Sara Alexander

About Sara Alexander

Driving Workforce Excellence Through Transformative Talent Strategies & Data-Driven Recruitment InnovationHR leader with 25+ years of experience building high-impact talent acquisition functions that accelerate business growth. Proven ability to design and implement enterprise-wide recruitment strategies, optimize hiring operations, and reduce costs through data-driven decision-making and technology adoption. A trusted advisor in executive hiring and workforce planning, ensuring organizations attract, develop, and retain top industry talent. Passionate about scaling high-performing teams, fostering inclusive hiring cultures, and leveraging cutting-edge HR technology to drive efficiency, engagement, and long-term ACHIEVEMENTS• Built out and led Silgan’s Talent Acquisition function, transforming it into a high-performing shared services model.• Saved $1M+ in agency fees by filling key leadership positions in-house in 2024.• Achieved an average of 52% annual cost savings through strategic vendor management and contract negotiations.• Increased hiring efficiency by 39% in 2024 using process optimization and technology integration.• Expanded TA support services to include skilled trades hiring across critical U.S. plants.• Strengthened military and campus recruiting, enlisting alumni, and driving veteran hiring initiatives.• Led Workday Recruiting implementation across six divisions, ensuring seamless adoption and process standardization.• Developed a recruitment video library & LMS quick guides, enhancing recruiter training and onboarding efficiency.• Consolidated branding across internal and external career sites, improving employer brand COMPETENCIES • Executive & Leadership Hiring • Workforce Strategy & Planning• High-Performance Team Leadership• Employer Branding & Recruitment Marketing • ATS Optimization & HR Technology • Recruitment Analytics & KPI Management• Cost Optimization & Vendor Negotiation • Compliance & Risk Management

Experience

1. Manager of Talent Acquisition

   Silgan Containers

   Feb 2022 — Present · Oconomowoc, WI, US

   A division of Silgan Holdings Inc. and North America’s most prominent metal food can manufacturer. A part of Silgan’s $6 billion packaging solutions business, Silgan Containers specializes in metal packaging for food and consumer goods, serving major brands like Nestlé, Campbell, and Coca-Cola. With 14,400 employees and a focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, Silgan Containers is key in delivering high-quality, cost-effective packaging solutions.• Established and led the Talent Acquisition function, positioning TA as a strategic driver of business success.• Built and developed an A+ recruiting team, leading remote and in-person team members while fostering a high-performance, accountability, and continuous improvement culture.• Expanded TA support services to include skilled trades hiring, ensuring a steady pipeline of top talent for critical U.S. plants.• Strengthened military and campus recruiting efforts, driving engagement through alumni networks and targeted outreach programs.• Optimized hiring efficiency, implementing automated processes that reduced hiring timelines and improved candidate experience.• Achieved a 52% reduction in vendor costs through proactive contract negotiations and centralized vendor management.• Served as the recruitment SME for six Silgan divisions, guiding the Workday Recruiting implementation and harmonizing talent acquisition processes.• Developed a Workday recruiting training library and LMS quick guides, ensuring enterprise-wide TA knowledge sharing.

Education

• University d'Avignon

  French, French

  1994 — 1995

• Bellevue University

  Master's degree, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

• St. Norbert College

  BA, French/English

  1992 — 1996

• Pewaukee High School

  High School Diploma, General Education

  1988 — 1992

Skills

• Software
• Onboarding
• Passive Candidate Development
• Employee Benefits
• Recruiting
• Recruitment Advertising
• Candidate Generation
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Sourcing
• Human Resources
• Performance Management
• Hris
• Temporary Staffing
• Payroll
• Contract Recruitment
• Closing Candidates
• Interviewing
• Talent Acquisition
• Temporary Placement
• Personnel Management
• Internet Recruiting
• IT Recruitment
• Health Care Recruiting
• Ecommerce
• Training
• Employee Relations
• Qualifying Candidates
• Strategic Sourcing
• Talent Management
• Management
• Executive Search
• Interviews
• Marketing
• Technical Recruiting
• IT Sourcing
• Leadership
• Change Management
• Time Management
• Workforce Planning
• Screening