Zuhal Birsayı

Senior Business Partner

Istanbul, Türkiye

About

Skilled at connecting top talent with business needs through a mix of smart sourcing, employer branding, and data-driven hiring.

Experience

  • Senior Business Partner at Workforce İnsan Kaynakları
    Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

    Senior Recruitment & Business Development Consultant -Build and grow strategic client partnerships, driving new business acquisition and expanding existing accounts -Act as a trusted 360° advisor across business development, client management, and talent strategy -Lead end-to-end recruitment processes for mid-senior and leadership roles -Provide market intelligence, talent mapping, and hiring advisory to senior stakeholders

  • Human Resources Executive at Birsay Automotive
    Jun 2021 - Dec 2024 · 3 yrs 7 mos

    HR & Talent Acquisition Lead Family-owned Automotive Services Group | Bosch Car Service (3 sites) | Istanbul & Northern Cyprus Led end-to-end HR and Talent Acquisition across three Bosch Car Service locations, supporting multi-site operations Designed and implemented the HR framework to enable growth, scalability, and culture transformation Owned the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance management, learning & development, and compensation & benefits Delivered full-cycle recruitment across technical, operational, and leadership roles Implemented Kolay IK HRIS and developed workforce analytics dashboards to support data-driven decision-making Supported business expansion into Northern Cyprus while managing and developing a small HR team

  • Human Resources Manager at Ottoman Games
    Dec 2019 - Apr 2021 · 1 yr 5 mos

    HR & Talent Acquisition Lead Chinese startup | Gaming & Payment Systems | Türkiye Established the HR function from scratch, defining HR strategy, headcount planning, and core policies Ensured full legal compliance across all HR processes, including contracts, payroll coordination, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, non-compete agreements) Designed organizational structure and standardized recruitment and onboarding processes Built a competitive compensation & benefits structure aligned with the gaming/technology market Implemented Kolay IK HRIS and streamlined HR operations and reporting Internalized key outsourced functions (recruitment, accounting coordination, legal processes) to increase efficiency Led full-cycle recruitment, hiring the company’s first 20 employees through direct sourcing, networking, and referrals Built a strong talent pipeline and enhanced employer branding to support future growth

  • Randstad (1 yr 5 mos)
    • Recruitment Operations Manager
      Jun 2014 - Apr 2015 · 11 mos

      Branch Manager – Istanbul Europe (Professionals Division) Led the Istanbul Europe branch with full P&L responsibility, overseeing the Professionals concept across four verticals (Financial Services, Technologies, Engineering, and Sales & Marketing) Monitored and managed branch and team KPIs, including revenue, gross profit, market share, and forecasting accuracy Led activity-based field steering practices; tracked and evaluated consultant performance against KPIs and business objectives Managed large-scale recruitment projects across multiple sectors and seniority levels Drove sales and business development by analyzing market trends, identifying growth opportunities, and expanding into new markets Owned key account management, leveraging cross-selling strategies to maximize client value and retention Built and executed Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for consultants and team leaders; led the full HR cycle including KPI setting, performance reviews, feedback, and appraisal processes Designed and delivered onboarding and induction programs; coached and developed teams to enhance performance and engagement

    • Recruitment Operations Team Lead
      Dec 2013 - Jun 2014 · 7 mos

      Team Manager – Finance & Accounting Division Delivered individual sales and placement targets while managing end-to-end recruitment projects and personal KPIs Led and developed a team of 4 specialized recruitment consultants, each managing 15–20 open roles across finance, banking, and accounting Built, maintained, and expanded a strong client portfolio through proactive business development and tailored client engagement Ensured effective execution of daily operational priorities and pipeline management across the division Provided hands-on coaching and performance management, overseeing the full recruitment lifecycle from sourcing to placement

    • HRBP & Misconduct Officer
      Dec 2013 - Jun 2014 · 7 mos

      In addition to my Team Leader role, I also served as the internal HRBP for Turkey, reporting directly to Randstad HQ in the Netherlands, operating within a matrix organization. Alongside leading the Finance & Accounting division, I partnered closely with business leaders and cross-functional teams to drive HR strategy and deliver end-to-end HR solutions, including recruitment, onboarding, talent management, employer branding, performance management, and employee engagement. I also contributed to organizational agility through the implementation of the field steering model. As the Misconduct Officer for Turkey, I oversaw the reporting and handling of serious misconduct cases, including breaches of human rights, business principles, internal policies, regulatory requirements, criminal activities, personal misconduct, and health & safety violations.

  • CVPlus Search&Selection (3 yrs 4 mos)
    • Recruitment Operations Team Lead
      Jun 2011 - Jun 2013 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      ecruitment Team Leader & Operations Manager (reporting to the General Manager) CVPlus Search & Selection (Group Company of Secretcv.com) Led end-to-end recruitment consultancy operations, covering both operational delivery and commercial performance Built and developed a team of 3 recruitment consultants and 3 trainees, driving capability and performance Managed key recruitment projects, including executive search assignments and C-level interviews Monitored team performance and activity levels, ensuring alignment with business targets and KPIs Conducted weekly team meetings to delegate tasks, address challenges, and track progress

    • Senior Recruitment Consultant
      Mar 2010 - Jun 2011 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Managed a portfolio of 20–25 open positions simultaneously across multiple functions Partnered closely with hiring managers to understand recruitment needs, define role requirements, and align on hiring strategies Delivered tailored, end-to-end recruitment solutions for both clients and candidates, ensuring a high-quality hiring experience Specialized in mid to senior-level and executive roles, including positions requiring niche technical expertise Built and maintained strong client relationships through regular visits; led negotiations on rates and fees, successfully closing deals