Eileen Rivera, Head, Global Talent Acquisition, Shire

I had the privilege of sitting down with Eileen and picking her brain recently. An effective Talent Acquisition function is critical for every organization we work with. As companies formulate their strategic Talent objectives, I was curious to understand, from Eileen’s perspective, the role 3rd party Search / Placement organizations play in their overall vision. I wanted to know how she measures success and what her hiring managers look for in a staffing partner as well.

Eileen shared, “I look to you for your understanding of the market…you are out there all day long…I value your insight and want to know what information you can bring forward. Tell me what the landscape looks like….trends….educate me on what is realistic so I can, in turn, educate my hiring managers.”

We talked further about talent in today’s climate and agreed that TA teams in all types of organization, both corporate and search, face competition daily. Eileen said, “we compete for the same talent…we always need to have a pulse on the market….and know how we can add value…and I need you to show me the value add.”

Eileen expects her staffing partners to not only produce top notch talent and have excellent communication skills but to bring forward market intelligence, trends, etc. Similar to what she expects of her own internal recruiters, Eileen wants us to produce…build relationships….gain credibility and deliver. She explained, “don’t be afraid to communicate challenges…set expectations…and ask what a hiring manager is willing to give or take…I want to know and hear what is going on out there….what’s next?…that is the most fascinating part of TA for me!”

I quickly learned why Eileen is one of the most highly respected Talent Acquisition professionals in the Greater Boston market. She has a passion for what she does and inspires Recruiters like me to produce only the best results.