Professional Summary
Professional Overview
Steve Gard is an experienced talent acquisition and HR professional with a strong track record of driving organizational growth and performance through strategic talent management. As the Founder of BenchmarCX and The Circle Back Initiative, he leverages his deep expertise in talent acquisition, talent operations, and HR technology to help organizations build high-performing, engaged teams.
Experience Summary
Current Roles
Founder, BenchmarCX (2021-Present)
- Established BenchmarCX, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations optimize their candidate experience and recruitment processes.
- Provides strategic guidance and hands-on support to clients in implementing best-in-class talent acquisition strategies and technologies.
- Drives measurable improvements in talent acquisition metrics, including time-to-hire, offer acceptance rates, and candidate satisfaction.
Founder, The Circle Back Initiative (2020-Present)
- Founded The Circle Back Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting ethical and inclusive hiring practices.
- Leads the development and promotion of industry-wide standards and resources to help recruiters and employers improve their candidate communication and feedback processes.
- Collaborates with HR and talent leaders to drive greater transparency and accountability in the hiring process.
Career Progression
Prior to his current entrepreneurial ventures, Steve held various leadership roles in talent acquisition and HR across diverse industries, including:
- Founder, Talentrich (2019-2021)
- Head of Talent Acquisition, Goodstart Early Learning (2017-2019)
- Head of Talent Operations - Interim, Expert360 (2016-2017)
- Talent Acquisition Director, SMG Talent Solutions (2015-2016)
- Regional Head of Talent Acquisition, AIG (2014-2015)
- Group Head of Talent Acquisition, Chalhoub Group (2011-2014)
- Head of Graduate Recruitment / Head of Management Consulting Recruitment, BT (2006-2010)
Throughout his career, Steve has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive positive change, enhance recruiting and talent management practices, and deliver measurable business impact for his employers and clients.
Academic Background
Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Technology, Sydney, with a specialization in Human Resource Management.
Areas of Expertise
- Talent Acquisition Strategy and Implementation
- Candidate Experience Optimization
- Talent Pipelining and Workforce Planning
- HR Technology Integration and Adoption
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Hiring
- Talent Management and Employee Engagement
Professional Impact
Steve's work has been recognized for its innovation and impact. He has been a featured speaker at numerous industry events and has contributed to leading HR and talent management publications. Through his leadership of The Circle Back Initiative, Steve has played a pivotal role in driving greater transparency and ethical practices in the hiring process, positively impacting job seekers and employers alike.
Conclusion
With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and HR, Steve Gard is a respected thought leader and trusted advisor in the field. As the Founder of BenchmarCX and The Circle Back Initiative, he is dedicated to helping organizations build high-performing, engaged teams and promoting ethical and inclusive hiring practices across the industry.
