Steven Padilla

About Steven Padilla

Strategic Senior Recruiter with 10+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience across technical and non-technical roles in pharmaceutical, biotech, and manufacturing sectors. I specialize in partnering with leadership to source and hire top engineering, operations, sales, and corporate talent while driving inclusive hiring practices and veteran recruitment initiatives. What I Do:• Design and execute innovative sourcing strategies to build robust talent pipelines• Partner with hiring managers as a strategic talent advisor on workforce planning and market trends• Drive data-driven recruiting approaches using analytics to optimize hiring outcomes• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion through veteran and military spouse recruitment programs• Deliver exceptional candidate experiences in hybrid and remote work environments Recent Results:• Achieved 100% hiring manager satisfaction across 24+ leaders• Reduced time-to-fill by 18% while maintaining quality of hire• Eliminated agency dependency (0% usage), saving $180K+ annually• Increased workforce diversity by 22% through targeted veteran hiring initiatives• Maintained 85-90% offer acceptance rates through competitive market analysis Areas of Expertise:Technical Recruiting (Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance)| Operations & Corporate Recruiting | Strategic Sourcing & Pipeline Development | Stakeholder Partnership | Workday ATS | LinkedIn Recruiter | Data-Driven Recruiting | Offer Negotiation | OFCCP/EEO Compliance | Veteran Hiring Programs Proud veteran advocate with deep expertise in translating military experience into civilian opportunities. I\'m passionate about helping veterans transition successfully into meaningful careers.Open to connecting with talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers, and anyone interested in discussing recruiting best practices, veteran hiring, or the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.

Experience

1. Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant

   Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.

   Mar 2026 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   Capricor Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CAPR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing transformative cell and exosome-based therapies for rare diseases. At the forefront of our innovation is Deramiocel (CAP-1002), our lead cell therapy in late-stage development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We are also harnessing our proprietary StealthX™ exosome platform to unlock new possibilities in targeted delivery and vaccinology. Every program reflects our commitment to pushing the boundaries of science and delivering life-changing treatments to patients and families who need them most.Lead full-cycle recruitment for GMP-regulated manufacturing and scientific roles across commercial, clinical, and R&D functions, partnering with hiring managers to build high-impact teams in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.Drive end-to-end talent acquisition for critical roles including Validation Engineers, Quality Assurance Specialists, Regulatory Affairs Managers, and Manufacturing Scientists, consistently improving time-to-fill and candidate qualityServe as a strategic talent advisor to senior business leaders, aligning workforce planning with pipeline milestones and operational expansion goalsBuild and maintain talent pipelines for hard-to-fill GMP and cGMP roles by leveraging LinkedIn Recruiter, industry networks, and targeted sourcing strategiesPartner with HR Business Partners and Compensation teams to develop competitive offer packages in line with pharma industry benchmarks (Radford, Mercer)Ensure all hiring practices remain compliant with FDA, EEO, OFCCP, and internal SOPs, conducting regular audits of ATS documentation and interview scorecardsMentor junior recruiters, providing coaching on sourcing best practices, stakeholder management, and offer negotiationManage relationships with third-party staffing vendors and RPO partners, optimizing agency spend and reducing overall contractor costs

Education

• UC San Diego Extended Studies

  Certificate , Human Resources Management

• National University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Organizational Leadership

  2018 — 2020

• Grossmont College

  Associate of Science (A.S.), Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

  2012 — 2016

Skills

• Time Management
• Public Speaking
• C++
• Strategic Partnerships
• Social Networking
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Weapons
• Program Management
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Matlab
• Training
• Organizational Leadership
• Military Experience
• English
• Event Planning
• Critical Thinking
• Fundraising
• Policy
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Research
• Supervisory Skills
• Community Outreach
• Management
• Team Building
• Troubleshooting
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Project Management
• Social Media
• Military
• Leadership
• Autocad
• Windows
• Cpr Certified