Barbara Valdez
Orange City,FL
Summary
Strategic HR leader with 15+ years of experience driving talent strategy, workforce planning, and culture transformation across multi-state organizations. Expert in building scalable HR functions, modernizing processes, and partnering with executive leadership to align people strategy with business growth.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sr. Director, HR, Legal and Government Affairs
Better Together
Naples, USA
04.2024 - Current
- HR Business Partner supporting employees and executive leadership; led talent acquisition strategy, leadership coaching, risk mitigation, employee relations, and benefits vendor selection and implementation; owned HR reporting to drive data-informed decisions.
- Drove 76% organizational headcount growth in 9 months by aligning talent strategy with business objectives, enabling operational scalability.
- Provided HR metrics and strategic insights to the Board of Directors, influencing decisions impacting a $15M organization.
- Built and professionalized the HR function from the ground up, establishing policies, systems, and processes to support rapid organizational growth.
- Led digital transformation of talent acquisition, driving efficiency and strategic hiring.
- Designed and implemented comprehensive benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k), achieving 70% participation and aligning total rewards with employee needs.
- Developed a 90-day onboarding program and new hire orientation, improving first-year retention and enhancing the employee experience.
Director, HR and Operations
Kolter Solutions
Maitland, USA
05.2020 - 06.2024
- HR partner for 130+ employees across 27 states; oversaw HR reporting, workforce planning, compliance, culture-building, and benefits vendor management.
- Built foundational HR infrastructure including policies, SOPs, and compliance frameworks to support multi-state operations.
- Served as Subject Matter Expert on federal, state, and local employment laws (Title VII, ADA, FCRA, COBRA, ERISA, FLSA, FMLA, EEO), mitigating risk and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Led transition to a new HRIS/payroll system with API integration, improving efficiency and reducing costs by 23%.
- Implemented structured onboarding, reducing time-to-hire by 57% and elevating the new hire experience.
- Expanded total rewards and recognition programs, improving employee engagement and retention.
- Partnered with leadership on performance management, executive coaching, and culture initiatives, contributing to awards such as SIA Best Staffing Firms to Work For (2x) and Orlando Business Journal Best Places to Work (3x).
- Oversaw HR analytics and reporting, providing actionable insights for leadership and enabling data-driven decisions.
Manager, Onboarding and HR Business Partner
Syneos Health
Lake Mary, USA
06.2007 - 05.2020
- HRBP and onboarding lead supporting 600+ employees across staffing and client services; managed HRIS integrity, compliance, and employee lifecycle operations.
- Led comprehensive onboarding and offboarding programs, achieving 100% audit compliance for rigorous client requirements.
- Managed HR operations for talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, and HRIS data governance.
- Acted as central HR and immigration resource, providing expert guidance to leaders and employees globally.
- Mentored and developed an HR team of 8 professionals, fostering career growth and improving departmental effectiveness.
- Partnered with leadership to drive culture, engagement, and process improvements across a $4.4B global organization.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Organizational Behavior
Rollins College
Winter Park, FLAssociate of Applied Science - Business Management
Borough of Manhattan Community College
New York, NYSkills
- Employment Law
- Applicant tracking
- HR strategy
- Employee benefits
- Human resources management
- Policy implementation
- Employee development
- Talent Acquisition
- Employee Relations
- Strategic planning
Certification
- Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), HRCI, 01/01/14, Present
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Member
- ATHENA NexGen Leadership Program, Alumni, 2023
Accomplishments
- Built and operationalized a comprehensive HR function from scratch, modernizing policies, systems, and processes to support organizational growth and scalability.
- Drove a Net Promoter Score of 92%, exceeding industry benchmarks by +60%, reflecting strong employee engagement and experience.
- Co-led workforce planning and leadership development initiatives, strengthening succession readiness and executive decision-making.
- Successfully managed integration and communication strategies for four mergers & acquisitions and multiple company rebranding, ensuring smooth transitions and employee alignment.
- Designed and implemented total rewards and recognition programs, resulting in measurable improvements in retention and engagement across multi-state teams.
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Sr. Director, HR, Legal and Government Affairs
Better Together
04.2024 - Current
Director, HR and Operations
Kolter Solutions
05.2020 - 06.2024
Manager, Onboarding and HR Business Partner
Syneos Health
06.2007 - 05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Organizational Behavior
Rollins College
Associate of Applied Science - Business Management
Borough of Manhattan Community College