A gerente disse que a nova candidata parece responsável, mas ainda precisa de mais experiência.

In Brazilian Portuguese, gerente is a common-gender noun. The noun itself stays the same, and the article shows whether the person is male or female:

• o gerente = the male manager
• a gerente = the female manager

So a gerente disse... tells us the manager is a woman.

Disse is the past tense of dizer (to say / to tell), and que means that.

So:

• A gerente disse = The manager said
• que... = that...

This is a very common structure in Portuguese, just like in English:

• Ela disse que ele chegou. = She said that he arrived.
• O professor disse que a prova será difícil. = The teacher said that the test will be difficult.

In everyday Portuguese, que is usually kept in sentences like this.

Both are possible, but the position of the adjective can slightly change the feel.

• a nova candidata usually means the new candidate
• a candidata nova can sound more like the candidate who is new / young, depending on context

In Portuguese, adjectives often come after the noun, but some common adjectives can come before it, especially when they describe a more general or identifying quality. Here, nova before the noun sounds natural for new candidate.

Because responsável is an adjective with the same form for masculine and feminine.

Examples:

• o candidato responsável
• a candidata responsável

Some Portuguese adjectives change:

• bonito / bonita
• cansado / cansada

But others do not change in gender:

• responsável
• inteligente
• feliz
• difícil

So a nova candidata parece responsável is correct.

Parece is from parecer, which often means to seem or to appear.

So:

• parece responsável = seems responsible

It suggests an impression, not a certainty. The manager is saying that the candidate gives the impression of being responsible.

Other examples:

• Ele parece cansado. = He seems tired.
• Isso parece impossível. = That seems impossible.

It refers to the new candidate.

Portuguese often leaves out the subject when it is understood from context. In this sentence:

• A gerente disse que a nova candidata parece responsável, mas ainda precisa de mais experiência.

The verb precisa continues talking about a nova candidata, not a gerente.

So the structure is understood as:

• A gerente disse que a nova candidata parece responsável, mas [a nova candidata] ainda precisa de mais experiência.

This kind of omitted subject is very common in Portuguese.

Because precisar usually takes the preposition de when it means to need something.

• precisar de experiência = to need experience
• precisar de ajuda = to need help
• precisar de dinheiro = to need money

So:

• Ela precisa de mais experiência. = She needs more experience.

In informal speech, some Brazilians may drop the de, but standard grammar prefers precisar de.

Here experiência is being used as an uncountable noun, like experience in English.

So:

• mais experiência = more experience

No article is needed. This is the normal way to say someone needs additional professional or practical experience.

Compare:

• Ele tem muita experiência. = He has a lot of experience.
• Ela precisa de mais experiência. = She needs more experience.

Ainda here means still.

• ainda precisa de mais experiência = still needs more experience

It suggests that although the candidate has some good qualities, there is still something missing.

Compare:

• Ela precisa de experiência. = She needs experience.
• Ela ainda precisa de experiência. = She still needs experience.

So ainda adds the idea that this need remains true.

Mas means but.

It connects two contrasting ideas:

• positive idea: a nova candidata parece responsável
• limiting/negative idea: ainda precisa de mais experiência

So the full sentence has this logic:

• The manager said that the new candidate seems responsible, but she still needs more experience.

This is a very common way to balance praise with reservation.

Yes, depending on context.

Candidata can mean:

• candidate
• applicant

If this is about a job interview, applicant may sound more natural in English. If it is a competition, election, or selection process, candidate may fit better.

So the Portuguese word is flexible, and the best English choice depends on the situation.

Disse is the preterite of dizer. It means said in the sense of a completed action in the past.

• A gerente disse... = The manager said...

This tense is used when the speaker sees the action as finished.

Compare:

• dizia = was saying / used to say
• disse = said

So disse is the normal choice for reporting a specific statement made in the past.