Rupinder Walia ad3dus@r.postjobfree.com Rupinder Walia MA, CIPD LinkedIn

Executive Summary

As a senior HR professional with diverse skills and experience, I can support internal and external stakeholders and partners. I have expertise in strategic, operational and transactional HR, creating and implementing policies, procedures and programmes that align with company goals, acas guidelines and legislation. I can work independently or lead a team, and I have worked for decades in different countries and cultures, promoting diversity and inclusion in complex and/or matrix organisations. I have a commercial, logical and pragmatic mindset that helps me translate strategic vision into concrete objectives and KPIs. I value integrity, confidentiality, professionalism and excellent communication skills. I can balance business needs and employee wellbeing with positive influence and have a proactive and solution-oriented attitude. I am passionate about providing the best (and most current) HR service and I hold myself accountable for high standards of quality, using the latest HR models, best practices, strategies and approaches. I have a strong sense of empathy, authenticity, wellbeing and resilience.

Transferable Skills

Data-driven HR insights and analytics HR innovation and optimisation

Organisational growth and transformation Change leadership and management

Strategic HR vision, development and execution Coaching, mentoring and counselling

Workforce alignment and readiness Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

Job design, talent attraction and retention Critical thinking and creativity

Employment conflict resolution and management ER expertise and guidance

Learning design and delivery Persuasion, influence and negotiation skills

Effective communication and interpersonal skills Talent acquisition and assessment

Policy design and implementation Redundancy management and support

Data protection and compliance Agile and flexible

Employee relations and legal knowledge C-level and Senior stakeholder partnership

Diversity, equity and inclusion champion Mental health awareness and support

Key Achievements

Superhire Props Ltd

•Led the company’s HR response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring legal compliance and director support. Revamped the HR function, including policy design, implementation and training.

•Prevented a £12,000 tribunal claim through acas mediation.

Al Futtaim Private

•Led Group Services division to 2nd place with 93% participation rate in Gallup ‘q12’ survey in 2012/2013 - a record-breaking achievement in company history.

•Made history by being the first woman to be part of Gmasco leadership team in its 40-year history.

Education

Mental Health First Aider- MHFA England, London, UK

Associate CIPD – Level 5- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, London, UK

Gallup Certified Talent Coach - Gallup, UK

MA – Human Resource Management- Leicester University, Leicester, UK

BA (Honours) – Sociology (2:1) - De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

Career Experience

Curatus Group Limited, London, UK- 02/2023- 09/2023

Head of HR

•Set up the business and corporate services for clients in Financial Investments, Wealth Management and Independent Financial Advisers with the Executive Director and President

•Provided strategic HR support, guidance and direction

•Appointed as a trusted advisor to C-suite

•Analysed information and trends to provide insights for business leaders, developed specific business area people strategies and facilitated decision-making on organisation and people matters

•Established the HR function: HR strategy, HR consulting, employee lifecycle, performance management, employee relations, HR admin: policies, procedures, Compensation & Benefits, and HR software platform

•Performed all operational HR duties- policy review, staff development, employment law etc

•Worked with and create working partnerships with the Head of Finance and Head of Corporate Strategy

•Coached and advised the Executive Director on legal requirements, latest HR trends, updates, law changes, HR best practice

•Led change, supporting senior colleagues and provided change management expertise and guidance on all organisation and people-related matters

•Supported a current acquisition in all HR matters including potential redundancies, job changes and new org structure

•Advised the Executive Director on all legal requirements in different geographical locations

Independent/Freelance HR Consultancy- Watford, UK, 06/2022 to 01/2023

Private HR Consultant

Sopwell House Hotel- St. Albans, UK, 12/2021 to 07/2022

HR & Training Manager- Head of Department

•Provided strategic and commercial guidance, recommendations and solutions on HR, employee welfare/wellbeing, legal, social and health & safety compliance.

•Supported the development and improvement of people-focused processes and tools.

•Assessed and addressed leadership developmental needs to retain, develop and motivate their teams

•Worked towards building a professional and reputable HR department

•Supported and partnered with all HODs and provided strategic HR advice and coaching on people matters

•Coached and mentored HODs/ Managers on people capability, employee relations, disciplinary, grievance, performance management, rewards, employee relations, engagement, onboarding and off boarding, learning and development

•Oversaw and managed recruitment of roles across the Hotel, sourcing candidates globally in partnership with global recruitment agencies to ensure widest reach of potential candidates; supported hiring managers and interview panels, managed employee onboarding while ensuring a great candidate experience and operational excellence

•Facilitated an engagement strategy focused on employee experience, motivation and relationship with HODs. Managed employee programmes around connection, wellness, and achievements

•Facilitated and supported HODs to drive diversity, equality and inclusion across the hotel and championing our differences and backgrounds; embedded DEI within all policies, practices and procedures to ensure fairness and transparency for all

•Provided full training and coaching on all DEI initiatives, including workshops, focus groups and one on ones

•Developed and implemented initiatives and procedures that help to build a culture of collaboration, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Ensured compliance with all local laws and regulations including health and safety, employment practices, immigration, and other workplace guidelines

•Provided weekly HR report/dashboard to SLT: HR metrics such as turnover, workforce bio data, HR cost versus forecast/budget

•Reported in monthly period reviews, Health & Safety reviews and SLT meetings

•Coordinated with external Health & Safety Assessors to complete audits as needed

•Audited and reconciled monthly payroll reporting data with Accounts/payroll

•Supported a workforce of circa 230 with 1 direct report, including 180 FTE and rest casual/zero hour staff

•Created and rolled out annual L&D training schedule including mandatory H&S training, HR workshops and DEI initiatives

Superhire Props Ltd – London, UK, 02/2020 to 12/2021

HR Manager (standalone operating at HR Director/Head of HR level)

•Reported directly to Owners/ Company Directors. Provided strategic guidance, recommendations and solutions on all matters related to HR, employee welfare/wellbeing, legal, social and H&S compliance

•Created the HR function/department from scratch, delivered and embedded core HR services for the company

•Updated and implemented all HR policies, communications and procedures in line with statutory guidelines and legislation

•Supported and partnered with all department heads on boarding and off boarding procedures

•Managed all companywide recruitment activities: headcount, probation, third party partnerships with payroll provider and recruitment agencies

•Created and managed all employee contracts across all working patterns, ensuring legal and Good Work Plan 2020 compliance

•Managed the payroll process every month in partnership with third party provider to ensure payroll accuracy

•Partnered and consulted with external counsel: ACAS, HMRC, CIPD, Croner, XpertHR to ensure people practice compliance

•Created and updated Covid-19 policy, risk assessments and H&S requirements as per the changing pandemic environment

•Managed employee expectation, wellbeing and concerns during the furlough period from March 2020 until October 2020

•Managed all employee health, mental wellbeing issues and handled sensitive redundancy cases as a Mental Health First Aider

•Handled delicate cases of staff layoffs in July 2020, after the lockdown and furlough of workers

•Worked throughout the pandemic, hybrid model remote from home and the office, and ran the HR department by myself

•Developed and implemented a policy/programme on Equality, Inclusion and Diversity in October 2021

•Inducted new hires on company culture, polices, products and services

•Dealt with all grievances and disciplinaries according to Employment law and acas code of practice

•Advised Directors and HODs on employee engagement, wellbeing, performance management and conflict resolution

•Resolved a complicated grievance/disciplinary case with the help of acas and a trade union rep

Career break/ Homemaker– Dubai & UK: 09/2016 – 12/2019 (completed CIPD level 5 qualification during this time)

Al Futtaim Private – Dubai, UAE, 04/2012 to 08/2016

Senior HR Business Partner (Group Services Division/Corporate Functions)

•Worked on 3-year human capital development plan across the entire employee lifecycle

•Collaborated with senior stakeholders: CFO, COO, CIO, Group Finance Controller, Group Treasurer, Group Legal Counsel, Group Senior Internal Auditor and 20 General Managers

•Supported leadership on all aspects of employee relations such as workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and development, talent management, succession planning, disciplinary and grievance advice, employee relations, on boarding inductions, retention and separation, employee engagement and people management

•Led the HR support function for all departments and businesses, covering 600 employees in collaboration with Centres of Excellence such as Total Rewards, Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition and HR Operations

•Managed and reviewed business performance using HR metrics including systems support, coaching and feedback

•Managed performance of junior HR staff and supported their potential development and growth, including increasing diversity and inclusion in teams and / or workplaces

•Coached and advised hiring managers on interview skills and competency based questions

•Assessed business strengths and challenges, implemented appropriate strategies to improve engagement, morale and productivity while addressing cost and employee turnover in partnership with Gallup

•Implemented a structured HR scorecard for the analysis of employee diversity, retention, turnover, cost to hire, time to hire, training cost, training completion and individual development progress

•Advised employees, line managers and senior leaders on policies, procedures and legislation

•Managed the manpower budget by working with senior leaders and finance managers and tracking the approved annual costs and budgets; expert of the internal budgeting tool

•Identified technical and non-technical skills gaps to support business delivery using learning needs analysis and partnering with Al Futtaim Training Centre

Earlier Employment

•HRBP (Electronics – EET: Panasonic, Toshiba, Nokia, Aftron)- Al Futtaim Private Dubai, UAE 2011 – 2012

•HRBP MENA- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC ( Pfizer Dubai UAE), 2006 -2010

•HR Executive- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC (Pfizer Dubai UAE) 2005 -2006

•Administration Manager- Spearhead Training, Dubai, UAE 2002 - 2003

•HR Administrator- iHilal.com, Dubai, UAE 2000 -2001

•HR Administrator- PA Consulting Group, Cambridge, UK 2000

Additional Skills

Proficient in MS Office-Word/Excel/PowerPoint, Lotus Organizer, CIPD HR-inform, CC Mail, BreatheHR, Outlook Express, PeopleSoft, GroupWise, Great Plains, Cazar (Sniperhire), Success Factors, GulfHR, CitrusHR

English (Native), Hindi & Punjabi- fluent. Urdu, Arabic, French & German- basic

Interests: Spending time with my children, pumping iron in the gym; running; walking; reading and keeping abreast of current affairs/environmental issues; various types of music and socialising with close friends and family

Volunteering

•Enterprise Advisor- St. Michael’s Catholic School- Watford, UK 2022 -present

•Enterprise Advisor - Watford Grammar School for Girls 2022 -present

•Foundation Governor- Watford Grammar School for Girls- Watford, UK 2023 – present

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