Senior Director Talent Acquisition

Taylor Janes, SHRM-SCP

***********@*****.*** 970-***-****

linkedin.com/in/taylor-janes

Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dynamic HR executive with a proven record of transforming people operations into strategic assets that accelerate growth, improve retention, and drive bottom-line impact. Expert in building scalable infrastructure for start-ups, turnarounds, and high-growth environments. Trusted advisor to C-level leadership, known for turning culture into a competitive advantage, solving complex compliance issues, and developing high-performing teams.

CORE COMPETENCIES

HR Strategy & Organizational Development Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning Leadership Development & Succession Planning Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards Change Management & Culture Design DEI Strategy & Employee Experience HRIS Systems & Process Optimization Regulatory Compliance & Risk Mitigation Ethics

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Director, Human Resources

Vivia Health – Chicago, IL 2023–Present

High-growth community mental health organization

● Built and executed a company-wide HR transformation roadmap, increasing operational scalability and compliance across all locations.

● Reduced HR operating costs by over 20% through process optimization, technology upgrades, and vendor negotiations.

● Championed leadership development programs that improved internal promotion rates by 35% in under a year.

● Partnered with the C-suite to align people strategy with rapid expansion goals, directly contributing to an 80% increase in headcount within 6 months.

● Elevated employee engagement scores through revamped onboarding, recognition, and communication strategies.

Senior Director, People Operations (USA)

Impress Orthodontics – Chicago, IL 2021–2023

U.S. HR lead for global orthodontics startup

● Unified payroll and benefits systems across five U.S. entities, improving compliance and saving

$100K annually.

● Hired and onboarded 50+ clinical and corporate staff, enabling the successful launch of new clinics in NYC and Chicago.

● Created and implemented values-driven HR policies, boosting team cohesion and manager confidence in handling HR issues.

Director of Human Resources

Alma Technologies – Portland, OR 2018–2021

Ed-tech scale-up with a hybrid workforce

● Designed and launched HR infrastructure from scratch, supporting 4x team growth over three years.

● Recovered $15K in benefits mismanagement and overhauled 401(k) plan administration for compliance and transparency.

● Launched DEI and mental health initiatives, including a 10-month anti-racism campaign and EAP rollout, increasing employee satisfaction by 28%.

● Introduced hybrid work guidelines and real-time feedback mechanisms, which improved retention during the transition to remote operations.

HR Manager

Olympia Provisions – Portland, OR 2014–2018

Multi-unit hospitality and manufacturing operation (190 employees)

● Built HR function from the ground up for six locations, including a USDA meat plant and four restaurants.

● Spearheaded second-chance employment initiatives, reducing turnover among entry-level staff by 55%.

● Partnered with culinary leadership to design a Health & Wellness program that decreased sick days by 25% in its first year.

EARLY CAREER EXPERIENCE

● HR & Operations Manager, The Brooklyn Kitchen – Revitalized people systems for a culinary incubator.

● Business Consultant, Human Rights Foundation & Oslo Freedom Forum – Advised international advocacy projects.

● Educator, Parsons School of Design – Taught global affairs and organizational behavior. EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

M.A. International Affairs The New School, NY

B.A. Philosophy Hamilton College, NY

SHRM-SCP – Senior Certified Professional

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