Office of equity & Employee Relations, ADA Coordinator

Melissa Esqueda, PhD

*****************@*****.*** 210-***-****

SENIOR LEADER – EMPLOYEE / LABOR RELATIONS, RISK / COMPLIANCE, HR, ADA, & FMLA

I am an experienced leader with Public Trust clearance and years of experience leading teams and enhancing organizational culture for thousands of employees. I possess the gravitas to establish immediate credibility and provide all levels of the organization with thought leadership, guidance, recommendations, support, and education to ensure fairness and consistency. I leverage best practices and provide support to establish an organizational culture of fairness consistent with organizational values.

Areas of expertise: Labor Relations, Licensed Professional Counseling, HR, Mediation, Executive Coach, Employee Relations, EEO & Workplace Investigations, Union Environment, Grievance Hearing Officer, and Conflict Resolution

Career Experience

St. Edward’s University – Office of Equity & Employee Relations, Austin, TX

ASSOC VICE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF EQUITY & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, & TITLE IX DEPUTY & ADA COORDINATOR (May 2019 - Present)

The Assoc Vice President (AVP) plays a crucial role on the leadership team, serving over 3,500 students from 46 countries and over 800 faculty and staff members. With the aptitude to influence a culture of integrity, the AVP requires oversight of all HR disciplines, including employment law (FMLA, EEO, ADA, FLSA, LEAVE, FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES), Formal Complaint Process/Investigations, while partnering with Legal, Risk, Staff, and relevant partners to ensure compliance of organizational policies and practices.

Serves as advisor to managers, providing direct support and counseling on their employee relations and investigation needs.

Coach managers on conflict resolution, policy compliance, and performance improvement plans (PIPs) to drive accountability and engagement.

Manage escalated and high-risk employee relations cases, leading complex investigations and providing recommendations for fair and timely resolutions.

Lead the development, implementation, and adherence to all employment policies and practices, ensuring they are legally compliant while exceeding the university’s standards of fairness and equity.

Oversee and manage the relationship between faculty union organizations and employees, including negotiating, managing disputes and grievances, and developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance.

In collaboration with senior leadership, this role ensures alignment of the institution’s strategic plan and employee relations/HR practices. These include recruitment and retention, compensation/position management, employee matters, benefits, workers’ compensation, professional development, training, performance management, HR information systems, staff communications, new employee orientation, and recognition programs.

Implementation of an equitable process for conducting internal investigations of employee issues involving allegations of misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other violations of applicable laws.

Serves as point of contact for employee relations issues, manages life cycle of critical grievances and internal/external investigators, and revises complaint procedures to ensure timely and equitable processing.

Engage effectively with legal counsel, risk management, and human resources and provide advice and risk mitigation strategies for complex employee concerns.

Establish listening and restorative practices for the community that identify institutional needs for healing and transformation.

Create and maintain data analytics to direct and track movement toward strategic objectives and to ensure employee relations issues, programs, and policies are continuously evaluated and addressed.

Collaborate on the design and execution of ER communication, education and training campaigns, using insights and emerging trends to ensure relevant and impactful content.

North East Independent School District, San Antonio, TX - EMPLOYEE RELATIONS HEARING OFFICER / HR DIRECTOR (2011 to April 2019)

Provided executive leadership in support of over 10,000 employees and over 60,000 students, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with the District’s mission. Evaluated processes and priorities to identify areas of opportunity and developed strategies to ensure the district’s compliance with employee relations and local, state, and federal laws.

Oversaw and managed the relationship between teacher and administrator unions, including negotiating, managing grievances, and developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with labor laws.

Implemented processes to provide reporting capabilities to expedite resolutions of employee grievances.

Led formal employee grievance investigations, facilitated employee grievance hearings, and consulted with legal and administration on grievance policy and procedures for cases regarding hiring practices, staffing letters of counsel, letters of reprimand, employee evaluations, and employee separations.

Investigated allegations of discrimination based on race, sex, age, ethnicity, religion, or disability made by employees and successfully investigated and defended employer EEOC and OCR claims.

Implemented procedures for the Separation of Employment process, including an exit interview guide.

Implemented training for the community, Board of Trustees, senior administration, and key stakeholders.

Attended extensive EEOC training and maintained relationships with EEOC investigators for additional continuous improvement.

Designed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and FMLA processes to ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and district policies.

Maintained data to direct and track movement toward objectives and to ensure ER programs were continuously evaluated and updated.

Zachry Holdings, Inc., San Antonio, TX - DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (2006 to 2010)

Developed and executed overall strategy for social impact, overseeing initiatives like community engagement and ethical sourcing while ensuring alignment with the company's mission and values, collaborating with various departments to integrate responsible business practices, and reporting to stakeholders while serving over 50,000 senior leaders and employees across North America.

Conduct efficient, ethical, and professional investigations across all business organizations, including intake and fact-finding interviews used for addressing, among other things, alleged policy violations; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation complaints; sexual harassment; and other unlawful conduct

Responsible for managing the relationship between ironworker unions and employees, including negotiating, managing disputes and grievances, and developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.

Collaborated with union representatives on each job site to effectively communicate the company’s approach to critical areas affecting employees, such as reintegrating injured workers and creating a mutually beneficial environment where both parties can work together.

Worked alongside OSHA inspections conducted nationally that were initiated by alleged hazards primarily reported by employees.

Managed the organization's ethics program, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards and advising leadership on ethical decision-making across the company.

Supervised Dispute Resolution team specialists resolving conflicts between parties through various methods like mediation and negotiation, aiming to minimize legal costs and maintain positive relationships by facilitating fair and timely solutions to disputes.

Maintained current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations and revised policies as needed.

Drove national communication strategy and training to spread awareness and adherence to inclusion, ethics, and the code of conduct.

Developed policies, procedures, and reporting methods for the nuclear team’s Employee Concerns Program (ECP).

Developed an internal Employee Assistance Program serving over 50k employees and family members and conducted self-assessments.

United Behavioral Health, San Antonio, TX - Management Consultant (2004-2006)

UnitedHealth impacts more than 75M people globally. As a Management Consultant, I collaborated with Human Resource professionals with contracted management consultant services. Cases involved:

Return to work - Consulted with health care providers, employees, and employers to develop personalized return-to-work plans and coordinated the safe and timely return of injured or ill employees back to work. Facilitated the interactive process to address any workplace accommodation requests.

Performance – Worked with HR and supervisors to identify root causes of performance issues and developed performance improvement steps to be taken.

Wellness - Provided information about benefits for employees experiencing emotional/mental health concerns.

Supported HR professionals with communication, proper documentation, and managing timelines.

Other Experience:

TX Commission of Offenders with Mental Impairments - Supervising Officer & Licensed Professional Counselor

Supervised team servicing mental health offenders and collaborated with public and private institutions to provide aid and service to clients.

Education & Credentials

Cornell University, NY, Labor Relations Studies

Ph.D. in Organizational Administration (2018)

University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX

Master of Psychology

Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), State of TX

Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science

Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX

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