The Building Blocks of TA

Episode 2

Hear From the Experts Driving Smarter TA Ops

This series dives into candid conversations with leaders who’ve built, scaled, and optimized Talent Acquisition in fast-growing organizations. No fluff — just real lessons, actionable insight, and stories from the hiring trenches.

LevelUP HCS - Blog - Talent Acquisition in an Unpredictable Market

Episode 2 explores how TA leaders can achieve operational excellence by combining process design, technology, and analytics — creating faster, smarter, and more efficient recruitment strategies. The conversation also introduces Ella, LevelUP’s AI-powered Talent Scout that streamlines candidate screening and enhances recruiter productivity while keeping the human touch in hiring. Listeners will gain practical insights into building a data-driven talent function that balances innovation with empathy.

On-Demand Webinar Recording

Many TA teams today wander without clarity — disjointed processes, overworked recruiters, technology gaps, data black holes. In Episode 2, we shift the conversation toward operational excellence: how to connect process, tech, and analytics into a cohesive engine that delivers scale, speed, and quality.

In this episode, we unveil Ella — LevelUP’s AI-powered Talent Scout — and examine how it helps streamline candidate screening, augment recruiter capacity, and maintain the human touch at critical stages.

What You'll Learn

Operational excellence in Talent Acquisition goes far beyond the buzzwords — it’s about creating a well-orchestrated system where people, process, and technology work in harmony. It means designing recruitment frameworks that are structured enough to ensure consistency, yet flexible enough to adapt to changing business needs. Technology, particularly AI, plays a pivotal role in amplifying recruiter capabilities by automating repetitive tasks and surfacing insights that drive smarter decisions. Data and analytics become the compass for continuous improvement, enabling teams to identify bottlenecks, measure outcomes, and refine strategies over time. Along the way, leaders must navigate the inevitable trade-offs between speed and quality, automation and personalization — learning from real-world examples of scaled TA functions that have struck the right balance. Within this landscape, Ella, LevelUP’s AI-powered Talent Scout, emerges as a powerful ally — streamlining candidate screening and boosting efficiency without replacing the essential human connection that defines great hiring.

Curtis Grajeda

Founder & Managing Partner

Curtis is a veteran talent and HR leader with over 20 years of experience. He founded LevelUP in 2012 to connect great companies with exceptional talent through innovative, diversity-driven recruitment solutions. Under his leadership, LevelUP has grown from a New York startup into a global, award-winning organization known for its client focus and dynamic culture. A champion of mentorship and leadership development, Curtis is also a member of the RPOA and Forbes Human Resources Council, where he shares insights on building stronger, more inclusive workplaces.

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Grant Jessup

Global Head of Sales and Solutions

Grant Jessup, Global Head of Sales at LevelUP HCS, brings over 15 years of experience in staffing and talent solutions. He has been pivotal in expanding LevelUP’s global presence and building high-performing sales teams that deliver impactful results. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Grant mentors emerging professionals and supports initiatives that open opportunities for underrepresented groups. His leadership reflects a balance of strategy, authenticity, and innovation—driving growth while keeping people at the heart of every partnership.

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Elevate Your TA Function — Today

Watching the series is just the first step. If you're serious about building a high-performing, scalable Talent Acquisition function, it's time to assess your current state.

Take our free TA Maturity Assessment to benchmark your function across key pillars like structure, process, tech, and strategy. In just a few minutes, you'll get a personalized report that highlights your strengths, uncovers gaps, and offers practical recommendations to move forward with confidence.

Start making data-informed decisions that elevate your recruitment strategy and drive real business impact.

Take the TA Maturity Assessment