Rhonda Eley-Watson

• Responsible for full-cycle recruiting to find and attract the most qualified talent, including executive-level recruitment.
• Led new business recruitment by identifying, sourcing, and submitting management candidates to support proposal submissions aimed at securing contracts throughout the United States.
• Supervised and guided the Talent Acquisition team for startups through onboarding processes, ensuring smooth transitions for new hires and ongoing support for incumbents.
• Managed the company’s Applicant Tracking System and posted positions internally and externally, searching resume databases and reviewing active applicants.
• Facilitated the recruiting process, including initial sourcing and prescreening of candidates, conducting virtual interviews, and coordinating interviews with hiring managers and senior directors.
• Reviewed job descriptions and led recruiter discovery meetings with hiring managers to fulfill talent needs.
• Acted as a leader and mentor within the TA department by training new employees and fostering collaboration within the recruitment team. Being a resource for the team.
• Supported the team to provide recruiting initiatives and insights on engaging with top-tier talent by leveraging direct sourcing, internet sourcing, job boards, company careers page, resume database, LinkedIn Recruiter, etc.
• Participated in strategic talent engagement events to drive awareness of Transdev (First Transit).
• Developed strong and trusting relationships with employees and managers to successfully engage with various talent, referral, and partnership networks.
• Pre-screened resumes prior to sending to corporate hiring managers for consideration.

West Region Field Talent Acquisition III (Lead) - Feb 2016 – May 2021

• Created and implemented innovative recruitment strategies for over 40 contracts, covering multiple states and managing projects of varying scales.
• Networked at corporate events to find potential employees.
• Provided expert consultation and ongoing support to hiring managers for workforce planning, proactive staffing, and process improvement at each location.
• Led teams at multiple locations through onboarding and transition phases, ensuring consistent training, direction, and support for staff.
• Coordinated and participated in local recruiting events, forging strategic partnerships and extending outreach to attract highly qualified candidates.
• Developed targeted hiring strategies for “hot spot” locations, balancing immediate and long-term recruitment needs.
• Conducted biweekly hiring events, monitored regional staffing gaps, and delivered recommendations to location managers for optimizing workforce allocation.
• Trained staff on ATS usage and interviewing best practices, empowering location teams to achieve recruitment excellence.
• Delivered direct sourcing and a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment lifecycle, leading initiatives for sustained talent engagement.