HR Operations + Talent Acquisition

Zen
Patriarca

I build the people systems that help ambitious, remote-first teams grow with clarity.

15
years in HR
80+
team members managed
Global
remote-first teams
Preview of Zen Patriarca's résuméOpen full résumé

About Zen

Hired
to hire.

Growing up in vibrant Manila, I was inspired by stories of people overcoming challenges to achieve their dreams. Seeing how a single opportunity could transform a life sparked my passion for connecting people with possibilities.

With a background in HR development and a deep interest in understanding people, I found my calling in talent acquisition. I thrive on building bridges between talented individuals and organizations that align with their aspirations.

My journey has never been only about recruitment. It is about building trust, nurturing relationships, and understanding what drives people—whether guiding someone toward a dream role or helping a company discover game-changing talent.

Today, I focus that energy on meaningful connections and environments where people can flourish. Helping others reach their goals, and witnessing their success, is what keeps me growing.

Experience

From execution
to leadership.

2025 - Present

HR Operations & Talent Acquisition Manager

Chargeflow, Inc.

Leading end-to-end people operations for 80+ remote team members, spanning hiring, performance, compensation, employee relations, and engagement.

2023 - 2025

Talent Acquisition Lead

55 KNOTS

Owned global hiring across creative and technical teams, built talent pipelines, and improved speed and quality through data-led recruiting.

2018 - 2023

Talent Partner

Bluestone Servicing

Led high-volume recruitment, optimized the ATS, standardized interviews, and partnered with leadership on workforce planning.

2010 - 2017

HR Specialist

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Built the foundations: recruitment, onboarding, performance programs, employee relations, and engagement across multiple business units.

Education

Always
learning.

2021 - 2025

BS Business Administration

Business Management · San Sebastian College - Recoletos de Manila

2016 - 2020

BA Fashion Design & Marketing

SoFA Design Institute

2024

Human Resources Associate Specialization

HRCI · Talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation, and L&D

Certificates

Proof of practice.

Professional development across the full employee lifecycle.

01

Human Resource Associate Specialization

Issued Jun 2024

Credential 4VR7426LGUUZ
02

Employee Relations

Issued Jun 2024

Credential AQZSNFL26RN7
03

Compensation and Benefits

Issued Jun 2024

Credential 5EM5R8MM8W4Z
04

Learning and Development

Issued Jun 2024

Credential LH5TLYJMDXH3
05

Talent Acquisition

Issued Jun 2024

Credential TWMPKNCLJ4TF
06

Managing Employee Compensation

Issued Sep 2023

Credential WS8PTPEM3M6G
07

Managing Employee Performance

Issued Sep 2023

Credential UJPD4DUCWPM2
08

Preparing to Manage Human Resources

Issued Jul 2023

Credential 8SV55SRY4JKM
09

Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees

Issued Apr 2023

Credential DGAEHR3GW9QN
10

Human Resources Management Capstone: HR for People Managers

Issued Nov 2023

Credential ZUKNJSQCUHT8

English proficiency

C2

SmallTalk English Speaking Level Test

Proficient · 09 February 2025

View certificate ↗

Language assessment

IELTS

International English Language Testing System

View the complete assessment report and score details.

View full report ↗

Work style

DISC

Personality & communication assessment

A framework covering Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—used to understand work style, communication, and team dynamics.

View full report ↗

Testimonials

Trusted by the
people I work with.

Zen has been exceptional in managing all our hiring and HR needs. He is consistently efficient and proactive in sourcing talent that aligns perfectly with our requirements, and he plays a critical role in overseeing the talent he brings in.

Aamir ManasawalaCEO, JAD Holdings Pte Ltd
01

Zen is a wonder to work with. He guided me when I was new with the company and was exceptionally kind with how he handled situations. He’s very approachable and has an excellent work ethic.

Isabel T-1 MecaellerMarketing & Advertising Creative
02

I hired Zen as a Talent Acquisition Partner and, hand on heart, this has been the best decision I have made. His intrinsic motivation, initiative, grit, growth mindset, and results set him apart.

Maria ShevelevSenior Talent Acquisition Consultant
03

Zen is very dedicated and easy to work with. He goes over and beyond his role to make the hiring process easier for hiring managers. I highly recommend Zen for Talent Acquisition roles.

Hari Kumar SubramanyamTesting and QA Leader
04

Zen is a true standout in Talent Acquisition. His ability to spot and attract top-tier candidates, understand organizational needs, and collaborate with hiring managers made an undeniable impact.

Kurt Thomas Gorriceta HimatayCountry Head & People Leader
05

Zen filled our existing creative vacancies and built an ongoing pool of candidates. He is helpful, ready to improve, and genuinely cares about candidates as well as targets.

Lia CarvalhoBusiness Operations Director
06

Zen’s transition to a lead role allowed him to unlock his complete potential, showcasing exceptional creative and analytical talents. I’m genuinely delighted by his achievements.

Janice Byl PequeTeam Lead
07

His exceptional ability to identify and engage top-tier talent, strategic approach to recruitment, communication skills, and commitment to positive candidate experiences make him a valuable asset.

Michelle LabustroMarketing Project Manager & Content Creator
08

I worked with Zen at 55 Knots, and he was exceptionally approachable and friendly, making the recruitment process smooth and pleasant.

Mharlee Mae CabalquintoCreative Multimedia Designer
09

I highly recommend Zen for his approachable nature, exceptional work ethic, insightful guidance, consistent updates, and kind demeanor. He fosters a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

Jennifer Tingson, MBA, RCA, CBAccountant / Internal Audit Officer
10

Zen demonstrates perseverance and makes sure to meet his deliverables on time. He is open to feedback, has an eye to be an HR practitioner, and will excel in his chosen field.

Charmaine Ual, CPHRHR Operations & Business Partnering
11

Project & case study

One system.
A clearer operation.

Confidentiality note: specific business rules, compensation data, and internal logic have been generalized.

As HR Operations Lead and System Architect, I designed the structure and operational logic for a web-based HRIS serving 80+ remote team members.

The challenge

A growing contractor workforce relied on disconnected tools. There was no single source of truth for attendance, leave, or scheduling; overtime and payroll inputs were tracked manually; leadership visibility was limited; and routine requests depended heavily on HR.

The solution

I designed and implemented a centralized, cloud-based HRIS connecting time, leave, schedules, approvals, and leadership reporting. Structured workflows reduced HR dependency and gave team members self-service access.

01

Central dashboard

Real-time visibility into active team members, approvals, and payroll status.

02

Time tracking

Daily hour logging with regular, overtime, and holiday breakdowns.

03

Leave management

Controlled allocation, approvals, and team-level visibility limits.

04

Team scheduler

Weekly planning, shift assignment, days off, and swap requests.

05

Approvals

Central handling of requests to reduce bottlenecks and turnaround time.

06

Data insights

HR analytics and reporting to support leadership decisions.

Technology & approach

Cloud-based platform · API-driven time tracking · CSV payroll import/export · role-based access · scalable contractor-workforce structure.

Reduced manual HR workload

Improved payroll accuracy and audit readiness

Increased transparency

Faster, data-led decisions

A scalable foundation for growth