Cara Hendley

Experience

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  Themis Talent

  Hiring for Startups!

  Jan 2022 - Present

  Themis Talent: boutique talent advisory founded by experienced People Operations leaders that builds custom recruiting functions, interview training, and hiring systems for growth-stage technology companies (Seed → IPO).

  • Built end-to-end TA solutions for early-stage tech clients—defined hiring plans, role families, and competency frameworks for engineering and product teams.
  • Designed and implemented repeatable sourcing pipelines (diverse passive sourcing + targeted outreach) to reduce time-to-fill for critical startup roles.
  • Partnered with founders and hiring managers to set hiring scorecards, structure interview loops, and train interviewers on competency-based interviewing.
  • Implemented candidate experience improvements (transparent timelines, structured debriefs, candidate feedback) that increased offer-acceptance rates.
  • Introduced recruiting tech and dashboards to track funnel metrics (apply→screen→onsite→offer) and identify bottlenecks for continuous improvement.

• Rhapsody

  Recruiter

  Jan 2025 - Dec 2025

  Rhapsody (rhapsody.health): healthcare-focused technology organization (rhapsody.health) delivering solutions to support clinical workflows and health systems.

  • Full-cycle recruiting for clinical, product, and engineering roles—sourced both active and passive candidates across healthcare and tech.
  • Built targeted pipelines for niche clinical and interoperability skillsets through referral programs, clinician networks, and specialized groups.
  • Managed stakeholder partnerships with hiring managers to translate product/clinical needs into clear job requirements and scorecards.
  • Introduced structured phone-screen templates and competency-based evaluation to improve screening consistency and interviewer calibration.
  • Owned offer process and candidate communications to shorten offer-to-accept timelines and improve candidate experience in a regulated industry.
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  Merlin

  Recruiter

  Sep 2024 - Mar 2025

  Merlin: aerospace & defense technology company building a vehicle‑agnostic, AI-powered autonomy platform for safe, reliable autonomous flight across military and civil programs.

  • Recruited senior and mid-level engineering talent (flight controls, avionics, autonomy, systems engineering) to support Merlin Pilot development and integration programs.
  • Developed targeted outreach to cleared/defense‑experienced candidates and managed security‑sensitive recruiting workflows.
  • Partnered with engineering leadership to define role requirements, candidate scorecards, and hiring priorities during rapid scaling and public‑company transition.
  • Reduced time-to-offer by streamlining interview loops, creating standardized technical assessments, and enabling faster stakeholder debriefs.
  • Built and maintained talent pipelines for flight test, software, and systems roles to support sustained hiring across multiple aircraft programs.
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  Thrasio

  Technical Recruiting Lead + Recruiting Operations Manager

  Oct 2020 - Jan 2023

  Thrasio: leading acquirer and operator of branded consumer products (Amazon FBA) that acquires, scales, and optimizes e‑commerce brands using supply chain, marketing, and operations expertise.

  • Led technical recruiting and recruiting operations to support engineering, data, and product hiring at scale for growth-stage e‑commerce operations.
  • Built centralized recruiting operations (ATS workflows, vendor management, recruiter playbooks) to improve recruiter efficiency and reporting.
  • Partnered with hiring managers to define engineering org structure, role families, and competency frameworks to support rapid product development.
  • Spearheaded recruitment marketing and employer‑brand initiatives to increase qualified inbound applicants for hard-to-fill technical roles.
  • Developed hiring KPIs and dashboards (source quality, time-to-fill, pipeline health) and used data to optimize sourcing investments and recruiter allocation.
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  Palantir Technologies

  Technical Recruiter

  Oct 2014 - Jun 2020

  Palantir: large software company that builds platforms to integrate data, decisions, and operations for government and commercial customers.

  • Owned full‑cycle recruiting across Product Design, Software Engineering, and Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) roles, aligning hiring to product roadmaps.
  • Designed campus and university recruiting programs—organized events, run interview loops, and converted high‑potential interns to full‑time offers.
  • Created role-specific sourcing strategies for rare skills (FDE, systems-level engineers) including targeted outreach, technical content, and coding challenge coordination.
  • Collaborated with hiring managers on candidate scorecards and structured interviews to improve hiring quality and reduce bias.
  • Maintained offer process, salary benchmarking, and closing strategies for competitive tech talent in high-demand markets.
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  Advisory Board

  Technical Talent Acquisition Specialist

  Jun 2013 - Oct 2014

  Advisory Board: research and advisory organization serving healthcare and higher education institutions with data, insights, and operational guidance to improve performance and outcomes.

  • Full‑cycle recruiting for healthcare and higher‑education product teams—sourced product managers, designers, and engineering talent.
  • Partnered with product and clinical stakeholders to translate domain requirements into clear role descriptions and interview scorecards.
  • Developed targeted sourcing channels (healthcare networks, professional associations, academic partnerships) to find candidates with domain expertise.
  • Managed interview coordination, candidate screening, and offer negotiations to ensure a positive candidate experience for mission‑driven hires.
  • Improved time‑to‑hire by introducing structured intake sessions and prioritizing pipeline handoffs between sourcers and hiring managers.
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  SWAROVSKI

  Corporate Talent Acquisition Coordinator (Contract)

  Dec 2012 - Apr 2013

  Swarovski: global luxury brand known for precision‑cut crystal, jewelry, watches, and decorative objects, emphasizing craftsmanship and heritage.

  • Supported corporate TA as a contract coordinator—managed interview scheduling, candidate communications, and offer paperwork for corporate hires.
  • Maintained applicant tracking system records, ensured requisition accuracy, and coordinated background and pre‑employment checks.
  • Facilitated onboarding logistics (new‑hire paperwork, equipment requests, orientation scheduling) to accelerate time-to-productivity for new employees.
  • Coordinated cross‑functional interview panels and stakeholder availability to streamline decision timelines for key roles.
  • Provided vendor and stakeholder support for recruitment events and internal mobility processes.
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  Vail Resorts

  Talent Acquisition Guide (Contract)

  Aug 2012 - Dec 2012

  Vail Resorts Careers: talent brand for Vail Resorts—large operator of ski resorts and seasonal hospitality operations, focused on high‑volume, seasonal hiring for resorts across North America.

  • Executed high‑volume seasonal hiring—reviewed resumes, conducted phone screens, and assessed applicants to support 300 seasonal positions across CA and CO.
  • Led efficient screening and interviewing workflows to successfully onboard ~18,000 seasonal employees within tight timelines.
  • Implemented high‑throughput phone‑screen and assessment processes to match candidates to seasonal roles (guest services, lift ops, F&B).
  • Coordinated offer logistics, pre‑employment checks, and seasonal onboarding to ensure workforce readiness at peak season.
  • Maintained positive candidate experience under high volume through clear communication, rapid feedback, and streamlined scheduling.
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  BNG Consulting, Inc.

  Consultant

  Mar 2012 - Sep 2012

  BNG Consulting, Inc.: boutique recruiting agency specializing in permanent placement for accounting, finance, investments, and related roles across the Boston area.

  • Conducted retained and contingency searches for accounting, finance, and investment roles—sourced, screened, and placed candidates across mid‑market firms.
  • Managed client relationships to understand hiring needs, craft role profiles, and deliver qualified shortlists aligned to culture and technical requirements.
  • Led candidate assessment and interview support, coached candidates through offer negotiations, and facilitated smooth onboarding transitions.
  • Developed a local market network of finance professionals and maintained an active pipeline of talent for recurring client needs.
  • Advised clients on compensation benchmarking and hiring timelines to improve placement velocity and retention outcomes.
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  Tripadvisor

  Recruiting Assistant (Contract)

  Oct 2011 - Mar 2012

  Tripadvisor: global travel and review platform that helps travelers discover and book accommodations, restaurants, and experiences worldwide.

  • Supported TA team as a recruiting assistant—coordinated interviews, managed candidate communications, and maintained ATS hygiene for high-volume travel‑industry hiring.
  • Prepared candidate shortlists and assisted with screening notes to accelerate recruiter workflows and improve handoffs to hiring managers.
  • Managed logistics for on‑site and virtual interview panels across time zones and multiple business units.
  • Tracked requisition status and generated weekly reports on pipeline health and interview activity for the recruiting leadership team.
  • Ensured a strong candidate experience through timely updates, interview prep materials, and clear post‑interview follow up.