April Duarte
Claremont,CA
Summary
Seasoned Human Resources professional with over a decade of experience managing, designing, and implementing competitive benefit programs in a variety of sectors. I have a long proven track record of success in developing innovative benefit strategies with tangible results in cost savings, increased employee retention, and improved organizational performance.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Benefits Specialist IV
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena
07.2021 - Current
- Serve as a director-level benefits professional, advising JPL leadership on benefits strategy and managing benefit programs
- Implemented new programs in international benefits, wellness, voluntary benefits, and a new Parental Leave benefit, resulting in improved employee satisfaction and retention
- Successfully led compliance related projects, including NDT annual testing, temporary legislation changes as the result of COVID-19, and more
- Served as a trusted advisor to JPL leadership in bench market analysis.
HR Director
Lyon Living
Newport Beach
05.2018 - 11.2020
- Managed all HR functions, including employee relations, recruiting, training and development, employee benefits, and on-boarding
- Successfully restructured benefit programs from fully insured to self-insured, resulting in a 10% cost savings ($500,000) after year one
- Implemented first-ever Parental Leave Benefit and completed a full review and updates of the company's employee handbook
- Implemented a Safety Prevention Program that reduced Workers Compensation claims experience by 25% after year one.
Senior Benefits Manager
DreamWorks Animation
Burbank
05.2015 - 09.2017
- Oversaw all aspects of benefits programs for the TV division, including health and welfare, retirement, and executive benefits, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations
- Developed and led wellness initiatives, including the highly successful 'DreamFit' program, resulting in improved employee health and reduced healthcare costs
- Successfully migrated all benefits programs from DreamWorks to NBC/Comcast Universal due to a company-wide acquisition
- Collaborated with senior leadership to develop and implement innovative benefit strategies that attracted and retained top talent.
Total Rewards Manager
Demand Media
Santa Monica
08.2012 - 05.2015
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive Total Rewards strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in employee satisfaction with benefits and a 15% reduction in benefit program costs over three years
- Responsible for the management of all Total Reward Programs
- Led projection efforts to spin off 35% of employee population into a separate entity and created and developed all new programs for Rightside, HRIS, retirement benefits, Workers Compensation, etc.
Senior Benefits Coordinator
Quinn Emanuel
Los Angeles
08.2011 - 07.2012
- Benefits administrator for employee population of 1200 (based in the US, UK, and Canada)
- Managed Workers Compensation program nationally and Leave of Absence administration for attorney and staff population.
Human Resources Generalist
Nordstrom
Costa Mesa
12.2006 - 07.2011
- Managed all HR & Benefit functions for employees located at the South Bay and Arcadia locations
- Conducted New Hire Orientation weekly and Safety Training
- Managed Annual Review process
- Sales recruiter for South Bay location; hired and trained 200+ employees during tenure.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior -
University of California, Irvine
06.2008
Skills
- Health & Wellness
- Leadership
- Data analysis and reporting
- Compliance and regulatory knowledge
- Project management
- Employee Communications
- Benefits administration
- HRIS - Workday
- Leave administration
- Benefits Administration
- ACA Standards Knowledge
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Open Enrollment
- New Employee Orientations
- Employment Law Knowledge
- Compliance Reporting
- Attention to Detail
Languages
- Spanish
- English
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Benefits Specialist IV
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
07.2021 - Current
HR Director
Lyon Living
05.2018 - 11.2020
Senior Benefits Manager
DreamWorks Animation
05.2015 - 09.2017
Total Rewards Manager
Demand Media
08.2012 - 05.2015
Senior Benefits Coordinator
Quinn Emanuel
08.2011 - 07.2012
Human Resources Generalist
Nordstrom
12.2006 - 07.2011
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior -
University of California, Irvine