Melissa Fernandes
Talent Acquisition Manager @Nava
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WORK HISTORY
Talent Acquisition Manager @Nava
US
Nava is a public benefit corporation working to radically improve how government serves people. With deep experience scaling digital services and a strong research practice, Nava supports over 60 million people in accessing critical government services.As TA Manager, I lead a high-performing team focused on building equitable, thoughtful, and scalable hiring practices that align with Nava’s mission to make government services simple, effective, and accessible. Our team tripled the company’s size, from ~150 to 500+, in under three years through strategic, mission-driven hiring.I collaborate closely with department leaders on workforce planning and headcount forecasting, and partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Legal, and Delivery to ensure hiring is compliant, inclusive, and aligned with long-term goals.Day-to-day responsibilities include:Leading full-cycle recruiting across technical and non-technical functionsGuiding TA team growth, development, and performanceDesigning scalable sourcing, referral, and hiring strategies/processesBuilding and optimizing structured, bias-aware interview training programsKey accomplishments:Scaled Nava 3x in <3 years through data-informed hiring strategyBuilt and led a high-performing TA team hiring across multiple statesDeveloped and launched Nava’s internal/external TA branding strategy, including an internal TA blog, career discovery events, and national networkingExpanded outreach through new partnerships and conference engagementUsed talent analytics to drive process improvements and hiring efficiency
EDUCATION
San Diego State University
Masters of Fine Arts, Musical Theatre
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
SKILLS
ABOUT MELISSA FERNANDES
You can reach the recruiters at Nava by emailing: R••••••••@navapbc.com or visit our website at navapbc.com.As a Talent Acquisition Lead at Nava, a public benefit corporation that works to radically improve how government serves people, I have over 15 years of experience in full life cycle recruitment across various technical and engineering roles. I am passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), and I hold multiple certifications in this field, including DEIB Specialist and Diversity & Inclusion Recruiter.My mission is to attract, engage, and hire top talent who share Nava\'s vision of creating civic technology that empowers and serves millions of people. I leverage my skills in process improvement, human resources, and social media to develop creative and effective recruiting strategies, coach and guide hiring managers, and foster a culture of collaboration and empathy. I also enjoy expressing my creativity and personality through theatre, which helps me connect and communicate with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
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