Nekita Watts

Senior Human Resources Manager

ad0bwa@r.postjobfree.com • 901-***-**** linkedin.com/in/nekita-watts-1a5b08207/ • McDonough, GA

Accomplished Human Resource leader with demonstrated success exceling in dynamic environments across multiple industries. Expertise designing strategic initiatives and driving high-performing teams to implement HR programs that support organizational objectives, enhance associate performance, and promote diverse workplaces. Solutions-oriented manager with experience building strong relationships, as well as extensive knowledge guiding informed decision making and timely issue resolution. Focused on promoting cross-functional collaboration, providing exceptional leadership, and exceeding organizational goals.

Areas of Expertise

Leadership & Team Building

Performance Improvement

Organization Development

Union Negotiations

Employee Relations & Engagement

Training & Staff Development

Project & Program Management

Regulatory & Safety Compliance

Recruiting & Retention Initiatives

HR Strategic Planning & Execution

Legal Counsel & Advocacy

Performance Evaluations

Professional Experience

Heraeus, Buford, GA & Gatlinburg, MD 2021

Regional Human Resources Manager

Facilitated Regional HR strategies, initiatives and solutions at the quarts producing sites of silica to aide in the production of specialty light sources.

●Optimized the recruitment process for locations staffing to yield a 10% reduction in time to secure candidate.

●Eliminated 10 positions with savings greater than $1.2 million annually.

Irving Tissue, Macon, GA 2019 – 2021

Human Resources Plant Manager

Promoted through roles of increased scope and accountability to lead Human Resources (HR) operations for 275 associates. Led team of four, driving strategic recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement opportunities. Steered team culture, vision, and strategy, as well as specifying KPIs and metrics to measure success. Defined organizational structure and policies and developed processes to drive efficiency and productivity.

●Established new HR department, shaping policies and systems, authoring procedures, and hiring four direct reports.

●Initiated creation and utilization of individual development plans for high potential employees.

●Piloted new employee engagement strategy, conducting in-person interviews with managers and pipeline talent, analyzing associate feedback, and presenting findings to senior leadership to recommend changes and support informed decision-making.

●Strategized recruitment initiative for plant expansion needs, accomplishing goal and filling 90% of 150 hard-to-fill positions within six months.

●Created Covid management protocols for 200 associates, including contact tracers and distancing measures, resulting in zero outbreaks.

International Paper, Memphis, TN Augusta, GA Kansas City, MO Bogalusa, LA (2010 – 2019)

Sr. Human Resources Manager, EHS and Global Technology 2018 – 2019

Guided division strategy and HR initiatives, advising C-level executives and Vice Presidents on HR initiatives, innovation, strategy, legal, and compliance. Collaborated interdepartmentally to maximize continuous improvements across organization, gathering data to measure and analyze effectiveness of 350 salaried domestic and international employees. Established succession plans, minimized diversity gaps, and cultivated team environments, with focus on employee engagement and fostering empowerment.

●Optimized leadership team alignment, re-assigning leadership responsibilities, clarifying roles and accountability, and leveraging change management tools to guide new structure.

●Launched high-caliber talent engineering college recruitment program, resulting in diverse new hires including 25% female and 15% People of Color (POC).

●Revitalized employee resources group leading to 25% membership increase from previous year.

●Reduced leadership and diversity gaps, initiating and leveraging succession plans to identify pipeline gaps and strategize new talent acquisition goals.

●Boosted team effectiveness, organizational alignment, and employee engagement by executing innovative strategies including creating action plans, coordinating team trust assessments, conducting one-to-to one interviews, organizing team intervention workshops, establishing team norms, and creating engagement.

Senior Manager, Leadership Development 2016 – 2018

Strategized and implemented initiatives to improve organizational leadership, creating Leadership Development Training Program and leading program management. Supervised high-performing team of four to execute development strategies to improve leader efficacy and meet business demands across U.S., EMEA, and Brazil. Authored and presented training sessions including, Just in Time training for new leader assimilation, team effectiveness, and change management utilizing DiSC and Situational Leadership.

●Presented training sessions to provide required certifications, certifying 50 international and domestic training facilitators and 200 front-line and mid-level leaders.

●Played key role resolving technology issue, leading project management to convert 51 Skillsoft e-learning modules to be "Java-free" to reduce viral threat.

●Expanded Leadership Training Offerings, allowing increased training opportunities for external manufacturing hires.

●Advocated DDI Targeted Selection interview training program to improve management capability, increase quality of new hires, and confirm adherence to federal regulations.

Human Resources Manager, Mill 2014 – 2016

Championed HR initiatives across Mill, leading program management for behavioral based program and drove accountability for safety training and discipline. Partnered with Corporate Legal to conduct employee investigations, as well as efficiently resolved employee issues and advised leadership team on managing employee performance.

●Built strategic recruiting plan, improving diversity representation in Engineering, and surpassing 6-month goal with 14.5% increase in women and 35% in POC hires.

●Implemented safety plans including hourly safety walks, performance evaluations, discipline, and retraining programs.

●Finalized ratification of four USW and two IBEW contracts.

Human Resources Manager, Complex 2012 – 2014

Spearhead HR operations for 700 salaried and hourly associates across five locations in the Mid-West region in union and union-free sites. Oversaw strategic leadership of talent management, organizational and employee development, and performance management, boosting employee relations and employee retention.

●Steered improvement in plant culture and associate productivity, communicating with containerboard leadership to introduce new policies, practices, and staff development opportunities and reducing employee complaints by 85%.

●Managed strategy to support notification and transition activities of associates affected by reduction in force, assisting with redeployment of 25% of impacted staff.

●Negotiated successful collective bargaining contract renewal and ratification of local USW agreement.

●Served as Social Responsibility Audit Coordinator, scheduling and preparing audits reviewing ethical practices for large clients including Coke, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, as well as ensuring clients reached high scores and maintaining 95% pass rate.

Additional Experience:

Human Resources Manager, GE Consumer Finance, Atlanta, GA

Human Resources Manager, Aramark, Detroit, MI

Human Resources Manager, Federated Group, Santa Monica, CA

Human Resources Manager, Target, Gardena, CA

Education:

Master of Science in Human Resources

Villanova University, Villanova, PA

Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication

California State University, Long Beach, CA

Licenses & Certifications:

SHRM HR Assurance of Learning Assessment

SHRM Building Business Strategy for HR Professionals

DDI Master Trainer

Learning Agility Coach

Villanova Master Certificate in Human Resource Management

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