Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic
Amanda  Seaward

Amanda Seaward

Christchurch,CAN

Summary

Dynamic Senior Recruitment Specialist with a proven track record at Tait Communications, excelling in end-to-end recruitment and employer branding. Expert in leveraging applicant tracking systems and fostering stakeholder engagement, I drive diversity initiatives and enhance candidate experience, achieving high satisfaction rates while optimizing recruitment processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Recruitment Specialist

Tait Communications
Canterbury, Christchurch
06.2023 - Current

I lead end-to-end recruitment for over 150 new roles annually, in addition to replacement hires, with consistently high satisfaction from hiring managers and teams.

My recruitment scope spans global and local hiring across diverse functions, including Corporate Services, Health & Safety, Finance, Marketing, Project Management, Production, Architecture, and Software/Design Engineering at all levels (Junior to Senior).

I’ve developed and implemented recruitment infrastructure, such as recruitment policy, process flowcharts, interview templates, and reference checking systems. I facilitate hiring manager training sessions and contribute to workforce planning initiatives in close collaboration with executive team members.

I am deeply committed to inclusive hiring practices, embedding Te Ao Māori values, and equity-focused strategies to build diverse and culturally aligned teams. I actively support Māori and Pasifika engagement, and ensure fair, accessible recruitment processes for all candidates.

In addition to operational delivery, I’ve worked on employer branding and EVP initiatives, crafting engaging job advertisements, and strengthening our presence at university and school Career Expos across Aotearoa.

I also lead with a data-informed approach, monitoring time-to-fill, quality of hire, and candidate experience metrics to improve outcomes and inform decision-making.

Ensuring a seamless candidate journey is central to my approach, from first contact through to onboarding, with a strong focus on communication, professionalism, and cultural fit.

I have also introduced process improvements to optimise our recruitment workflow and deliver timely, high-quality hiring outcomes.

Currently using iSolved as our Applicant Tracking System, I am the Subject Matter Expert driving the selection and implementation of a new recruitment platform to future-proof our hiring processes.

With a strong focus on inclusive hiring, candidate experience, and continuous process improvement, I bring a strategic and human-centered approach to recruitment that aligns with organisational goals and cultural values.

Key outcomes:

  • Collaborated with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and job requirements
  • Utilised applicant tracking systems to manage candidate pipelines efficiently.
  • Coordinated onboarding processes for new hires, ensuring a smooth transition.
  • Analysed recruitment data to refine sourcing strategies and improve efficiency.
  • Maintained accurate records of all recruiting activities in Applicant Tracking System.
  • Managed employee referrals program to increase quality of hire from internal sources.
  • Collaborated with management teams to identify staffing needs and develop job descriptions.
  • Liaised between departments to ensure smooth transition into roles for new hires.
  • Created reports related to recruitment activity and provided updates on status of searches and hires.
  • Established strong partnerships with key stakeholders across the organization.
  • Advocated diversity initiatives through proactive outreach efforts and research techniques.
  • Monitored hiring progress against established goals and objectives throughout the year.
  • Developed creative sourcing strategies such as social media campaigns and networking groups.
  • Conducted job interviews to assess prospective candidates' qualifications and abilities.
  • Participated in job fairs, campus visits and other events to build a pipeline of qualified candidates.
  • Coached hiring managers on the recruitment process and best practices.
  • Screened resumes, conducted phone screens and scheduled in-person interviews.
  • Developed recruitment strategies, including sourcing methods, advertisement campaigns, referral programs and other initiatives.
  • Maintained current calendar of job fairs and employment opportunities in each state.
  • Coordinated and scheduled interviews, facilitating smooth communication between candidates and hiring teams.
  • Managed full-cycle recruiting processes, from initial sourcing to offer negotiation.
  • Maintained a talent pipeline of potential candidates for future job openings.
  • Led employer branding initiatives to enhance the company's image as a desirable employer.
  • Provided regular updates and feedback to candidates throughout the recruitment process to ensure a positive candidate experience.
  • Conducted background checks and reference checks as part of the pre-employment screening process.

Talent Acquisition Specialist (fixed Term)

Alliance Group
Canterbury, Christchurch
01.2022 - 06.2023

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Alliance, I lead end-to-end recruitment across a diverse portfolio of roles, spanning corporate functions and on-farm operations.

Working closely with hiring managers and key stakeholders, I managed strategic sourcing, candidate engagement, and process improvements to ensure timely, high-quality hires that align with business needs.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Partner with corporate and farming business units to understand workforce needs, and develop tailored recruitment strategies.
  • Manage full-cycle recruitment, including advertising, screening, interviewing, and offer negotiation for roles ranging from administration to operational, and leadership positions.
  • Proactively source talent through multiple channels, including job boards, social media, talent pools, and industry networks.
  • Provide expert guidance to hiring managers on job design, market trends, interview processes, and candidate experience.
  • Ensure compliance with employment legislation and company policies throughout the recruitment process.
  • Support employer branding initiatives, and promote Alliance as an employer of choice within the primary industry sector.

Key Achievements:

  • Successfully filled high-volume and business-critical roles within tight timeframes.
  • Strengthened partnerships with rural stakeholders, and hiring leaders to improve candidate pipelines.
  • Contributed to process streamlining and system improvements to enhance recruitment efficiency and candidate experience.

Recruitment Specialist

NZ Customs
Canterbury, Christchurch
06.2020 - 01.2022

As a Recruitment Advisor within a dedicated and high-performing team, I contribute to the successful delivery of end-to-end recruitment solutions, ensuring we appoint the right person the first time. My role is busy, fast-paced, and diverse, involving full candidate lifecycle management, from vacancy coordination and candidate screening to assessment and placement.

I work closely with hiring managers, providing case management support and strategic advice to help address staffing needs and achieve organisational goals.

A key focus of my role is the planning, coordination, and facilitation of assessment centers across Aotearoa. This includes travel across regions to ensure consistent, inclusive, and high-quality recruitment practices are upheld nationwide. I actively participate in interviews and assessment activities, leveraging tools such as Snaphire and Talegent to assess candidate suitability and potential.

Grounded in the values of NZ Customs and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, I champion equitable recruitment by embedding cultural awareness and inclusive practices into every stage of the hiring process. I recognize the importance of te ao Māori and work to create a recruitment experience that is respectful, welcoming, and reflective of the communities we serve.

Cabin Crew Manager (Portfolio - Recruitment)

Air New Zealand
Canterbury, Christchurch
04.2010 - 05.2020

In my role as Cabin Crew Manager, I was entrusted with leading and developing a team of up to 95 high-performing crew members, fostering a culture built on trust, accountability, and excellence. This position blended my passion for leadership with a strong focus on recruitment, allowing me to play a key role in identifying, selecting, onboarding, and training top-tier talent.

I regularly attended assessment centers and conducted interviews Nationally to ensure we hired individuals aligned with Air New Zealand’s values and service standards.

Through strategic people management and a commitment to building capability, I empowered my team to consistently deliver world-class customer experiences, while driving operational performance.

Facility Manager

Willowlea Senior Care
Canterbury, Christchurch
01.1992 - 01.2006

As Facility Manager, I led a dedicated and diverse team of caregivers, registered nurses, kitchen, and laundry staff to provide high-quality care and services for our elderly residents.

As Facility Manager, I led a dedicated and diverse team of caregivers, registered nurses, kitchen staff, and laundry staff to provide high-quality care and services for our elderly residents. My role encompassed end-to-end responsibility for hiring, training, and ongoing support of staff across all departments, ensuring they were equipped to deliver with empathy, professionalism, and purpose.

I fostered a culture of wellness, accountability, and continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and challenging traditional models to meet the evolving needs of our residents.


In a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, I remained agile and solutions-focused, driving rapid change with minimal disruption. Through strong communication and a deep commitment to connectedness, I ensured key information was delivered clearly, enabling my team to stay aligned, task-focused, and committed to excellence in aged care.

Responsibilities:

  • Managed facility operations to ensure safety and compliance standards.
  • Oversaw maintenance schedules and coordinated repair services with contractors.
  • Developed and implemented facility policies to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Conducted regular inspections to identify areas for improvement and maintenance needs.
  • Trained staff on safety protocols and emergency procedures within the facility.
  • Resolved customer complaints pertaining to facility-related matters quickly and effectively.
  • Prepared and submitted reports on facility operations, including budget updates.
  • Scheduled and monitored on-site inspections of facility.
  • Ensured compliance with applicable building codes, ordinances, laws, rules, regulations and standards.
  • Recruited, trained, managed and evaluated performance of staff members involved in daily operations.
  • Maintained records relating to all aspects of facilities management including financial data.
  • Created processes to improve operational efficiency within the facility's departments.
  • Liaised between tenants, residents and property owners, management concerning any tenant, resident inquiries or requests.
  • Established department goals and deadlines.

Skills

  • End-to-end recruitment
  • Applicant tracking systems
  • Candidate screening
  • Employer branding
  • Workforce planning
  • Diversity recruitment
  • Interview facilitation
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Training hiring managers
  • Candidate experience
  • Recruitment process outsourcing
  • Talent acquisition
  • Recruiter training
  • Job advertising
  • Process improvement
  • Recruitment metrics analysis
  • Industry networking
  • Career fair coordination
  • Succession planning
  • Job posting optimization
  • Social media recruiting
  • Boolean search techniques
  • Competency-based interviewing
  • Offer negotiation
  • Customer relationship management
  • Cost reductions
  • Team building
  • Active listening
  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Senior Recruitment Specialist

Tait Communications
06.2023 - Current

Talent Acquisition Specialist (fixed Term)

Alliance Group
01.2022 - 06.2023

Recruitment Specialist

NZ Customs
06.2020 - 01.2022

Cabin Crew Manager (Portfolio - Recruitment)

Air New Zealand
04.2010 - 05.2020

Facility Manager

Willowlea Senior Care
01.1992 - 01.2006
Amanda Seaward