Project Management Employee Relations

Simone Clifford

(Local to Swormville, NY comfortable working on-site)

Supplier Summary:

• Extensive experience conducting internal investigations involving harassment, discrimination, workplace misconduct, and policy violations across multiple organizations.

• Strong stakeholder advisory skills, providing guidance on disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and HR policy interpretation to managers and leadership teams.

• Proven ability to manage compliance reviews and mitigate organizational risk through policy alignment, case documentation, and legal collaboration.

• Project management expertise supporting organizational change, restructuring, and compliance rollouts with a focus on HR transformation initiatives.

• Advanced analytical capabilities, developing and presenting HR dashboards, identifying ER trends, and conducting root cause analysis to drive proactive solutions.

• Drafted and revised internal HR policies and separation protocols in collaboration with legal teams to ensure compliance and reduce legal exposure.

• Experienced in hybrid work environments, using tools like Microsoft Office Suite, ADP, and UKG for ER case tracking, reporting, and process improvement.

• Skilled in conflict resolution and cultural assessments, facilitating discussions to resolve employee grievances and improve workplace culture during change.

Skills & Technologies

• Employee Relations: Investigations, conflict resolution, case management

• HR Compliance: Policy interpretation, regulations, risk assessment

• Tools: Microsoft Office (Excel, PPT, Word, Outlook, Teams), HRIS (UKG, ADP)

• Analytics: Trend identification, root cause analysis, ER dashboards

• Project Management: Change initiatives, org transitions, compliance rollouts

• Leadership: Stakeholder communication, team development, cross-functional collaboration

• Soft Skills: Empathy, negotiation, analytical mindset, attention to detail Education:

• Bachelor of Arts, Humanities

Daemen College Buffalo, NY

ASR/US Sugar – Buffalo, NY Mar 2024 – Present

Human Resources Business Partner

• Led comprehensive onboarding/offboarding programs, ensuring compliance with separation protocols and legal agreements.

• Reviewed and escalated sensitive business cases with a risk-based lens, identifying early signs of workplace conflict.

• Coordinated the handling of compliance reviews related to employee files, documentation, and leave cases.

• Facilitated discussions between conflicting parties to promote understanding and resolution before escalation.

• Drafted internal guidance for new hire protocols, integrating organizational policy and employment law.

• Supported leadership through policy interpretation and workplace dispute resolution.

• Generated HR dashboards highlighting workforce metrics, including attrition, risk exposure, and ER case frequency.

• Managed internal employee relations cases, escalating to legal as appropriate and documenting via HRIS tools.

• Conducted workplace culture assessments during periods of change, offering findings and recommendations to senior HR.

• Led cross-functional collaborations between HR, payroll, and legal to support compliant workforce transitions.

• Administered ADP and Microsoft Office tools to track compliance and generate reports for HR leadership.

• Contributed to organizational transformation efforts by aligning HR practices with business restructuring needs. Rich Products – ASC – Buffalo, NY Sep 2023 – Mar 2024 HR Representative

• Investigated internal workplace issues, gathering evidence, interviewing involved parties, and reporting on findings.

• Provided counsel to management on appropriate disciplinary actions and performance-related issues.

• Partnered with legal to respond to agency inquiries and compliance reviews.

• Documented and tracked all ER-related issues using structured case management tools and Microsoft Teams.

• Delivered manager training on appropriate handling of workplace disputes and compliance with company policies.

• Identified trends in employee grievances and advised on organizational changes to mitigate risks.

• Conducted exit interviews and pattern analyses to assess and reduce voluntary turnover.

• Drafted updates to internal policies, integrating legal updates and internal process changes.

• Managed cyclical compliance projects including I-9 auditing, ADA accommodation reviews, and internal HR audits.

• Coordinated with payroll to ensure accurate handling of corrective actions and retroactive pay adjustments.

• Built presentation materials for senior HR meetings to share trend data and case outcomes.

• Played a key role in shaping employee engagement initiatives based on ER data and feedback analysis. Center for Elder Law and Justice – Buffalo, NY Jan 2023 – Mar 2023 Chief Human Resources Officer

• Led internal investigations involving harassment, discrimination, and workplace misconduct; compiled and submitted full case reports.

• Developed internal tracking tools to monitor ER issue types, frequency, and resolution timelines.

• Created and updated HR policies with input from legal advisors, ensuring regulatory alignment.

• Facilitated executive-level ER case reviews to assess legal exposure and policy effectiveness.

• Coached managers through conflict resolution and progressive discipline processes.

• Conducted training sessions on updated workplace behavior and compliance expectations.

• Advised executive leadership on workforce changes and associated employee risks.

• Monitored employee sentiment during policy transitions and made adjustment recommendations.

• Produced quarterly HR reports detailing key metrics, trends, and strategic opportunities for improvement.

• Championed inclusive workplace initiatives by embedding DEI values into HR and ER practices.

• Advised on severance agreements and legal response documents related to employee disputes.

• Maintained confidentiality and neutrality throughout all investigations and facilitated mediations. Rosina Foods – Buffalo, NY Sep 2022 – Jan 2023

HR Manager

• Managed ER matters across three sites, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and documentation.

• Led internal audits to identify risks related to employee documentation, policy adherence, and leave handling.

• Coordinated closure of one facility, developing separation strategies and communication plans.

• Partnered with site leads to preemptively address morale and engagement challenges during reorganizations.

• Developed and launched succession plans and career development paths to retain high-potential talent.

• Trained managers on leadership skills and disciplinary action documentation.

• Directed conflict mediation between associates and supervisors, reducing formal grievance filings.

• Designed and administered pulse surveys and used results to guide engagement strategies.

• Managed a team of 4 HR professionals to maintain consistent case tracking, payroll, and compliance.

• Implemented E-Verify through UKG platform to ensure legal work authorization processes were followed.

• Produced monthly turnover and retention reports for executive board discussions.

• Collaborated with external legal counsel on sensitive personnel matters. Vista Security Group (Consulting) – Amherst, NY Apr 2022 – Aug 2022 Manager of Human Resources

• Spearheaded HR initiatives during organizational change, ensuring employee relations compliance.

• Acted as lead advisor on HR policy implementation and employee conflict resolution strategies.

• Conducted internal investigations and delivered resolution plans to executive leadership.

• Designed and documented a new disciplinary process in alignment with legal risk controls.

• Reviewed historical ER cases and recommended improvements for future risk mitigation.

• Supported implementation of a case management process for tracking investigations.

• Coached leadership on change management best practices and effective communication.

• Reviewed and rewrote job descriptions to meet compliance and equity standards.

• Presented HR dashboards at monthly leadership briefings to highlight workforce risk trends.

• Facilitated organizational restructuring, ensuring fairness, equity, and legal adherence.

• Drafted separation agreements and offboarding documentation with compliance oversight.

• Conducted exit interviews and analyzed trends to reduce attrition and support change outcomes. Modivcare (formerly Logisticare) – Remote (WFH) Mar 2021 – Dec 2021 Human Resources Manager – Northeast Region

• Oversaw HR services for remote employees across seven states and five call center sites.

• Led remote investigations into complaints related to discrimination, harassment, and performance issues.

• Used ADP to manage and track employee lifecycle actions including onboarding, terminations, and performance plans.

• Trained employees and managers on use of ADP Employee Self-Service and compliance requirements.

• Maintained accurate documentation for all employee relations matters in digital case files.

• Created PowerPoint decks for leadership highlighting ER trends and engagement data across locations.

• Supported offboarding including separation documentation, COBRA communications, and final pay compliance.

• Managed COVID-related leave and return-to-work protocols with strict compliance standards.

• Conducted quarterly site visits to address concerns, improve engagement, and reinforce HR policies.

• Reviewed policy compliance and coached supervisors on how to document and respond to ER issues.

• Partnered with payroll to resolve discrepancies and ensure fair wage administration.

• Developed and administered surveys to gather data on engagement, culture, and work-from-home effectiveness. MacLean Fogg – Buffalo, NY Mar 2018 – Aug 2020

Human Resources Manager – Unionized Facility

• Led internal investigations involving Title VII violations, safety incidents, and union grievances.

• Drafted detailed investigation summaries, including findings and recommendations, for executive review.

• Served as primary HR contact for union contract negotiations and grievance hearings.

• Interpreted union contract language to support compliance, training, and case resolution.

• Developed and enforced policies and training around harassment, workplace conduct, and compliance.

• Managed full-cycle recruitment and placement for all plant roles, ensuring a compliant hiring process.

• Advised managers on discipline steps and performance improvement plans in a union environment.

• Oversaw training programs for upskilling, safety certifications, and contractual obligations.

• Conducted monthly audits of personnel records and OSHA logs for compliance reporting.

• Maintained comprehensive documentation for all employee actions to prepare for potential audits or legal claims.

• Managed a team of two HR direct reports, providing coaching on labor relations and conflict resolution.

• Facilitated manager workshops on progressive discipline and documentation best practices.

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