more for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups.
•Directed the placement of professionals within cutting-edge clients, ensuring successful staffing in roles such as Product Owner, Product Manager, Program Manager, E-commerce Operations, and Quality Engineering.
•Developed relationships with key clients, including ASICS Digital, CVS Health, Genomic Health, Okta, Intelex, Kinaxis, and Clarence Point, effectively meeting their staffing needs in remote, onsite, and hybrid environments.
•Enhanced team performance and recruitment outcomes by coaching and mentoring staff, promoting continuous improvement and best practices in recruitment.
•Lead B2B sales.
Terapeak Inc., Palo Alto, CA (2014-2015)
Talent Acquisition Manager
•Managed virtual and on-site recruitment of technical professionals for a data analytics SaaS start-up.
•Established and maintained client relationships with eBay, Amazon, Yahoo-Japan (Alibaba), and Magenta.
•Successfully sourced, recruited, and placed professionals across Toronto, British Columbia, and Palo Alto.
•Staffed the entire Data Scientist team, Big Data professionals, UI Front End developers, Release Engineers, QA Engineers, System Administrators, Web Application Developers, Commercial Sales/Account Executives, Customer Success, Data Analysts, Product Managers, CTO, and VP of Engineering.
•Led full life cycle recruitment for direct employees and temporary workforce.
•Collaborated with hiring management and interview teams to streamline hiring processes.
•Solely managed the Recruiting/HR department for the data analytics start-up.
•Negotiated contracts for job board usage including LinkedIn, Stack Overflow, and Indeed.
•Developed a comprehensive benefit package for U.S. employees through a benefits broker.
Robert Half Technology, San Francisco, CA (2013-2014)
Staffing Executive/Professional Services
•Expanded client base through targeted marketing of salaried professional services.
•Engaged with clients via telephone and conducted face-to-face meetings with senior executives to promote Engineering and IT services.
•Negotiated competitive bill rates for salaried professionals to optimize client relationships.
•Recruited high-caliber technical professionals through rigorous interview processes.
•Maintained consistent communication with employees, facilitating ongoing professional and career development.
•Placed highly qualified salaried professionals in long-term project roles, ensuring sustained client satisfaction.
•Resolved customer service issues promptly and efficiently, maintaining exceptional levels of client satisfaction.
On Point Staffing / Campbell, CA (2005-2006)
Vendor on Premise Manager - SanDisk Corporation
•Provided a qualified and diverse candidate pool in IT, Operations, Finance, Accounting, Commercial Sales/Account Executives (across continental U.S.), Hardware, Firmware, and Software.
•Ensured hiring manager and team readiness throughout the interview process, facilitating professional and efficient interviews.
•Interfaced with all levels of management to exchange information and negotiate staffing needs.
•Sourced candidates through internet postings, passive recruiting, networking, university relations, and job fairs.
•Evaluated skill levels and managed the offer process, including reference checks, salary negotiations, and hourly recommendations for temporary workforce.
•Advocated for candidates throughout the hiring process, partnering with hiring managers and senior management to negotiate offers and implement staffing strategies.
•Managed the temporary workforce and controlled headcount, providing mentorship and guidance to recruiting coordinators and sourcers.
General Employment Enterprises Inc., San Jose CA (1994 – 2005)
Branch Manager/Technical Recruiting
•Mentored 16 full-service desk office staff, ensuring high performance and professional growth.
•Managed marketing initiatives to attract new clients and maintained relationships through effective account management.
•Recruited for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500, developing tailored staffing processes and procedures.
•Focused on achieving quarterly/yearly staffing metrics and budgets, optimizing recruiting efficiency.
•Led marketing programs and sourcing strategies, evaluating internet and advertising effectiveness.
•Organized and authorized recruiting events such as job fairs and open houses to enhance candidate pipelines.
•Trained and supervised recruiters in interviewing, cold calling, and presentation of candidate skills, utilizing web/internet recruiting and ATS.
•Oversaw all aspects of recruiting team management, including hiring, firing, promotions, and performance reviews.
•Trained nationwide managers in effective recruiting practices, ensuring compliance with OFCCP/EEO regulations.
•Managed employee relations, labor practices, compensation, retention, relocation, and benefits administration across all organizational levels.
•B2B sales.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CREDENTIALS
B.S. Degree, Business Administration (Accounting), Minor: Economics San Jose State University, San Jose, CA