Human Resources Project Manager

John E. Thurston, PHR Home: 609-***-****

** ******* **** ******: 856-***-****

Medford, NJ 08055 E-mail: ***********@***.***

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Talented, hands-on human resources professional with generalist and organizational

development experience in domestic and international locations. HR business partner ensuring

initiatives are aligned to drive organizational results. Extensive background in recruitment,

employee/labor relations, organizational design, compensation, benefits, professional and

technical training, development, succession planning, and EEO compliance within the

pharmaceutical, packaging, electronics, and financial services industries.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ALCAN GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING, Pennsauken, NJ 2007-Present

(A $1 billion division of Alcan Packaging with 4,500 employees and 22 manufacturing plants. Alcan

Packaging is a $6.7 billion specialty packaging division of Rio Tinto with 31,000 employees and 131

plants in 32 countries with divisions including food, pharmaceutical, beauty, and tobacco.)

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES

Responsible for leading the HR function within multiple business units including Plastics, Glass

Tubing, and Contract Packaging with 14 locations throughout the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and

Brazil.

• HR business partner in a matrix environment reporting to the VPGM Plastics, VPGM

Glass Tubing, and VP Human Resources responsible for supporting operational results

through HR initiatives

• Provided functional support and direction to 20 member HR team across multiple sites

including recruitment, performance management, training, rewards, succession

planning, labor/employee relations, compensation, and benefits administration

• Completed an analysis of organizational structure and design to determine the correct

manning model and cost structure necessary depending upon fluctuating sales volumes

• Conducted talent assessments to ensure the right people were utilized in the right roles

including extensive technical and functional analysis

WATSON LABORATORIES - FLORIDA, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2003-2007

(A $1.5 billion dollar division of Watson Pharmaceuticals specializing in manufacturing of generic

sustained release solid dose tablets and capsules with 2,000 employees - previously Andrx

Pharmaceuticals.)

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES

Managed a team of 15 including HR Managers, Generalists, Training Specialists, and

Instructional Designers to provide recruiting, employee relations, and training support to 1,800

manufacturing, quality, scientific, and sales employees.

• Developed and implemented a new Career Ladder defining job levels and detailed job

tasks for operations positions including market analysis and slotting employees into new

job structure

• Created Andrx University and conducted curriculum for leadership, professional, and

technical development programs to ensure a compliant training system meeting all FDA

regulatory requirements and exceeding performance metrics

• Defined basic skill levels for technical positions through ACT WorkKeys and partnered

with local community colleges and KeyTrain to improve basic skills with proven results in

both assessment and performance levels

• Designed and implemented a 2 and a half day Train-the-Trainer and structure on-the-job

(sOJT) employee qualification program for high-tech manufacturing and laboratory

positions

• Project manager for the creation of a new performance management system and field

sales development report utilizing web-based technology

DFB PHARMACEUTICALS, INC, San Antonio, TX 1997-2003

(A $300 million contract manufacturing and packaging pharmaceutical company with 2,000 employees

specializing in semi-solid products for the dermatological and medical markets.)

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2002-2003

Responsible for providing recruiting and employee relations support for manufacturing division

with 1,800 senior and mid-level management, professional, scientific, production, and

administrative employees

• Managed staff in providing professional development opportunities corporate-wide for

2,200 manufacturing and sales employees

• HR project leader for acquisition of 800 employee union pharmaceutical manufacturing

facility including due-diligence, setup of payroll/HR programs, benefits, and policies

MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES 2000-2002

• Recruited senior and mid-level management, scientific, and sales staff

• Created succession planning system to identify and develop high potentials

• Developed and implemented a two-year internship program in partnership with the

University of Texas to develop pharmaceutical expertise for a pool of college students

• Supervised payroll processing for 800 employees in three divisions

HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST AND HRIS ANALYST 1997-2000

• Implemented behavior-based selection and interviewer certification training through

Targeted Selection

• Completed Affirmative Action Plans including workforce analysis, identification of

adverse impact, and calculation of goals based on availability statistics

• Selected and managed the implementation of the company’s first HR Information

System

FIRST TENNESSEE BANK, Memphis, TN 1996-1997

PROJECT CONSULTANT (Internship)

• Completed a strategic job analysis identifying dimensions of a new organizational culture

• Conducted data analyses to determine the impact of the culture on employee behaviors

• Established and validated biodata and personality predictors for use in a new selection

system

SQUARE D COMPANY, Smyrna, TN 1995-

1996

TEAM PROJECT LEADER

• Designed a new performance management system for self-directed work teams

• Trained teams in problem solving using performance measurement feedback

• Facilitated team building exercises for improved group dynamics

EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology 1995-1997

Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN GPA: 4.0 / 4.0

Bachelor of Science in Psychology Minor: Business Management 1990-1994

Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX GPA: 3.6 / 4.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) - HRCI

• Benchmarks 360 Feedback Facilitator - Center for Creative Leadership

• Leadership Development Program - Center for Creative Leadership

• Targeted Selection Administrator - Development Dimensions International

• Facilitation Skills Certificate - Development Dimensions International

• Yellow Belt in Lean/Six Sigma

• Hogan Personality Inventory Assessment Facilitator

• Society for Human Resource Management

• Invited Speaker: 2006 Southeastern WorkKeys Conference, 2005 Bioscience Workforce

Development Summit

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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