John A. O’Brien
Senior Talent Acquisition Leader | AI, ATS & Workforce Strategy
Former Head of North American Talent Acquisition supporting complex, regulated, and high-volume environments at enterprise scale ($3B). I help leaders hire faster, smarter, and more predictably by combining practical TA leadership, AI-enabled recruiting, and ATS optimization.
Executive Summary
Talent Acquisition is often treated like an execution function — until hiring slows, quality drops, or leadership loses confidence in the funnel.
In my most recent roles, I’ve led enterprise TA teams through transformation while still staying close to delivery: aligning hiring strategy to business priorities, tightening process discipline, and using AI and automation to scale what works.
Outcomes matter. That means measurable improvements like 29% faster Time-to-Hire, 12% faster Time-to-Fill, and $60K+ per requisition in agency — without sacrificing candidate experience or hiring manager trust.
Open to full-time leadership roles as well as fractional and advisory engagements where speed-to-impact matters.
Impact Snapshot
A quick view of scale, outcomes, and what I’ve delivered in complex, regulated environments.
How I Add Value
TA Leadership & Delivery
- Enterprise-scale recruiting leadership across professional, technical, executive, and early-career hiring
- Player-coach operating style when needed — stabilizing delivery, coaching teams, and partnering tightly with hiring managers
- Clear operating cadence: funnel visibility, recruiter productivity, and consistent manager accountability
AI, Automation & ATS Optimization
- AI-enabled sourcing and market intelligence to improve pipeline quality and reduce wasted cycles
- ATS optimization and workflow design (ORC, iCIMS, Taleo) to reduce friction and increase conversion
- Automation that scales the human work — faster outreach, cleaner handoffs, and fewer process stalls
Workforce Planning & Advisory
- Demand planning and capacity alignment to avoid reactive hiring spikes
- Role architecture and skills-based thinking to future-proof hiring plans
- Executive advisory grounded in data, reality, and practical change management
Engagement Models
Full-Time TA Leadership
Head / Sr. Director leadership roles in enterprise, regulated, or multi-site environments.
Fractional / Interim TA Leadership
Stabilize delivery, rebuild trust, optimize the operating model, and accelerate hiring outcomes.
Advisory & Consulting
AI enablement, ATS optimization, TA transformation, workforce planning, and executive stakeholder alignment.
Tech Stack
Tools I’ve used to scale sourcing, improve process discipline, and strengthen funnel visibility.
Career Highlights
Enterprise scale, real accountability
Led TA at $3B / 50K enterprise scale with regulated, high-volume, and complex stakeholder environments.
Speed + quality improvements
Improved hiring outcomes with measurable reductions in Time-to-Hire and Time-to-Fill (29% faster Time-to-Hire; 12% faster Time-to-Fill).
Cost savings through smarter pipelines
$60K+ per requisition in agency.
AI-enabled recruiting that stays human
Implemented AI/automation to scale sourcing and workflows while keeping recruiter judgment and candidate experience at the center.
ATS optimization & adoption
Improved ORC / iCIMS / Taleo workflows, reporting, and governance to increase adoption and reduce process friction.
Where I’ve Led
Experience across enterprise and regulated sectors where hiring accuracy, compliance, and speed all matter.
Financial Services & Banking
Risk-aware hiring, compliance, and high-stakes leadership roles.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Regulated talent pipelines, clinical/operations alignment, and speed without shortcuts.
Public Sector & Regulated Environments
Process governance, fairness, and scalable hiring in high accountability settings.
Enterprise & Business Services
High-volume delivery, multi-site operations, and workforce transformation.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Operational hiring, safety-sensitive roles, and stakeholder-heavy environments.
High-Growth Tech & AI
Fast cycles, talent scarcity, and hiring models built for scale.
Resume
Senior Talent Acquisition Leader (Executive)
Enterprise TA leadership, AI/automation enablement, ATS optimization, workforce strategy.
Player-Coach Talent Acquisition Leader
Hands-on recruiting leadership, req ownership, delivery-first partnership, team coaching.
Insights & Writing
Selected writing from my LinkedIn series on Talent, Technology, and Leadership.
The U.S. May Have Lost 50,000 Jobs in October — And the Uncertainty Goes Deeper Than the Numbers
The labor market became harder to read — and easier to misinterpret. What delayed data and conflicting signals mean for hiring decisions.
Ghost Jobs: Why Candidates Are Losing Trust in the Hiring Process
Roles posted but never filled. Evergreen reqs with no urgency. How ghost jobs erode trust, damage employer brand, and slow real hiring.
Gratitude Season in an Uncertain Market
Gratitude — the part that often gets skipped. A reminder to lead with empathy while the market stays noisy for job seekers.
From Pyramid to Hourglass: How AI Is Reshaping Consulting — And the Future of Work
AI is reshaping organizational design. Fewer layers, different entry points, and a new premium on judgment, outcomes, and adaptability.
Can One Resume Really Land Every Interview? Let’s Get Honest.
One resume was never the problem. Hiring demands sharper positioning, targeted proof, and stronger outreach — not generic templates.
The Numbers to Watch This Week — and Why They Matter
When headline numbers are noisy, leaders need better signals. What to watch, what to ignore, and how to translate data into action.
Happy Holidays — What 2025 Taught Us About Work, Talent, and What Comes Next
A year-end reflection on resilience, leadership, and what talent teams should prioritize heading into 2026.
What Leaders Say
“John brings structure and calm when hiring gets noisy. He tightens the operating cadence, improves funnel visibility, and makes the work measurable — without losing the human side of recruiting. When leaders need speed and confidence, he delivers both.”
— VP of Global Talent Acquisition
“Strategic, pragmatic, and execution-focused. John builds trust quickly with hiring managers, coaches recruiters to a higher bar, and uses data to keep priorities clear. He’s the kind of leader you want when you need outcomes — not process theater.”
— Sr. Director of Global Talent Acquisition
Contact
Email: johnaobrien27@gmail.com
NYC Metro | Northern NJ | Remote / Hybrid