Human Resources Management

**** **** *** **** 916-***-****

Elk Grove, CA *5758 E-mail: **************@*****.***

Steven R. O’Conner

Qualifications Profile Effective and resourceful manager-level Senior HR generalist with successful HR consulting, problem solving, and

business partner experience to support internal clients’ HR and organizational needs. Key Qualifications:

• Effective HR consultation and compliance management in employment, compensation, and employee

relations in union and nonunion environments.

• Strategic organizational planning and implementation, while applying innovative process improvements,

problem solving, solution driver, risk management and HR metrics.

• Monitor and maintain HR controls through policy administration for organizational and HR client-related

departmental decisions.

• Develop and implement recruitment and selection, leave administration, workplace skills and behavioral

training, compensation practices, performance management and health and safety training compliance.

• Manage a full-service oriented HR Program and supervise HR staff.

• Strong interpersonal communications skills, including influencing and ability to encourage innovation.

• Highly collaborative style. Demonstrated ability to work in teams, as both a lead and a supporting team

member. Strong proven leadership skills and experience.

• Ability to coach, mentor and advise where appropriate to help employees grow and develop in alignment

with business and personal goals. Ability to execute foundational project management skills where needed

and appropriate.

Professional Experience 2008 – Present California National Primate Center, University of California, Davis

Human Resources Manager

• Direct and manage the day-to-day centralized HR program operations, duties include: provide leadership

and organizational support to department heads, staff scientists and unit academic supervisors and to

employees (staff, students, and academic appointees) for the human resources: payroll and effort reporting

functions, disability management, workers compensation, and risk assessment and compliance

management. Supervise unit staff.

• Manage department staff and academic employment and compensation responsibilities, including job

recruitment and selection, classification reviews (includes job audits and job analysis), salary reviews and

surveys, and compliance management to ensure equity is maintained Center-wide.

• Effective in strategic and analytical support and advice to Senior Management Team and managers at all

organizational levels on all aspects of personnel/HR administration and associated risk assessment which

include employment visas, medical surveillance, security access, and volunteer management.

• Manage and consult on employee relations/labor issues, include providing client managers and employees

with advice and counsel on performance improvement strategies, FMLA/CFRA, ADA Interactive Process

facilitation, Workers’ Compensation. Recommend courses of action for discipline or termination in a

unionized environment. Counsel Managers and employees on performance management matters related to

formal employee complaints and appeals, and recommend strategies to improve communication between

supervisors and employees. Represent management in investigating, answering and responding to

grievances or complaints. Develop and implement a solid strategic human resource plan that is aligned

with the business and research needs of the CNPRC.

• Identify opportunities for organizational process improvements. Ensure that all employees are in

compliance with medical surveillance and employment procedures. Identify policy issues or potential

concerns confronting the CNPRC; act to resolve conflicts. Develop, contribute and align unit, department,

and CNPRC-wide HR policies and standards. Implement strategies throughout the CNPRC that focus on

continuous improvement of the workforce climate.

2005 – 2008 University of California, Davis, Human Resources Davis, CA

Human Resources Consultant

• Perform compensation responsibilities university-wide, including job classification reviews, new position

requests, salary reviews and surveys, and compliance management to ensure equity is maintained

university-wide.

• Provide consultation in screening and recruitment strategies with hiring managers for open positions,

advising/approving salary equities and job offers.

• Advise managers and employees on University policies and procedures, related employment laws,

grievance and complaint processes, and general HR questions.

• Manage and provide consultation to clients on their employee relations issues, including providing client

managers and employees with advice and counsel on performance improvement strategies, and

recommending courses of action for discipline or termination in a unionized environment. Counsel

Managers and employees on performance management matters related to formal employee complaints and

appeals, recommending ways to improve communication between supervisors and employees.

• Provide training to managers regarding HR practices and concepts. Provide managers with advice on

change management strategies as they implement changes in communication plans, staff

education/involvement, and roles and responsibilities. Working proactively with clients on planning and

implementing proposed staff planning forecasting, and reorganizations, including reviewing justifications

for staff reductions and providing assistance to reduced and retained managers and employees.

2004 – 2005 West Valley Staffing, Pleasanton, CA

Contract Staffing & Employee Relations Manager, Diamond of California, Stockton CA

• Managed a full-cycle recruitment and hiring process, including sourcing and screening candidates,

conducting behavioral interviews, overseeing and participating in the selection process, setting salaries,

and completing verification processes.

• Participated in the development and implementation of recruitment strategies and initiatives to ensure a

continuous flow of qualified and diverse applicants for agricultural food processing plant facilities in

Northern California.

• Provided staffing and employee/labor relations consultation to client managers, including working with

supervisors to resolve performance and disciplinary issues, conducted investigations of complaints, and

translated management expectations to non-English speaking employees.

• Developed compensation and pay practices that support organizational performance.

• Developed HR policies and procedures for staff and a unionized workforce.

2002 – 2004 Northwestern University, Human Resources Chicago, IL

Senior Staffing Specialist

• Managed a full-cycle recruitment and hiring process, including sourcing and screening candidates,

conducting behavioral interviews, overseeing and participating in the selection process, setting salaries, and

completing verification processes.

• Participated in the development and implementation of recruitment strategies and initiatives to ensure a

continuous flow of qualified and diverse applicants for university positions.

• Planned, coordinated, and attended job fairs, open houses, and other recruitment events.

• Performed compensation responsibilities in the areas of research and the teaching hospital (university-

wide), including job classification reviews, new position requests, salary reviews and surveys, and

compliance management to ensure equity is maintained university-wide.

• Built relationships with key professional, community, and diversity organizations as recruiting sources.

• Developed partnerships with hiring managers and educate them on the recruitment and employment

process.

• Provided policy and procedure interpretation as it relates to employment matters according to established

HR policies and practices.

• Participated in a variety of projects and initiatives that support the continuous employment operations and

HR mission.

2000 -2002 Northwestern University, Human Resources Chicago, IL

Employment Counselor

• Provided HR generalist support to HR Consultants in the areas of employment/staffing, compensation,

employee relations, and resolved payroll issues for both faculty and staff.

• Managed and administrated Leave of Absence programs including FMLA, maternity, and medical

separations.

• Managed and maintained campus recruitment and employment activities, including advertising, managing

the job posting system for both internal and external candidate sources.

• Developed and implemented recruitment strategies and staffing programs, including managing and

negotiating preferred vendor contract activities with staffing agencies, advertising firms, and other

employment systems.

• Facilitated new hire orientation to staff and faculty.

• Supervised office support staff and managed office activities.

• Provided project support to HR Director focusing on process improvements and policy development and

implementation.

1997 - 2000 Northwestern University, Office of Research Administration Evanston, IL

Executive Administrative Assistant to Vice President/Associate Vice President for Research

• Managed and administered the research track academic appointments for faculty, research staff, post-

doctoral fellows, and visiting researchers.

• Provided customer service support and consultation to university research community regarding university

HR policies, practices, and procedures, employment visas, and research policies and compliance practices.

• Managed and coordinated senior-level academic recruitment searches for research centers and research

administration; developed and coordinated faculty recruitments for campus clients, assisted client

departments in the negotiations and development of faculty hires: laboratory set-up and start-up

compensation packages; and facilitated faculty new hire orientations.

• Facilitated and coordinated research and academic site visits for regulatory agencies and government

grantor agencies.

• Served as a liaison and administrator for internal review boards, including scientific integrity and research

policy review, scientific and fellowship awards, and other ad hoc committees.

• Provided executive administrative project support to the VP and AVP for Research.

1994 - 1997 Harry S Truman College, Science & Technology Center Chicago, IL

Program Manager

• Program management of three AAS degree programs under the Federal Technical Preparation Program and

the Illinois School-to-Work grant funded programs under the direction of the Dean and Department Chairs.

• Managed and coordinated student recruitment activities focusing on under-represented groups for faculty-

driven educational programs and outreach.

• Managed and coordinated tenure and non-track faculty recruitment searches and appointment process.

• Managed education cooperative grant programs for high school summer training programs, college

internships, and job placement services for graduates.

• Secured partnership agreements with employers, universities, and high schools.

• Coordinated and maintained several active employer partnerships and advisory boards for academic

programs, which include large and small R&D companies.

• Coordinated and prepared grant awarded projects, including grant writing, budgets, and report summaries.

• Coordinated program evaluations and accreditation preparation activities under the direction of the Dean

and faculty.

De Paul University, Chicago, IL

Education Bachelors of Arts degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology

Career Development

Conflict Resolution, Mediation, and Advocacy

Professional Training

Employment Best Practices Training for Hiring Managers

Employment Screening, Drug Testing, & Liability Strategies

Employment Law: FLSA/EEO/FMLA-CFRA/ADA/WC (Interactive Process)

HR Policies & Procedures

HRIS Technologies

Staff Recruitment & Retention

Orientation & On-Boarding

Employee Relations/Performance

Management

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Training & Development

Organizational Development

HR Program/Project Management

Curriculum Design/Adult Education and Training

Workplace Readiness & Skills Building

Languages Fluent in Spanish

References Available upon request.

Contact this candidate