Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Aida Smailagic

Palo Alto,CA

Summary

Well rounded, people-centered, and collaborative HR professional with experience in higher education (for, and non-profit) and passion for creating positive, engaging, and inclusive work environment. Demonstrated excellence in operational efficiency, problem solving, and relationship building.



Overview

13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Associate Director of People Operations

Alder Graduate School of Education
04.2023 - Current


  • Manage HRIS and semi monthly payroll, benefits administration, 403(b) retirement plan, leaves of absence, and status changes..
  • Maintain compliance with all federal, state & local employment laws; owned and updated the Employee Handbook; rolled out required HR trainings.
  • Streamlined HR processes by designing scalable systems, documentation, and workflows, improving departmental efficiency and employee experience.
  • Lead full-cycle recruitment and onboarding (sourcing, interviewing, offers, background checks, orientation, offboarding).
  • Support employee engagement strategies in partnership with senior leadership, including affinity groups, DEI metrics, and integration of equity content across materials.
  • Lead HR operations for faculty and staff and werve as the primary point of contact for HR inquiries, fostering a supportive and inclusive employee experience.
  • Develop and maintain HR policies, ensuring equity and transparency across all employment practices.
  • Implemented process improvements that enhanced HR efficiency and contributed to high employee satisfaction and retention rates.

HR Consultant (Contract)

Datapelago
04.2022 - 09.2022
  • Built HR infrastructure from scratch for an early-stage tech startup.
  • Partnered with CEO on organizational design, workforce planning, and culture definition.
  • Created and codified HR policies, procedures, and compliance practices.

Parental Health Care

Sabbatical
03.2021 - 02.2022

VP of Human Resources

Sofia University
07.2018 - 02.2020
  • Served as a strategic HR partner to the executive team on organizational design, process improvement, and HR best practices.
  • Reduced annual turnover from 31% to 10% by implementing engagement surveys, analyzing data, and driving interventions.
  • Introduced a performance management system with KPIs, growth plans, and accountability metrics.
  • Launched DEI initiatives and integrated them into recruitment, training, and culture-building efforts.

Director of Human Resources

Sofia University
06.2017 - 07.2018
  • Overhauled recruiting processes, reducing time-to-fill by 40% through new tools, structured interviewing guides, and sourcing strategies.
  • Oversaw onboarding, training, and manager collaboration on development programs.
  • Advised leadership on compensation strategy and coordinated benefits and insurance programs with brokers.

Human Resources Manager

Sofia University
09.2014 - 06.2017
  • Managed complex employee relations issues including coaching, investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, and performance improvement plans with confidentiality and diplomacy.
  • Ensured legal compliance via audits, OSHA, workers’ compensation, and AA/EEO practices.
  • Handled all HR operations: payroll, benefits, HRIS, leaves, recordkeeping, and transactional support.

HR Consultant / Interim HR Lead

International Technological University
06.2014 - 09.2014
  • Engaged by senior leadership to advise on HR strategies, set up HR functions, and support during ownership transition.
  • Acted as HR lead, managing daily operations, compliance, and culture-building.

HR Generalist

International Technological University
03.2013 - 05.2014
  • Managed rapid staff growth (60% increase in 1.5 years) through robust full-cycle recruitment, onboarding, training for staff, faculty.
  • Managed all HR daily operations and ensured compliance with federal and state employment laws.
  • Supported performance evaluations, employee counseling, recordkeeping, benefits, and policy development.


Education

MBA - Leadership & Management

San Francisco State University

B.S. - Business Economics

University of Banja Luka

Certificate - HR Management

UC Santa Cruz Extension

Skills

  • Recruiting, Hiring & Onboarding
  • Employment Law & Compliance
  • HRIS, Payroll & Operations Management
  • Compensation & Benefits Administration
  • Employee Engagement & Retention
  • Performance Management
  • Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution
  • Project Management & Process Improvement
  • Communication & Relationship Management
  • Cultural Responsiveness & Culture Building
  • Analytical thinking & Problem Solving

Accomplishments

  • Consistently achieved high employee satisfaction and retention through people-first initiatives.
  • Led multiple HR process improvement projects that streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency.

Certification


  • SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional)
  • Certificate in HR Management

Timeline

Associate Director of People Operations

Alder Graduate School of Education
04.2023 - Current

HR Consultant (Contract)

Datapelago
04.2022 - 09.2022

Parental Health Care

Sabbatical
03.2021 - 02.2022

VP of Human Resources

Sofia University
07.2018 - 02.2020

Director of Human Resources

Sofia University
06.2017 - 07.2018

Human Resources Manager

Sofia University
09.2014 - 06.2017

HR Consultant / Interim HR Lead

International Technological University
06.2014 - 09.2014

HR Generalist

International Technological University
03.2013 - 05.2014

Certificate - HR Management

UC Santa Cruz Extension

MBA - Leadership & Management

San Francisco State University

B.S. - Business Economics

University of Banja Luka

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