Human Resources Manager

Deborah A. Johnson, SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP

**** **** **** • Romeoville, Illinois 60446 • 815-***-**** • *******.********@*****.***

Senior Human Resources Manager ... Global Human Resources Strategy & Leadership

Project Management ... Employee Development & Relations ... Coaching & Mentorship

Strategic Business & Labor Planning ... Policy/Procedures Development & Implementation

Results-driven human resources management professional with experience in strategic and operational HR leadership and

consultative capacities in high-pressure environments. Accomplished in integrating HR into the overall corporate operating

strategy. Abilities in operational enhancement and departmental administration, managing costs, overhead, risk and

grievances/litigation. Able to support organizational development through talent/performance management, employee relations

and succession planning. Highly-skilled in the design/implementation of training programs. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite,

Visio, PeopleSoft, Ulti-Pro, Vi-Desktop and NovaTime.

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SOP Restructuring & Standardization Performance Assessment & Staff Accountability

• •

Global Corporate Liaison Communications Succession & Workforce Planning

• •

Employee Relations & Labor Law Best Practices & Benchmark Development

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Talent & Performance Management HRIS System Implementations

• •

Benefits Administration & Compensation Analysis Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SEYFARTH SHAW, LLP, Chicago, Illinois 2007 to January 2015

International labor and employment law firm with 1,600 employees.

Human Resources Manager (Senior Level)

Leader for strategic and tactical oversight of all human resources operations. Served as the go-to resource for ten U.S. office

locations. Managed a team of four HR professionals. Direct accountability for HR governance, strategic planning, budgeting,

compliance, talent recruitment and management, compensation analysis, risk management, staff relations and training, metrics

and policy/procedure development. Researched, assessed and launched process improvements, cost controls and efficiency

initiatives within HR and business units targeting FMLA, performance/accountability and HRIS procedures. Provided

consultative services pertaining to best practice implementation, employee relations, corrective actions, retention and

terminations.

• Ensured mutually-beneficial interpretation; performed thorough investigations of alleged human rights violations/harassment

claims; managed sensitive attorney/employee issues including mandatory EAP referrals.

• Verified and enforced strict compliance with all employment laws enterprise-wide at the state/federal levels, including the

complexities of California laws.

• Processed weekly and monthly HRIS reports.

• Established and frequently updated firm policies/procedures for enterprise-wide distribution; leveraged proficiency in

Australian HR laws to support the drafting of policies for Australian locations.

• Point of contact regarding new policy development/implementation and updates to existing policies.

• Developed, updated and posted job descriptions for vacant positions. Managed in-house staff recruiter to ensure that all vacant

positions are filled in a timely manner.

• Worked in conjunction with the Chicago Office Administrator to manage/delegate tasks to office paralegals.

• Partnered with Secretarial Supervisor to manage ratios of attorney/secretarial teams; evaluated competency levels and set-up

applicable soft skills training.

• Collaborated closely to ensure the timely and accurate completion of performance reviews on an annual basis; performed

comprehensive analysis of compensation and facilitated discrimination testing.

• Administered the biannual roll-out of HIPAA and Non-Harassment training throughout the firm.

• Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding FMLA and short-term disability cases.

• Project managed the implementation of an automated time and attendance system (NOVAtime), as well as an open enrollment

module for enterprise-wide utilization.

• Conceptualized and instituted service awards and wellness programs.

• Successfully managed four separate comprehensive attorney/staff headcount reductions without a single claim.

Deborah A. Johnson, SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP Page 2

• Key member of a committee tasked with the roll-out of a performance appraisal process via Vi-Desktop.

• Designed and facilitated performance management training initiatives, as well as FMLA training, for Office Administrators/HR

Managers and HRIS modification training.

• Key contributor to the HRIS committee tasked with the implementation and complex conversion to the Ulti-Pro system;

promptly identified mission-critical data discrepancies; created procedural enhancements.

KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN, LLP, Chicago, Illinois 1994 to 2007

Human Resources Manager

Full operational, planning, budgetary and regulatory compliance responsibility for all HR operations. Managed all areas of

strategic employee planning and development for exempt/non-exempt staff, as well as employee policy/procedural development,

recruiting, employee relations and evaluations. Administered performance and compensation management processes, including

conducting salary surveys, creating job descriptions, maintaining the salary increase budget and creating salary matrices for the

pay-for-performance salary administration program.

• Worked extensively with attorneys and staff to facilitate interpersonal conflicts and performance concerns.

• Created and instituted staffing initiatives and recruiting procedures; maintained a standard low-cost-per-hire.

• Structured and integrated the performance review process, produced appraisal documentation and rankings for exempt/non-

exempt employees.

• Member of the steering committee leading the enterprise-wide implementation of PeopleSoft; actively participated in the due

diligence process and supported consultants with various facets of design and conversion to accommodate the new application.

• Significantly revamped outdated policy documentation and modified the employee handbook.

• Played a key role in the acquisition of a New York law firm; managed the team responsible for merging the existing policies

while establishing new benefit and procedural standards to accommodate the acquisition.

Department Manager, Secretarial Support Services & Paralegals (Concurrent Position)

Oversaw the firm's secretarial, word processing and paralegal staff, comprised of 200 employees. Performed in-depth

assessments of competency levels and provided recommendations regarding appropriate staff placements, task delegation and

ongoing professional development. Ensured consistent attainment of the staffing ratio objectives.

CREDENTIALS

Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®) Certification

Certified Compensation Specialist (CCP)

FORMAL EDUCATION

Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Human Resource Management (Double Major)

AFFILIATIONS

SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (SHRM) - Member

WORLD-AT-WORK, PROFESSIONAL COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION - Member

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO (HRMAC - Member

ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS - Member, National/Greater Chicago Chapter

CHICAGO COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION - Member

AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE - Member

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