HR Operations Manager
Resume:
Sheila D. Cozzie
Helena, Montana 59601
qe0xwr@r.postjobfree.com
OBJECTIVE
To obtain an interesting and challenging career opportunity in the human resources/labor relations field.
EMPLOYMENT
Program Manager – Cultural Liaison 05/2012 – Present
STATE OF MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HELENA, MT
Serve as the cultural liaison for highway safety programs. Work closely with minority groups. Coordinate and oversee traffic safety related initiatives of State, Local, and Tribal agencies receiving National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds, evaluate crash data and identifying at risk populations groups or regions, establishing and maintaining relationships with Tribal Safety Coordinators and highway safety advocates from other demographic groups that are high risk according to crash data; supporting the coordinators and stakeholders with development and management of their program; providing technical assistance and guidance to these agencies; developing and negotiating contracts and scopes of work for grass-root based traffic safety program; administering and monitoring contracts between MDT and grantees.
Human Resources Operations Manager 08/2006 – 05/2012
STATE OF MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HELENA, MT
Responsible for overall administration, management and coordination of the Labor/Employee Relations section, the Program and Policy section and the Civil Rights Bureau. Responsible for overall administration of seven federal programs (External Labor Compliance, External EEO Contractor Compliance, Title VI, Title VII, Americans with Disability Act, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, and DBE Supportive services Program). Serves as a member of the negotiating team. Oversee and approve responses to grievances and assists in arbitration hearings. Serves and Chief Investigative Officer for the department to oversee the investigation and resolution of complex and contentious human resources and civil rights complaints. Develops short and long-term plans and program objectives for Labor Relations, Program and Policy and Civil Rights to ensure the department remains current with federal and other national standards and develops cost-effective implementation plans for new programs and approaches. Serves as the technical authority regarding the correct interpretation and application of civil rights laws that serve as a basis for all department human resources practices. Researches and develops program implementation strategies based on changing laws and ongoing courts cases. Research and follow legislation at the Montana Legislature that affects agency employees, benefits, or other related issues. Manages professional supervisory staff and indirectly supervises support staff (9.0 FTE). Evaluate performance based on annually established goals, develop methods to improve work performance when necessary.
Director of Human Resources 09/1991 – 08/2006
LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY HELENA, MT
Serves as chief negotiator and coordinate County’s labor negotiations. Responsible for all aspects of collective bargaining including development, implementation, and interpretation of contract language. Handle all grievance and arbitration hearings filed though labor union and personnel policies. Develop, implement, and interpret personnel policies and procedures. Provide advice, guidance and assistance to supervisors, managers, department heads, and elected officials regarding personnel policies and issues to include employment issues as outlined in State and Federal employment law. Interpret and follow laws and regulations relating to employee civil rights. Investigate, research, prepare and represent the County at hearings related to personnel issues to include Human Rights hearings, unemployment hearings, wage claim hearings. Develop, implement and interpret compensation policies. Responsible for creating, maintaining, revising and analyzing compensation systems and make recommendations for changes. Conduct position audits and review requests to classify or reclassify positions. Responsible for the County’s $20M personnel budget. This includes recommending staffing changes and budget increases for temporary and overtime funds. Develop, implement and monitor the personnel budget, including fringe benefit costs, each fiscal year by implementing compensation policies and monitoring changes in workforce, workload, and/or organizational structure. Coordinate the recruitment and selection process for all county positions. Ensure all procedures and policies are in compliance with statutory requirements. Development and implement employee benefit policies and procedures. Coordinate and administer all benefits including self-funded medical, dental, vision, life, workers compensation insurance. Prepare and manage RFP’s for benefits and other contracted services. Analyze proposals and select most effective and qualitative provider. Conduct research projects including salary and benefit surveys, manpower assessment, and other personnel and labor relations related issues. Recruit, hire, train and supervise employees and assign, coordinate and evaluate their work. Includes payroll specialist, recruitment and workers’ compensation specialist. Required to research and follow legislation at the Montana Legislature that affects local government employees, benefits, or other related issues. Must lobby and testify on behalf of the County. Serve as ADA Coordinator, EEO Officer and a member of the benefits committee.
Employment and Training Coordinator 11/1988-09/1991
MONTANA STATE AFL-CIO HELENA, MONTANA
Oversight responsibility for federal and state funded employment and training programs. Assist clients with job search skills including resume preparation, interviewing skills. Perform payroll and personnel function, maintain personnel files and personnel policies. Administrator for fringe benefit program. Supervisor for clerical and field staff.
Personnel Administrator 08/1984 through 11/1988
BUSINESS SYSTEMS OF ARIZONA PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Responsible for developing, implement and interpreting personnel policies, ensuring compliance with all state and federal laws including Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity laws. Coordinate recruitment and selection process for all departments, conducting interviews and hiring employees. Conducts research projects including salary and benefit surveys, manpower assessment and other personnel related issues. Coordinate and administer all benefits for organization to include medical, dental, life and flexible benefit plan. Update all elements of payroll including rate of pay, changes in withholding and insurance. Produce bi-monthly payroll and related reports. Prepare quarterly tax reports and make tax deposits. Enrolls and establishes employees on the payroll system and in benefits programs. Supervise administrative staff.
Education
Diploma 1976-1980
Capital High School Helena, Montana
Major: General Studies
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Carroll College Helena, Montana
Major: Business Administration
Management Concentration
Skills and Accomplishments
Labor relations skills to include negotiation, conducting grievance and arbitration hearings, unit clarification and other duties related to managing collective bargaining agreements.
Excellent conflict resolution skills.
Develop and maintain personnel policies and procedures. Developed and implemented Lewis and Clark County’s first personnel policy and procedures manual.
Develop, revise and review compensation systems. Developed and implemented a market-based pay plan for Lewis and Clark County.
Benefits Administration. Implemented an in-house flexible spending program to provide for unreimbursed medical and child care expenses.
Recruitment, interviewing and selection of qualified employees.
Knowledgeable in payroll, payroll taxes and federal requirements and reports.
Supervisor experience.
References
Excellent references available upon request.
Professional References
Jennifer Jensen
Chief Human Resource Officer (former)
State of Montana Department of Transportation
John Blacker
Deputy Director (former)
State of Montana Department of Transportation
2425 West Shore Drive
Helena, Montana 59601
Mike Murray
County Commissioner
Lewis and Clark County
316 North Park
Helena, Montana 59601
Paul Stahl
County Attorney
Lewis and Clark County
225 Broadway
Helena, MT 59601
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