Hi, I’m
ELENI MARA
MERRICK,NY
Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
Aristotle
Summary
A dynamic professional with over 11 years of people operations, project management and leadership experience with a proven record for creating empowered work environments where employees feel valued, and organizations can achieve to their highest potential. Personable people operations manager with solid background in talent acquisition, employee relations and performance management. Skilled in utilizing data and analytics to push strategic HR initiatives. Strong analytical skills and committed to implementing HR policies and procedures. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
17
years of professional experience
Work History
SSENSE
Human Resources Consultant – LOA Specialist
11.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Act as a subject matter expert for leave programs and benefits
- Develop STD, LTD, Maternity and Parental leave policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with FMLA, ADA, PFL, STD, LTD, and other applicable legal, state, and federal regulations
- Create employee facing training for new policies
NFP
Human Capital Solutions Consultant
07.2021 - Current
Job overview
- Manage the end-to-end consulting life cycle from proposal development to project delivery for clients supporting multiple locations and states, including internationally across different industries
- Facilitate discovery meetings with potential clients
- Maintain ongoing client relationships and source new clients for projects
- Produce and present project proposal decks along with scope of work
- Act as project manager on multiple client projects at once
- Provide strategic and operational expertise to leaders and key stakeholders
- Design communication plans and templates
- Source benefits and insurance providers; health and wellness, retirement, general liability, WC
- Create process flows and turn key training materials for clients
- Conduct benchmark reporting for time away from work (PTO, Vacation, Paid Sick Leave, Parental/Family Leave, Bereavement, Volunteer Time) for companies, and
- Offer tailored recommendations that ensure compliance with statutory regulations while maintaining or exceeding market trends
Chelsea Piers
Human Resources Consultant
04.2022 - 11.2022
Job overview
- Conducted market analysis on performance management
- Compiled SWOT report for senior leaders and owners
- Facilitated employee focus groups
- Collaborated with company Owners and Chief People Officer on amplifying the goal of a new performance management program
- Delivered strategic plan
- Established a new employee performance management and engagement program
- Project managed the implementation of phase one of the new performance management program
- Revised and created KPIs for diverse set of company roles
- Formulated performance management metrics
- Coached the People Operations team on the new management program including individual goal setting, employee development and succession planning
- Provided strategic and operational expertise in technology integration
- Led key stakeholder meetings
- Counseled on best practices for change management
CW Resources, Inc
Human Resources Consultant
11.2021 - 08.2022
Job overview
- Developed enhanced employee handbook for 2,000 employees disbursed throughout 26 states
- Innovated DEIA focused personnel policies and procedures
- Provided guidance on people processes to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws
- Collaborated with third party leave administrators on behalf of the client
- Created easy to navigate benefits administration processes
ComplySci
Human Resources Consultant
01.2022 - 07.2022
Job overview
- Project Managed the successful extraction from three professional employer organizations
- Advisor in the HRIS selection and implementation process
- Facilitated client and team meetings
- Liaised with vendors on behalf of the client
Olde City
Human Resources Consultant
07.2021 - 12.2021
Job overview
- Authored employee handbook
- Advised on personnel matters to ensure compliance with federal, state and local law
- Created standard operations procedures and work flows for employee onboarding to ensure a seamless and welcoming process
- Drafted job descriptions using job analysis for all unique positions for a flagship fast casual restaurant group
- Integrated seamless HR operational processes and best practices through entire employee lifecycle from candidate to departure
- Pioneered personnel policies and procedures
- Delivered revamped service model with optimized processes and innovative approach
- Led HRIS selection and integration process
- Guided benefits and insurance provider sourcing including policies for health and wellness, retirement, general liability, WC
- Established the talent acquisition process, from applicant review through hire
Brooklyn Ascend High School
Director of Operations
07.2017 - 10.2021
Job overview
- Report directly to Principal and work closely with network operations staff to create sustainable systems for growing high school and maintain day to day operations
- Responsible for day-to-day management of school operations (e.g., compliance management, financial management, governance and legal affairs, health and safety, marketing and development, secondary leadership development and supervision, professional certification, and systems development and thinking)
- School based HR expert – staff’s first point of contact for all human resources subject matter - personnel policies, handbook questions, benefits, onboarding and off-boarding
- Created and implemented engaging staff and student onboarding programs
- Led employee investigations and reporting
- Participated in compensation benchmarking project with the goal of being ahead of the market industry competitors
- Co-created performance management metrics for staff
- Facilitated annual evaluation and compensation conversations
- Coached and managed six (6) high school operations staff, and managed their development and goal setting plans
- Participated in the following working groups – DEIA, technology and student information systems, human resources & recruitment, high school planning
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly
Explore Charter School
Director of Operations
10.2013 - 07.2017
Job overview
- Working closely with the Principal and Explore Schools network Chief Operating Officer, my main responsibility is to oversee day-to-day operations of the school
- Direct an annual operating budget of over 8 million dollars
- Conduct project needs assessments and create strategic plans for operational efficiency and organizational health
- Create, implement and maintain clear systems and school wide procedures to maximize safety and instructional time
- Participated in the technology and student information systems working group
- Human Resources main point of contact for staff members
- Conducted all staff and student on boarding and enrollment
- Supervise, develop and evaluate a team (8) of high performing operations staff
- Leader of co-location and community relationships
- Fostered strong relationships with diverse groups
Explore Charter School
Program Manager
02.2012 - 10.2013
Job overview
- As the program manager, I tracked student achievement data and managed all aspects of assessment administration and collection
- Transform data from operational to analytical form
- Organize state level and internal data reports used by teachers and academic directors to inform classroom teaching priorities and student interventions
- Create program schedules and coverage schedules
Finance and Development Consultant
10.2011 - 12.2011
Job overview
- I was contracted to develop a strategic fundraising plan
- I formed a partnership with the President to double the organization’s budget and staffed a development task force comprised of the Board and organization members
- In addition to the final plan, I raised over $25k in donations from various events.
Global Call, Action Against Poverty
Consultant
06.2011 - 10.2011
Job overview
- Developed strategic programming
- Increased charitable donations by 10% to meet start-up fundraising goals
Champion Access - Five Points Partners, LLC
Operations Consultant
03.2010 - 06.2011
Job overview
- I worked closely with the Executive Director in the creation and continuing operation of this non-profit organization through the on-going cultivation of donor network relationships as well as implementation of monitoring and evaluation methods.
Women’s World Banking
Consultant & Project Lead
11.2010 - 05.2011
Job overview
- Principal consultant
- Constructed strategic value report and microfinance market entry feasibility study in the Mekong Region
Peace Corps, People’s Republic of China
Volunteer
07.2006 - 07.2008
Job overview
- Qiannan Normal Teacher’s College for Minorities, College Professor of English as a Foreign Language
Education
Institute For Integrative NutritionNew York
Certification from Health Coaching
06.2021
Columbia University: School of International And Public AffairsNY, New York
Master of International Affairs from Economic And Political Development
05.2011
The George Washington UniversityWashington, DC
Bachelor of Arts from Psychology
05.2005
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Zoom, Telecommunications software
- Experienced in range of HRIS systems
- Manage Employee Relations
- Confidential Document Control
- Internal Program Development
- Hiring and Retention Strategies
- HR Strategy
- Workforce Improvements
- Employee Performance Management
- Trend Monitoring
- Providing Feedback
Affiliations
SIPA Women in Leadership
SHRM Member
Ziva Meditation
Ziva is an ancient technique that incorporates mindfulness, meditation and manifestation into a twenty minutes twice daily practice.
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Human Resources Consultant – LOA Specialist
SSENSE
11.2022 - Current
Human Resources Consultant
Chelsea Piers
04.2022 - 11.2022
Human Resources Consultant
ComplySci
01.2022 - 07.2022
Human Resources Consultant
CW Resources, Inc
11.2021 - 08.2022
Human Capital Solutions Consultant
NFP
07.2021 - Current
Human Resources Consultant
Olde City
07.2021 - 12.2021
Director of Operations
Brooklyn Ascend High School
07.2017 - 10.2021
Director of Operations
Explore Charter School
10.2013 - 07.2017
Program Manager
Explore Charter School
02.2012 - 10.2013
Finance and Development Consultant
10.2011 - 12.2011
Consultant
Global Call, Action Against Poverty
06.2011 - 10.2011
Consultant & Project Lead
Women’s World Banking
11.2010 - 05.2011
Operations Consultant
Champion Access - Five Points Partners, LLC
03.2010 - 06.2011
Volunteer
Peace Corps, People’s Republic of China
07.2006 - 07.2008
Institute For Integrative Nutrition
Certification from Health Coaching
Columbia University: School of International And Public Affairs
Master of International Affairs from Economic And Political Development
The George Washington University
Bachelor of Arts from Psychology
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