SWATI KANZAR

Lead Recruiter | Avigna.AI, Pune | May 2025 – Present

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Spearheading end-to-end recruitment operations across technology, data, and product functions for both lateral and leadership hiring.
• Established the recruitment framework and ATS system from scratch, driving process standardization and efficiency across all hiring stages.
• Managing a core team of 2 internal recruiters and 5 external vendor partners, each with 3–5 recruiters, ensuring streamlined collaboration, performance tracking, and quality control.
• Partnering directly with CXOs, Delivery Heads, and Hiring Managers to define workforce plans, talent strategies, and hiring priorities aligned to organizational goals.
• Designed and implemented data-driven dashboards and reports to track time-to-hire, offer-to-join ratios, and recruiter productivity.
• Introduced innovative employer branding initiatives, including the “Meet & Greet Plan” for new joinees and social media campaigns to enhance Avigna’s hiring brand visibility.
• Built structured interview frameworks and competency-based evaluation templates for technical and non-technical roles.
• Drove recruitment marketing, collaborating with content and design teams for LinkedIn, Naukri, and internal branding posts.
• Conducted training and enablement sessions for internal recruiters and vendor teams to align with Avigna’s talent acquisition standards.
• Collaborated with HR and leadership on manpower planning, budgeting, and resource forecasting, integrating recruitment goals with business deliverables.
• Led automation and process improvements, reducing manual effort and improving recruiter efficiency through ATS analytics and workflow redesign.
• Acted as a Talent Program Manager, owning the entire lifecycle from sourcing strategy to onboarding experience and retention tracking of first 90 days.

**Responsibilities: **

• Worked as a Team Lead, managing a team of 12 recruiters specializing in domestic India hiring across various industries, including IT and technology.
• Successfully led the entire end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer negotiations, and onboarding.
• Conducted daily recruitment stand-ups to monitor progress, address challenges, and maintain an up-to-date candidate tracker.
• Led and managed three outsourcing consulting teams, each comprising 3–4 team members, ensuring seamless collaboration and effective hiring strategies.
• Maintained precise records of all recruitment activities using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) like ZohoRecruit.
• Sourced and hired candidates for technical roles, including Embedded Linux Software Engineers, Full Stack Developers, AI/ML Engineers, Technical Project Managers, and AOSP Software Engineers.
• Focused extensively on recruitment for domestic roles, collaborating closely with hiring managers to fulfill technical and managerial requirements.
• Conducted initial technical interviews to assess candidates’ suitability for specific roles, streamlining the pipeline for subsequent technical and managerial rounds.
• Utilized job portals such as LinkedIn, Naukri, Wellfound, and Monster to identify and engage high-potential candidates.
• Explored and implemented innovative online recruitment strategies, including social and professional networking platforms, to expand talent sourcing capabilities.
• Played a pivotal role in improving recruitment efficiency and reducing time-to-hire for critical domestic roles.
• Drafted and communicated rejection letters, ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout the process.
• Supported the interview and selection process for on-site employees, coordinating closely with hiring managers and stakeholders.
• Successfully managed recruitment operations across various locations in India, delivering quality hires within strict deadlines.
• Oversaw the hiring process for technical and non-technical roles, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and client expectations.

Project – Amazon RPO – USA (3 months)
Project – Walmart (6 months)

Project – H&M, BMW, Cognizant, Tata Elxsi (6 months)

**Responsibilities:**

• Spearheaded recruitment efforts for roles such as Software Developers, Senior Software Developers, and Project Managers, catering to top-tier clients.
• Proficiently managed the end-to-end recruitment process, including pre-screening, salary negotiations, extending offers, and onboarding candidates.
• Conducted in-depth assessments and skills evaluations of candidates to ensure alignment with client requirements.
• Built strong partnerships with hiring managers to understand role-specific needs and provide tailored recruitment solutions.
• Sourced candidates using job boards such as LinkedIn, Naukri, WellFound, and Monster, as well as advanced sourcing techniques like X-Ray Search.
• Provided strategic hiring solutions for SaaS companies, focusing on key roles in software development, cloud services, and technical architecture.
• Delivered comprehensive performance reports (weekly and quarterly) using MS Excel to clients and management.
• Managed recruitment across various IT technologies, including roles in SaaS development, cloud infrastructure, and ERP systems.
• Hired professionals with diverse skill sets, including permanent, contract, and contract-to-hire employees, ensuring compliance with local employment regulations.
• Maintained robust candidate pipelines and records within the organization's applicant tracking system (ATS).
• Negotiated compensation packages and facilitated the hiring process for candidates at all levels.
• Coordinated and streamlined processes for internal recruitment, including reference checks, offer letters, background verifications, and documentation.
• Excelled in sourcing and hiring for technical roles such as:
  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Operations Functional
  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance Functional
  Microsoft Robotic Process Automation
  ASP.NET Developers
  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce Technical
  Microsoft Azure Architecture
  SaaS Product Development Roles
• Delivered successful hiring outcomes by leveraging a deep understanding of SaaS company hiring trends and skill requirements.
• Acted as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and senior leadership, providing strategic recruitment insights and solutions.
• Consistently met hiring deadlines while maintaining high candidate quality and stakeholder satisfaction.

**Responsibilities: **

• Managed the full recruitment life cycle, including CV screening, sourcing, scheduling and conducting interviews, providing feedback, and creating offers for domestic hiring in India.
• Led a team of 2 recruiters, building and scaling recruitment processes for start-up companies across India.
• Conducted HR interviews to assess candidates' skills, knowledge, and experience, ensuring alignment with position requirements and organizational goals.
• Sourced and headhunted candidates for a wide range of positions, including technical, data science, design, sales, marketing, and administrative roles, with a focus on Indian talent markets.
• Played a pivotal role in setting up recruitment strategies and hiring frameworks for start-up companies, helping them establish and scale their workforce effectively.
• Maintained direct communication with founders, CEOs, and hiring managers to understand role requirements, streamline recruitment efforts, and meet business objectives.
• Analyzed job market trends and leveraged insights to refine sourcing strategies and attract top talent for domestic start-ups.
• Collaborated closely with internal stakeholders, researchers, and other recruiters to ensure a smooth hiring process and align recruitment goals with organizational needs.

Worked on Profiles:

• Senior Developer - SAP Development
• Senior SAP Consultant
• Senior Data Engineer (SAP S4/HANA)
• Senior SAP ABAP
• HANA/ABAP Associate Consultant
• Supported start-ups in building their technical teams, enabling them to successfully launch and scale operations in competitive Indian markets.

• Assisted in onboarding of new hires by providing orientation materials and training sessions.
• Advised hiring managers on interview techniques and selection criteria.
• Sourced and screened potential candidates for open positions.
• Collaborated with hiring managers to understand position requirements.
• Negotiated salaries and other employment terms with successful applicants.
• Identified best practices for recruiting process improvement.

**Responsibilities:**

• Provided accurate and timely reports and communication to management, hiring managers, and Human Resource Business Partners
• Recruited senior IT profiles with a focus on functional expertise in areas such as infrastructure, SAP, project management, and change management.
• Developed action plans for recruiting the best fit for the organization.
• Procured candidates for various IT requirements.
• Used niche platforms related to IT to source potential candidates.
• Conducted interviews personally and documented the same.
• Managed the full lifecycle recruiting for positions ranging from management to senior directors.
  
  **Worked on Positions:**
  - Software/Hardware Engineers
  - Automation – Selenium with Java
  - UX/UI Designer and Developers
  - Conversational AI Designers
  - BO Admin
  - SAP Admin
  - Project Managers
  - Senior Project Managers
  - LAN/WAN: Support Technicians, Administrators, Engineers
  - Oracle DBA
  - GoLang Programmers
  - Technical Writers and Testers
  - Technical Support
  - Java, C/C++, Embedded Developers
  - Business Analysts
  - Unix Admin
  - Network Engineers
  - IT Director
  - Technical Team Lead

**Responsibilities:**

• Headhunted qualified Software Engineers, Software Test Engineers, Program Managers, Web Developers, and Administrators.
• Demonstrated first-rate knowledge and ability to navigate through job boards and networking sites to ensure the sharpest candidates for our direct clients.
• Collaborated with the sales team to provide placements for US Citizens, Green Card Holders, H1-B, EAD, etc.
• Used an internal database, Internet sites, and referrals to source active and passive candidates for contract, contract-to-perm, and permanent positions.
• Practiced numerous sourcing strategies including referral generation, position postings, direct sourcing/cold calling, and networking to develop a qualified pool of candidates.
• Recruited and hired candidates in-state and out-of-state for contract, contract-to-hire, and permanent placements for all IT positions for multiple client companies.
• Specialized in recruiting for Software Engineers, Database Architects/Developers/Administrators, Network Engineers, System Engineers, Security Engineers, Web Developers, Quality Assurance Test Engineers, Project Managers, and Business Analysts.
• Sourced resumes for senior hierarchy positions for direct clients, including Chief Technology Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Computer Forensic Examiner, Technology Attorney, Senior Program Manager with SME, Head Global Corporate Security Official with Heavy Investigation and Fraud Examination Experience, Tax Senior Associate, and Quantitative Analyst.

**Responsibilities:**

• Assisted clients in finding perfect jobs, as per their requirements, using comprehensive internet sourcing tactics.
• Utilized excellent knowledge of Boolean logic to construct complex search strings and conducted searches in major search engines.
• Worked on HR portals to search jobs for candidates from different clients, conducted interviews, and provided training as required.
• Experienced in handling C2C, W2, and 1099 employment terms.
• Collaborated with hiring managers and Stake Holders to find cost-effective candidates with proper fit.
• Pre-interviewed and filtered candidates, educating and shortlisting them with specifics before client interviews.
  
  **Experience:**
• Sourced and screened potential IT candidates using internal systems, databases, job portals, postings, and networking within the desired timeframe.
• Worked in positions across various sectors such as Information Technology, Sales and Marketing, Retail, Healthcare, Banking, Finance and Investment, Telecom, and Food Chain.
• Recruited for a wide range of profiles including Pharmacist, Accountant, Delivery Boy, Chef, Content Writer, Sales Manager, Business Development Executive, Software Engineer, Product Manager, Data Engineer, etc.

**Responsibilities:**

• Provided support to clients based in Europe and the United Kingdom, enhancing written and communication skills.
  

**Responsibilities:**

• Conducted training and development sessions for students in aviation and inflight management.
• Assisted in the recruitment process and trained students on interview skills.
• Conducted interviews and selected candidates based on their qualifications.