CAROLYN R. CROSS
Buffalo,United States
Summary
Human Resources Program Specialist aiming to leverage diverse skills, extensive training, and comprehensive experience in a new role.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
HR Program Specialist
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
Buffalo, United States
09.2022 - Current
- Works with coworkers and managers to cultivate and implement HR tactics, procedures, and protocols.
- Responsible for all aspects of New Employee Orientation, (including facilitating and presenting program content, scheduling speakers, room set-up, signage, checking equipment, and answering new employees’ questions) from start to finish.
- Collaborates with Employee Assistance Program contractors and the Regional Office staff union to schedule and present EAP seminars on maintaining health and wellness.
- Responsible for the full Recruitment/Staffing process needed for hiring new employees for the assigned divisions, including: Drafting job announcements involving a high degree of complexity, Helping divisions submit the proper documents to for selected candidates and maintain valid selection criteria, Uploading document packages into the Office of Federal Operations Centralized packages website, (with or without relocation expenses), and Tracking and guiding new employees in the recruitment and orientation process.
- Aids supervisors in and submits reclassification requests for employees in need of a title or position description change.
- Reviews and analyzes data, developing updates to standard operating procedures.
- Works with division heads to review and release performance reviews within the established timeframes.
- Manages fingerprint sponsorship and background check adjudications.
- Places purchasing requests for the ordering of office supplies and PIV cards.
- Continually informs employees about the latest updates on health and life insurance benefits, retirement, training, awards, employment opportunities, and other personnel policies.
- Runs MSS inquiry reports to extract specific employee data from existing personnel files.
- Conducts exit interviews with terminated, transferring, and retiring employees.
- Investigates and adjusts conflicting or incomplete employee information.
Special Emphasis Program Manager for Employees with Disabilities (Volunteer Position)
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
Buffalo, United States
02.2022 - 01.2024
- Advocated for the specific needs for accommodation of VA employees with disabilities.
- Spoke with current and future VA employees with disabilities to find out if they required special accommodations to participate in an orientation, do their current work, and/or to work toward promotions.
- Collaborated with a counterpart SEPM at the Buffalo VA Hospital to ensure that all Western New York VA employees with disabilities were having their needs met, and that the VA was continually hiring new employees with disabilities.
- Attended job fairs for the Western New York disabled community to highlight VA jobs.
Veterans Claims Examiner
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
Buffalo, United States
01.2021 - 09.2022
- Examined education claim applications sent in by Veterans and their dependents to determine level of benefits available to them.
- Compiled reports of service periods and detract training periods to designate the amount of education that will be awarded as educational benefits.
- Contacted designated officials at institutes of higher learning to find out what classes and programs that Veteran students are enrolled in and determine tuition and credit hours.
- Developed letters and/or emails to reach out to Veterans to ask for more information when it is needed.
- Reviewed and maintain a changing file of the Veteran or Serviceperson’s PII in TIMS and BDN to ensure that the claimant’s information is updated.
Caseworker – Children’s Services
Erie County Government
Cheektowaga, NY
09.2019 - 01.2021
- Reviewed reports called into NY State Central Registry and assess risk/safety of children involved.
- Conducted interviews with applicants and adjudicate referrals for child care, preventive services, or other services of the department.
- Made field investigations to verify intake information and to identify needs.
- Assisted in resolving personal, family, domestic, and financial problems, and advocated for those clients’ needs within the service agency chosen.
Senior Clerk Typist – Summonses and Contracts - Office of Legal Affairs
Erie County Government
Buffalo, NY
05.2018 - 09.2019
- Drafted financial daycare contracts to be sent to and completed by daycare owners.
- Educated contractors on how to properly fill out the contract to daycare owners and provided steps.
- Reviewed contracts sent back for accuracy, signatures, proper notarization, and completion.
- Sent contracts through proper channels for obtaining signatures from Erie County caseworkers, attorneys, accountants, the Chief Paralegal, and the County Executive.
UK Purchasing Agent / Vendor and Branding Manager
Hyatt’s Graphic Supply
Buffalo, NY
07.2014 - 05.2018
- Trained and supervised new Vendor Managers.
- Crafted creative copy for catalogs, circulars, direct mail, print, seasonal catalogs, and store signage.
- Managed an extensive database with thousands of items, timing projections and quantities of items for shipments overseas to maintain appropriate inventories.
Education
Buffalo Leadership Academy -
Buffalo Leadership Academy
01.2024
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design
Daemen University
Amherst, NY01.2013
Master of Arts - Liberal Studies
Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY01.2006
Bachelor of Science - Art Education
Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY01.2001
Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Human resources software
- UNIX operating systems
- Multitasking capabilities
- Vendor management
- Attention to detail
- Database management
- Report preparation
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Spreadsheet management
- Workflow management
- Presentation skills
- Writing and editing
- Appointment scheduling
- Detailed meeting minutes
- Managing purchasing activities
References
References furnished upon request.
Timeline
HR Program Specialist
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
09.2022 - Current
Special Emphasis Program Manager for Employees with Disabilities (Volunteer Position)
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
02.2022 - 01.2024
Veterans Claims Examiner
Veterans Benefits Administration - Federal
01.2021 - 09.2022
Caseworker – Children’s Services
Erie County Government
09.2019 - 01.2021
Senior Clerk Typist – Summonses and Contracts - Office of Legal Affairs
Erie County Government
05.2018 - 09.2019
UK Purchasing Agent / Vendor and Branding Manager
Hyatt’s Graphic Supply
07.2014 - 05.2018
Buffalo Leadership Academy -
Buffalo Leadership Academy
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design
Daemen University
Master of Arts - Liberal Studies
Empire State University
Bachelor of Science - Art Education
Buffalo State University
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