Human Resources Manager

Taniya Gunasekara

** * ***** ****** # ***, New York, NY 10029 • *******@*****.*** • 646-***-****

HR EXPERTISE

HR Analytics and Metrics, HR Business Partnership, Human Capital Management, Compensation, Benefits, Policy

Management, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Team and Project Management, and HR Technology

HRIS Tools: PeopleSoft 8.9, Banner 7.8 and 8.2.1, ABRA-Best Software, PeopleAdmin, NOVATIME, Paychex, PayLink, File

Express, AS 400, Crystal Reports

CAREER PROGRESSION

Columbia University, Teachers College, New York (www.tc.columbia.edu) June 2008 – Present

Manager of Human Resources Analytics

Identified and initiated best practices and industry trends and provided leadership and direction to HR

programs, policies, processes, benefits, and compliance

Introduced a five-year HR technology roadmap to rebuild the HRIS infrastructure and created internal

policies, processing standards, and analytics to emphasize data/records integrity and ensure compliance

Introduced HR dashboard to report on monthly headcount, turnover, new hires, multiple jobs to incumbent

ratio and part-time to full-time ratio and implemented quarterly cost analysis on student employment, benefit

plans, absenteeism, and affirmative action plan

Led HR employees in the creation of an internal procedural manual for HRIS processes

Directed all HR technology initiatives and served as the lead HR liaison to IT and ERP solution consultants

Implemented and launched the applicant tracking system and employee self-service module in eight months

Manage a team of five employees

HSBC, Data Processing Lanka Ltd, Sri Lanka (www.hsbcglobalresourcing.com) August 2005 – January 2007

Senior Manager (AVP), Human Resources (Jun ‘06 – Jan ‘07)

Manager, Human Resources (Aug ‘05 – Jun ‘06)

Operated as the country project lead on global HR initiatives including: total rewards strategy, annual

budget planning, compensation market surveys, talent management, balanced performance score card

approach and succession planning

Analyzed HR metrics to identify business risks and trends; proposed solutions to adjust recruitment and

compensation practices to minimize recruitment costs and turnover rate

Led annual employee satisfaction survey data analysis and successfully launched an employee assistance

program through a third-party vendor to ensure confidentiality

Partnered with an external vendor to provide English language training to candidates who failed the spoken

English test, increasing the candidate pipeline for HSBC in Sri Lanka

Led the “2007 Total Rewards Strategy”, ensuring internal equity at the mid-management level, rewarding

tenure to increase retention, and emphasizing pay for performance through bonus and deferred cash

incentives

Partnered with the VP of HR on the “2006 Total Rewards Strategy” to introduce merit increases based on

performance, a company-wide stock option plan, a night shift allowance, and a tuition assistance plan

Created a manual for the local business unit that aligned with HSBC global group policies and procedures,

complied with Sri Lankan law and delivered policy training for all levels of management

Served on the investigation committee in cases involving harassment, theft, and code of conduct violations

Initiated and led the automation of processes to maximize efficiency of performance management tools and

self-service modules of PeopleSoft; trained team on PeopleSoft and launched both solutions within one

year

Introduced several forums (Townhall Meeting, Coffee with VP, TeaTalk) to improve employee engagement

Partnered with the communications and marketing teams to launch a week-long campaign promoting

employee self-service interfaces, achieving an 89% success rate of employee validations

Directed a team of four employees

Community Connect Inc, New York (www.interactiveone.com) October 2003 – August 2005

Human Resources Generalist

Led the corporate expansion from 60 employees to 115 employees via recruiting

Identified and initiated HR metrics and provided monthly reports to the CEO including: time-to-fill,

headcount, turnover, benefits cost, and employee diversity

Partnered with Watson Wyatt to conduct a compensation survey that led to a competitive compensation

package focused on retaining key positions and attracting top talent

Updated policies and procedures manual to ensure compliance with laws and regulations

Led the annual benefits review and vendor negotiations of benefit plans (health, life, disability, tuition

reimbursement, 401(k) and stock options) and partnered with third-party vendors to administer the plans

Introduced a paid maternity/paternity time off policy, 401(k) employer match, and tuition assistance plan to

enhance the benefits program

Worked with managers to create performance plans, disciplinary letters and terminations

Transferred all information related to human capital from MS Excel and paper records to HRIS in six

months

Daytop Village, Inc New York (www.daytop.org) September 2001 – October 2003

Human Resources Analyst

Created a time-off policy and procedure guide for managers to ensure consistency in the application

Administered and maintained data integrity of the HRIS for workforce

Assisted the senior recruiter on a succession planning project including talent identification and an internal

staffing process

Assisted the benefits and payroll divisions in employee terminations and absences management

West Side YMCA New York (www.ymcanyc.org) February 2001 – June 2001

Human Resources/Payroll Assistant

Executed all human resources functions including recruitment, new employee orientation, training, benefits,

payroll, employee relations and legal compliance under the guidance of the VP of Human Resources

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, & AFFILIATIONS

Master of Science in Human Resources Management & Labor Relations

o New York Institute of Technology – May 2003

Bachelors of Arts in Psychology Minor: Business Administration

o Eastern Connecticut State University – May 2000

Employment Law and Mediation Certification for Alternative Dispute Resolutions Neutral (NYU)

Advanced Presentation Skills Certification (AMA)

Society for Human Resource Management: Member, 2000 – Present

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