Terri Lawless

About Terri Lawless

I am a senior Talent Acquisition leader known for modernizing and scaling enterprise recruiting organizations across banking & financial services, retail, e-commerce, healthcare, and consumer-driven environments. I specialize in transforming TA functions through data, technology, process design, and strong partnerships, while maintaining a high-touch, human-centered candidate experience.Throughout my career, I’ve led large, distributed recruiting teams supporting both corporate and frontline workforces, including regulated banking environments. I’ve redesigned recruiting operating models, implemented and optimized ATS and talent technology, and introduced analytics, automation, and AI-enabled sourcing to improve time-to-fill, quality of hire, cost efficiency, and scalability.Alongside TA transformation, I’ve partnered closely with Talent Development and Learning & Development teams to strengthen onboarding, early career programs, recruiter and hiring manager training, and internal mobility pathways. This integrated approach reduces ramp time, improves retention, and ensures the talent we hire is positioned to grow with the business.My leadership style is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and accountability. I’m known for developing recruiters into strategic talent advisors, elevating manager capability through training and coaching, and leading change in complex, evolving environments.Core Expertise & Keywords:Modern Talent Acquisition | Talent Acquisition Transformation | Director of Talent Acquisition | Head of Talent | Recruiting Strategy | Recruiting Operations | Banking & Financial Services Talent | Regulated Hiring Environments | Retail & E-commerce Talent | High-Volume & Enterprise Hiring | ATS & Talent Technology | AI in Talent Acquisition | Data & Recruiting Analytics | Workforce Planning | Employer Branding | Candidate Experience | Talent Development Partnership | Onboarding & Training Programs | Early Career & Campus Hiring | Change Management | People LeadershipLet’s connect if you’re looking to modernize talent acquisition, leverage technology and data responsibly, and build recruiting teams that deliver measurable business impact.

Experience

1. Head of Talent Acquisition

   Stop & Shop

   Sep 2019 — Present · Quincy, MA, US

   Led talent acquisition transformation for Stop & Shop, supporting employees in a unionized environment across corporate, frontline, and store operations. Built and scaled high-performing recruiting teams, modernized recruiting operations, and delivered exceptional candidate and hiring manager experiences. Implemented programmatic sourcing, TA advisory models, and data-driven decision-making, while embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion and aligning talent strategy to business goals. Successfully executed enterprise-scale initiatives, including post-COVID e-commerce scaling and high-volume hiring, in a complex operational and unionized environment.Key Achievements:Transformed recruiting teams into strategic talent advisors, strengthening hiring manager partnerships and improving recruiter impact across union and non-union teams.Designed and executed summer intern programs and early talent pipelines, building leadership bench strength for corporate and store operations.Replaced traditional job boards with programmatic sourcing, improving quality of hire, efficiency, and candidate reach.Scaled and staffed e-commerce and home delivery operations post-COVID, ensuring timely fulfillment and operational continuity.Successfully hired associates in 4 months during COVID, maintaining business operations and community support.Developed hiring manager guides and training programs, including DEI-focused curriculum, enhancing manager capability and accountability.Partnered with Health & Wellness teams to support associate engagement, well-being, and culture initiatives.Embedded inclusive hiring practices across all levels, improving representation and retention in both frontline and corporate roles.Managed the complexities of union hiring and workforce agreements, ensuring compliance while maintaining hiring efficiency.

Education

• Southern NH University

  Organizational Leadership

• Bentley University

  Affirmative Action Program Certification

Skills

• Recruitment/Retention
• College Recruiting
• Talent Management
• Workforce Planning
• Technical Recruiting
• Salesforce.com
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Nonprofits
• Process Engineering
• Account Management
• Change Management
• Screening
• Career Development
• Hiring
• Interviews
• Leadership Development
• Customer Relations
• Advertising
• Management
• Team Building
• Networking
• Non-Profits
• Budgets
• Strategic Planning
• Employee Relations
• Performance Management
• Resume Writing
• Social Networking
• Strategy
• Succession Planning
• Onboarding
• Microsoft Excel
• Budgeting
• Marketing
• Sourcing
• Temporary Placement
• Employer Branding
• Call Centers
• Interviewing
• Talent Acquisition