Human Resources Customer Service

WANDA HIGHTOWER

**** **** ****** ****** 908-***-****

Plainfield, New Jersey 07063 ***********@*******.***

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SEAL CONSULTING INC. – Edison, New Jersey 08/2006 – 07/2009

Director, Human Resources

Joined this global IT consulting organization to manage and direct their human resources department for their U.S.

Corporate division. Job functions include administering personnel policies and procedures, including policies related

to hiring, advancement, employment evaluations, training, compensation, payroll, recruiting and discipline. Further

responsibilities include but are not limited to providing information, advice, assistance and follow-up to resolutions

of policy-related and procedural concerns and inquiries at the highest confidential levels. I am able to interact

effectively and professionally with executive management, field managers and all employees of any level within

both the Corporate United States and India divisions.

Incentive Plans

• Employee Referrals Bonus

• Employee of the Month Award

• Annual company picnic with games and prizes

• Annual holidays participation with awards

• Excellence Performance Award

• Monthly Employee Birthday Celebration

• Monthly Employee Anniversary Acknowledgement

Contracts and Employment Agreements

• Prepare, write and modify all employment agreements, authorized signatory for the company

• Negotiate, write and prepare all staffing agreements for the company

• Notarize company documents when applicable

HRIS

• Maintain and manage company HRIS System

• Maintain all current employee demographics

• Maintain all employee’s vacation, sick, floating holidays, be averment and all non eligible days off

• Manage and maintain all personnel records and files in HRIS system and manually

• Co-jointly work with Information Technology (IT) staff regarding changes and suggestions to HRIS system

and Intranet

Employee Relations

• Advise management staff of all issues, concerns and probabilities of their actions and/or provide

professional decisions as required

• Provide coaching and counseling to employees and managers relating to performance and how to

communicate effectively and obtain positive results

• Positively increased company moral by 80%

• Coach all employees on issues, queries and questions related to company policies, procedures and practices

• Reach out to all employees as a customer service advocate

Training and Orientation (In-House)

• Conduct company orientations for new hires

• Conduct company Exit Interviews for voluntary and involuntary separations

• Conduct interviewing techniques with management staff and training classes for all new employees from

other countries and in-house

WANDA HIGHTOWER

1350 West Fourth Street 908-***-****

Plainfield, New Jersey 07063 ***********@*******.***

• Perform safety drills with employee committee

• Sexual Harassment training to all staff members

• Conduct “How to Say it” training to management and staff

Human Resources Management and Administration

• Manage and write the company’s monthly newsletter (SEAL Insider)

• Write and revise all company policies, procedures and job descriptions and enforce all new changes

• Interact directly with company attorney regarding employee issues, immigration and contract breaches

• Work directly with President and Vice President to ensure meeting the overall strategic plan

• Attend all court related matters as authorized representative for demands, settlements, State Unemployment

Representation and immigration matters

• Approve and verify all human resources invoices, bills, purchase orders and requisitions

• Able to gain credibility and influence at all levels as related to Human Resources practices

• Able to mediate and intervene (without further escalation) with all employees of any level

• Prepare, manage and update annual Human Resources budget

• Daily interactions with company Controller, regarding salary increases, expense reimbursements and travel

relocation structure and disciplines

• Knowledge and understanding of employment laws and practices,

• File annual EEO-1 forms and records/logs to conform compliance

• Manage the Receptionist/Office Administrator, Recruiters and Account Managers

• Attend Human Resources conferences and seminars

• Exceptionally organized and works exceeding well in a high paced, pressured environment

• Resolve employee to employee as well as management/supervisor conflicts

• Maintain and update company organizational chart

Payroll Management

• Maintain and update as required all employee identification I-9

• Bi-annual demographics verifications and updates of all employees

• Oversee and enter (when required) all payroll information for bi-weekly pay period

• Approve and forward all Time Off Requests (TOR) to payroll department for bi-weekly payroll

• Maintain, monitor and communicate all disability and FMLA leaves to Payroll Dept

Benefits

• Oversee and manage benefits administration

• In-charge of benefits implementation and changes after team approval and agreement

• Communicate benefit information to employees

• Address benefit-related questions with all staff members

• Serve as liaison between employees and insurance carriers, invoice reconciliation and claims reporting

• Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, FMLA and FLSA

• Enforce all HIPPA, COBRA and other federal laws (including changes within the laws) to all employees

effectively

Compensation

• Perform salary surveys and job evaluations to ensure competitiveness

• Prepare job descriptions, develop salary structure and performance management

WANDA HIGHTOWER

1350 West Fourth Street 908-***-****

Plainfield, New Jersey 07063 ***********@*******.***

• Strategic goal alignment and pay for performance incentives

• Assist and champion pension plans, 401(k) plans, bonus plans for executives and managers

Recruitment

• Able to recruit for all levels of the organizations including, manufacturing, information technology, non-

profit and software developments

• Able to seek to hire and help develop superior talent by attracting top grade talent within salary budget

• Write and post all employment advertisements via Job Boards, Newspapers and Employee Referrals

• Process background checks and employment reference verifications

• Maintain relationships with universities and employment agencies

Immigration

• Immigration processing of H1-B Visas, TN Visa, EAD, LCA’s and Green Card holders pertaining to initial

and renewal processing

• Co-jointly work with immigration department regarding all H1-B Visas, TN Visas, EAD, LCA’s and

Green Card processing for employees

• Oversee all H1-B Visa newly hired employees obtain their Social Security numbers for work authorization

• Assist all new employees with Guest House set up and transportation

• Maintain accurate records and updates for all visa expirations

Audits and Investigations

• In charge of and oversee all Department of Labor (DOL) audits

• Conduct random monthly department audits as they relate to Human Resources procedures and processes

• Investigate all employee complaints at all levels regarding but not limited to discrimination, sexual

harassment, isolated disciplines and employee favoritism

EASTER SEALS OF NEW JERSEY – East Brunswick, New Jersey 11/2004 – 01/2006

Human Resources Administration/Recruitment Supervisor

Brought in to this non-profit organization to facilitate the administration and recruitment of Human Resources

Corporate Admin. Support. Duties included recruiting, new hire orientation, payroll processing, pre-employment

screening for all new hires, ensuring data is updated as required in HR database, guidance and interpretation of

policies and procedures, provide support and respond to inquiries regarding employee relations, oversee Recruitment

Coordinators, compensation, benefits and other HR related issues, travel throughout the assigned geographic area

when required and partners with upper management on strategic issues.

QUALITY BOTANICAL INGREDIENTS INCORPORATED – South Plainfield, New Jersey 9/2001 – 10/2004

Human Resources Manager

Chosen by a botanical ingredients manufacturer to oversee Human Resources Department. Duties entailed managing

interviewing and hiring process; conducting employee counseling; processing disciplinary actions, salary increases

and layoffs; administered corporate benefits; and implemented and updated standard operating procedures and

employee handbook. Conducted staff meetings, enforced company policies, resolved disability and workers

compensation issues and managed employee training. Heavily involved with Company Merger and RIF.

COSMETIC MANUFACTURING RESOURCES/CEI COSMETIC GROUP – Paterson, New Jersey 9/1999 – 9/2001

Human Resources Manager/Office Manager

WANDA HIGHTOWER

1350 West Fourth Street 908-***-****

Plainfield, New Jersey 07063 ***********@*******.***

Selected by the leader in outsourced solutions for the personal care industry to manage the office in a professional

and productive manner. Position involved overseeing domestic and international logistics operations, planning and

controlling inventory and budget, supervising Customer Service Department, providing monthly sales and profits

reports to the company’s top executives, hiring temporary staff, managing office relocations and administering order

processing and finished goods flow.

FDR SERVICES CORPORATION – Paterson, New Jersey 7/1995 – 7/1999

Office Manager/Human Resources Assistant

Brought in to maintain seamless office operations for a linen management services manufacturing company.

Responsibilities included coordinating executives’ meetings, setting appointments, making travel arrangements,

preparing presentations and proposals, assisting in budget preparation, managing equipment procurement,

processing accounts payable, overseeing customer billing, liaison between Corporate Human Resources in New

York and handling special projects. Union environment, I was also responsible for union dues via payroll deduction,

grievances and arbitration hearings when required.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

ALMEDA UNIVERSITY

2004

Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Continuing Education, Certificate Program

Human Resources Professional Development 2004

ADP Payroll System Certificate 2004

DDD Training in the following: 2004

Medication, Exposure Control, Overview of Mental Illness, General Safety,

Overview of Developmental Disabilities, Preventing Abuse & Neglect,

Crisis Management, Cultural Diversity, Decision Driving, CPR & First Aid

Certificate in Human Resources Audits in New Jersey 2003

Member of Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) 2003

Notary Public of New Jersey 2002

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Highly experienced in multiple facets of business applications, including:

• Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ADP Payroll, Ceridian Source 500 Payroll, Outlook, Lotus Notes,

ABRA Suite (HRIS), Paychex Payroll, Paychex HR Online (HRIS), Zoniac (Immigration and Recruiting

Information System)

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