Employee Relations Human Resources
Resume:
Buffy Bryant
Supervisory ER/LR Specialist - National Park Service, Southeast Regional Office
Jonesboro, GA
********@*****.*** - 865-***-****
Willing to relocate
Authorized to work in the US for any employer
WORK EXPERIENCE
Supervisory ER/LR Specialist
National Park Service, Southeast Regional Office - Atlanta, GA - 2014-12 - Present 0201
Grade Level: GS-13
Hours per week: 40
-Serves as the Chief of the Employee/Labor Relations Branch for the Southeast Region servicing professional, administrative, technical, clerical, and wage grade positions.
-Supervises a staff of three (3) GS-12 specialists engaged in employee and labor relations work for the Southeast Region.
-Prepares and provides guidance to managers and supervisors in the preparation of performance and conduct-based action letters, responses to administrative appeals, and administrative or negotiated grievance decisions.
-Provides advice to managers, supervisors, and park level administrative/human resources staff on employee and labor relations programs to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities in the area of sound and effective human resources management.
-Provides advice to management on working within or complying with regulations, guidelines, policies, and negotiated agreements concerning all aspects of human resources management, including Ethics, conduct, performance management, leave administration, disciplinary/adverse actions, grievances, and appeals.
-Counsels employees, supervisors, and managers on provisions of all programs within delegated authorities and assists the Department of Interior Field Solicitor in representing the Agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and/or in labor arbitration.
-Provides management information on counseling and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
-Interprets and clarifies federal, agency, bureau, and regional policies, standards, and procedures to managers, supervisors, and employees.
-Analyzes employee relations, labor relations, and organizational effectiveness problems to determine the true nature of the management problem and its consideration from the total human resources management perspective.
-Researches, develops, and recommends personnel policy for the Southeast Region employee and labor relations programs.
-Provides input on draft policies to clarify and/or supplement higher level policies, and to resolve problems.
-Prepares a variety of correspondence and reports.
-Establishes case files and conducts training as required.
-Provides technical assistance in determining provisions for collective bargaining agreements. Human Resources Specialist
Gatlinburg, TN - 2010-07 - 2014-12
0201
Grade Level: GS-12
Salary: $80,276 per year
Hours per week: 40
-Served as the advisor to employees and supervisors on employee relations issues. This included advising supervisors on appropriate courses of action to correct employee conduct; advising supervisors on procedural and statutory requirements for due process; researching and interpreting National Park Service policies, Federal rules and regulations, and case law to determine appropriate disciplinary and/or adverse actions to take; drafting counseling letters, reprimands, proposal and decision letters for disciplinary and adverse actions up to and including removals; working with supervisors to develop settlement agreements; and drafting and/ or reviewing decision letters in administrative grievances.
-Served as a secondary point of contact and trainer on labor relations issues with the National Association of Government Employees union and the American Federation of Government Employees union in regards to labor relations issues. This involved providing interpretation of both collective bargaining agreements, tracking of grievances, assisting managers with grievance responses and unfair labor practices charges, and with the drafting of responses to union inquiries and requests.
-Managed the Federal Office of Workers Compensation Program for the Park which entailed researching and handing workplace injury matters, and assisting supervisors and employees in workplace injury matters.
-Handled reasonable accommodation cases, family medical leave cases, and other matters involving employee medical issues, including medical inability to perform job duties, all of which required careful analysis of complex and sensitive issues, preparation of appropriate correspondence, and working with employees and/ or supervisors towards a resolution of issues.
-Served as the Security Officer and Adjudicator for seven different national parks on background investigations and PIV ID Card credentialing of employees.
-Administered the performance management program for the Park, which included providing advice to employees and supervisors on performance management issues including poor performance and verifying that complete and correct performance appraisals and awards are submitted.
-Submitted requests for law enforcement ranger medical exams and maintained scheduling records on upcoming and completed exams as well as the results of completed exams.
-Maintained records on wildland firefighter medical exams. Human Resources Officer (Detail)
Gatlinburg, TN - 2012-12 - 2013-02
0201 and July 27, 2014, to August 2014
Grade Level: GS-13
Salary: $84,550 per year
Hours per week: 40
-Supervised a 6-8 member staff comprised of 4-5 human resources specialists, 1-2 human resources assistants, and 1 administrative staff member. This included supervision of 3 specialists located in another state.
-Directed the daily Servicing Human Resources Office (SHRO) and provided program direction and oversight in the planning, development, and execution of a human resources management program which serviced 8 different parks located within the states of North Carolina and Tennessee.
-Handled an employee attendance issue and a reasonable accommodation case within the human resources department.
-Provided technical support to serviced organizations and ensured that human resources programs and activities were timely executed and met standards and requirements.
-Performed technical supervision of employees in satellite offices and served as the final approval authority for implementation of policies, procedures, processes, and program plans.
-Ensured that human resources specialists used appropriate judgment in providing strategic advice and operational services to the organizations served, while also maintaining data integrity.
-Advised management and ensured that disciplinary and adverse actions complied with policies and regulations. This included providing information to employees regarding procedures, entitlements, and processes available to them.
Employee Relations Specialist
WJB Dorn VA Medical Center - Columbia, SC - 2009-03 - 201*-**-****
Grade Level: GS-12
Salary: $74,373 per year
Hours per week: 40
-Advised and assisted employees and supervisors on employee relations issues up to and including those which were sensitive, serious or controversial.
-Provided advice on disciplinary and adverse actions to supervisors, ensuring consistency with past actions, table of penalties, etc., and compliance with regulations.
-Prepared necessary correspondence and documentation in employee relations matters.
-Served as technical advisor to Regional Counsel in hearings before such bodies as MSPB and EEOC.
-Provided information on employee rights and obligations.
-Maintained expertise in assigned program areas by keeping abreast of the latest changes in Federal and agency regulations and case laws.
-Ensured agency actions required as the results of grievance or other third party complaint decisions or settlements were carried out to meet compliance requirements.
-Conducted basic and/or refresher training in employee relations policies and procedures in such areas as grievances, disciplinary actions and appeals, performance management, and other areas of employee relations.
-Administered the agency's employee award and recognition program. Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations/Performance Management) Defense Finance and Accounting Service - Indianapolis, IN - 2007-04 - 2009-03 Indianapolis, IN April 2007, to March 2009
Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations/Performance Management) Grade Level: YA-2
Salary: $69,570 per year
Hours per week: 40
-Performed case analyses and situation analyses related to complex and highly sensitive employee relations problems involving such issues as adverse actions, rules of conduct, and prohibited personnel practices.
-Advised management on cases of employee discipline and misconduct, unacceptable performance, grievances, etc. This included providing over 1700 management consultations over the telephone and/or email in one fiscal year.
-Analyzed facts and precedent decisions and with the application of underlying laws and regulations prepared a recommended plan of action for management.
-Prepared and conducted training sessions for Defense Finance and Accounting field office employees, managers, and supervisors regarding employee relations issues. Training sessions included Medical Issues; Complaints, Grievances, and Appeals; Performance Management; and Disciplinary Procedures.
-Drafted proposed disciplinary actions, final decision notices and memorandums associated with employee relations for supervisors and managers. This included drafting over 190 employee relations actions within one fiscal year.
-Conducted employee relations training and orientation and informational programs.
-Advised management on legal or regulatory requirements or entitlements related to employee relations matters; and provided advisory services to managers and employees on employee relations policies, procedures, and guidelines.
-Furnished information to employees regarding their rights, and the obligations of management, in adverse actions, grievances and appeals.
Attorney and Owner
Law Offices of Buffy M. Bryant - Plainfield, IN - 1998-11 - 2009-03 Hours per week: 12
-Represented foster parents in adoption cases involving children who were wards of the State of Indiana.
-Managed the law firm operating budget, which resulted in cost savings of 13% over a three-year period. Staff Attorney
Law Offices of Buffy M. Bryant - Indianapolis, IN - 2003-10 - 2007-03 Hours per week: 37.50
-Served as legal counsel for the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).
-Represented the ISDH in administrative proceedings before Administrative Law Judges in employee relations cases, mobile home park licensure cases, children with special health care services cases, and certified nursing assistant licensure cases.
-Represented the ISDH in administrative proceedings before the ISDH Appeals Panel.
-Researched and prepared legal advice on agency legal issues.
-Researched and interpreted laws, promulgated rules and regulations, and legal opinions pertaining to agency operations.
-Maintained a case load as assigned by the Supervising Attorney and ensured that cases progress through to completion.
Acting Labor Relations Professional
United States Postal Service - Indianapolis, IN - 2000-06 - 2002-05 Hours per week: 40
-Resolved complex labor relations and equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC) problems affecting arbitration, grievances/contract administration, and labor relations practices and procedures.
-Represented the Postal Service in grievances filed on removals, labor arbitration hearings, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) matters, and Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) proceedings.
-Drafted written employee disciplinary actions and adverse actions, including letters of warning, and proposal and decision letters for suspensions and removals.
-Analyzed four different union contracts and provided managers with contract interpretation on a variety of issues including progressive discipline, holiday overtime, and working out of class. EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate in Law
Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis, IN 1998-05
Masters in Business Administration in Business Administration University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis, IN
1998-04
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in Chemistry
DePauw University - Greencastle, IN
1992-05
CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES
Licensed Attorney
State of Tennessee
Licensed Attorney
State of Indiana
Registered Arbitrator
State of Georgia
Registered Mediator
State of Georgia
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
JOB RELATED TRAINING
-Misconduct Investigations, EEO Investigations and Writing Investigative Reports, Federal Employment Law Training Group LLC, September 2017
-Arbitration Training, Henning Mediation & Arbitration Services, January 2016
-Basic Mediation Skills with Clinical Practicum, Justice Center of Atlanta, Inc., December 2015
-Injury Compensation Class, Department of Labor, May 2011
-Personnel Security and Suitability Adjudication, Kenneth Sudol & Associates, August 2010
-Operation Title 38: Critical Pathways and Consulting Skills for the ER Professional, Veterans -Administration, May 2009
-Basic Labor Relations, Defense Civilian Personnel Management Service, February 2008
-Labor Relations Collective Bargaining Negotiations Strategies & Techniques, September 2007
-Labor Arbitration Advocacy Training, US Postal Service, September 2000
-EEO/MSPB Advocacy Training, US Postal Service, May 2001
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