Senior Human Resources Leader with HR Operations Expertise

JULIA GRAFTON, M.Ed

617-***-**** **********@*****.***

Duxbury, MA

A strategic thinker with 15+ years of human resources experience who develops HR programs and achieves business organizational development and growth. CORE COMPETENCIES

•Linking Business Goals and HR Operational Objectives.

•Providing Advice/Counsel to Senior Management andStaff.

•Communicating and Administering HR Policies andPrograms.

•Spearheading Key Projects, Initiatives and Rollouts.

•Conflict Resolution/Employee Relations/PerformanceManagement. EXPERIENCE

Mintz,Boston, MA 2025-current

Sr. Manager of Employee Relations and Compliance

● Build and lead the firm’s performance management culture, aligning processes with organizational goals and best practices.

● Design and deliver management training programs focused on effective leadership, performance coaching, and employee relations interventions.

● Oversee compliance across all national and global offices, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies.

● Provide strategic coaching and guidance to employees, managers, and leaders at all levels to enhance performance and resolve workplace issues.

● Develop and implement the firmwide performance management philosophy, approach, and supporting frameworks.

● Conduct internal investigations end-to-end, including issue intake, fact-finding, conclusions, and formal written reporting.

IntelyCare, Inc.,Quincy, MA 2024-2025

People and Culture Business Partner

● Partner with key business leaders to provide support on a wide range of initiatives.

● Responsible for conducting all investigations for both corporate and per diem nurse staff.

● Development and compliance maintenance for both corporate and per diem staff employee handbooks.

● Responsible for managing employee relations, including addressing performance and disciplinary issues.

● Provide HR guidance and best practices to the Clinical Operations team to ensure compliance across the 17 states we operate in.

● Built Learning and Development modules and conducted training for corporate teams.

● Manage all legal inquiries, subpoenas and complaints.

● Focus on supporting the achievement of revenue targets through people planning strategies.

● Developed career ladders for all corporate functions and implemented internal mobility processes.

● Partner with Senior Leaders on development and execution of workforce planning and staffing initiatives with emphasis on diversity and top talent. Ginkgo Bioworks,Boston, MA 2022-2024

Director, Human Resources Business Partner

● Global HR leadership across multiple countries and partnership with local employment firms.

● Work across all centers of excellence to collaborate and deliver initiatives.

● Execute recruiting strategy based on business needs and client demand.

● Lead promotion calibrations and approvals.

● Lead HR representative on mergers and acquisitions.

● Manage and lead direct portions of the HR team.

● Served as trusted advisor to senior leaders.

● Talent management and succession planning.

● Designed and implemented exit interview process.

● Designed and implemented new hire check-ins for all corporate employees to gauge satisfaction in the onboarding process.

● Workday proficient.

Head of Employee Relations2020-2022

● Built out the employee relations center of excellence from the ground up.

● Created guides and established cultural norms for performance management.

● Served as trusted advisor to senior leaders.

● Implemented ethics reporting tool.

● Established investigation process and was responsible for conducting all internal investigations.•Provided individual behavioral and professional development coaching to employees.

● Conducted management training for all people managers.

● Primary contact for the legal department on employment law matters and litigation.

Clean Harbors Environmental Services,Norwell, MA 2018-2020 Human Resources Business Partner

● Provided support to multiple branch locations in MA, RI, CT, NJ, PA, MD

● Managed leave of absences, including workers compensation, FMLA, STD, LTD.•

● Engaged in ADA process and discussions with employees.

● Conducted investigations as needed.

Succession planning.

● Assisted in the interviewing process by coaching managers on best practices and providing training.

Managed and executed the company reduction in force process across North America and Canada.

● Served as the primary contact in the company for all employees who receive severance agreements.

● Lead monthly new hire orientations.

● Oversaw onboarding practices and provide guidance to recruiters.

● Conducted exit interviews and track metrics to work on reducing turn-over.

● Conducted regular manager check-ins to address issues and provide guidance.• Provided training for management on how to effectively address employee performance.•Collaborated with the corporate Director of Payroll to process payroll changes.

Eataly,Boston, MA 2016 – 2018

Human Resources Business Partner

● Responsible for the recruiting and onboarding of 600 employees for our November 2016 opening.

● Oversaw the entire HR department staff and set annual agenda/goals.

● Managed all employee relations issues.

● Designed and implemented leadership development training for management level staff.

● Created employee improvement plans and monitored progress.

● Trained and mentor rotating HR interns.

● Facilitated annual open enrollment for benefits.

● Conducted investigations as needed.

● Processed all workers compensation claims and regulatory reporting.

● Created and implemented local employee benefit offerings.

● Conducted employee satisfaction surveys.

● Partnered with store GM to create department budgets and monitor labor costs. Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, Inc.,Boston, MA 2012 – 2016 Human Resources Generalist

● Managed onboarding process for all staff.

● Coordinate and implement comprehensive benefits packages while continuously evaluating value and effectiveness.

● Managed employee relations, including addressing performance and disciplinary issues, grievances and disputes.

● Worked collaboratively with the payroll department to process payroll changes.

● Update employee handbooks in accordance with all local, state and federal labor laws.

● Coordinate recruiting efforts for all staff vacancies, including sourcing candidates through job postings, initial resume screening, scheduling and conducting phone and in-person interviews, salary negotiation, pre-employment screening and drafting of offer letters.

● Conducted exit interviews.

● Created and implemented a wellness program.

● Conducted periodic audits to ensure compliance.

● Maintained employee records through HRIS.

Coordinated annual holiday parties.

Oloroso Restaurant, Edinburgh,Scotland UK 2011-2012 Human Resources/Office Manager

● Managed the onboarding process, including paperwork, training and orientation for all new employees.

● Updated and maintained personnel files.

● Created and implemented performance review structure.

● Designed promotions and marketed via social media outlets.

● Produced the monthly e-letter and maintained the company website. EDUCATION

Cambridge College

Master’s in Education: Guidance CounselingFebruary 2012 University of Delaware

Bachelor of the Arts: SociologyDecember2005

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