Jenna M. Watkins
Rapid City,United States
Summary
Experienced with overseeing civilian and military HR functions, ensuring compliance, and fostering a positive work environment. Utilize leadership and interpersonal skills, along with strategic thinking to improve HR processes and team performance. Utilize strategic initiatives to streamline hiring processes and align talent acquisition with organizational goals while fostering team collaboration and maintaining adaptability in dynamic environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resource Specialist (Team Lead)
U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command
03.2024 - Current
- Serve as staff advisor/technical expert at a major subordinate command providing expert technical advice and assistance to program managers, subordinate organizations, and service centers
- Responsible for seven staffing team members on a Command-level multifunctional team
- Mentor employees by providing career development of technical, organizational, and communication skills
- Monitor production of lower-graded staff and manage distribution of the workload
- Evaluate and provide a full range of staff-level guidance to the HQ and installation staff on various HR program areas (e.g., staffing, classification, performance management, deployment, succession planning, personnel and associated systems, etc.)
- Plan and conduct program reviews in assigned program areas in coordination with service center and at subordinate installations/activities to evaluate program effectiveness and conformance with laws, regulations, and policies
- Develop guidance, procedures, and standards for new and changing program areas
- Provide management with interpretations of agency policy and procedures when issues involved are new, highly controversial, precedent-setting, and/or involve more than one area of personnel
- Identify proposals, justify recommendations, and implement organizational and personnel/manpower changes throughout the command
- Conduct special projects or comprehensive studies to evaluate and resolve operating issues and problems at subordinate installations/activities
Human Resource Specialist
Army Sustainment Command
11.2022 - 03.2024
- Advised management on recruitment strategies, sources, special programs, and recruitment, relocation, and retention incentive programs
- Maintained personnel records and statistical data to establish accuracy and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Provided guidance on merit system principles, prohibited personnel practices, and other approaches that may help in staffing the organization and in improving retention
- Executed recruitment/placements, realignments, reorganizations, and related programs for assigned organizations, to include making full use of special employment programs targeting students, veterans, and the handicapped
- Analyzed and coordinated personnel requirements with co-workers and management officials for actions crossing all levels within the command
- Assisted managers and supervisors in preparation of properly formatted and classified position descriptions by preparing fully coordinated, final, signature ready position descriptions for Command official with Delegated Classification Authority
- Reviewed proposed workforce management and official structure actions for accuracy, objectivity, completeness, and sustainability while providing advice on policy, directives, and guidelines
- Completed special projects by defining problems, gathering data, and coordinating, analyzing, evaluating, compiling, and preparing final reports and/or documents for strategic planning or other related HR purposes
- Analyzed and evaluated program execution at the HQ and throughout subordinate organizations, recognizing problems, and originating solutions to complex or unusual issues
- Provided staff-level advice to or coordination with command management, commanders, CHRA Servicing Centers, and/or other staff members in the area of program improvement
- Assist in the development of command guidance, procedures and standards, regulations, polices for assigned program areas
- Interpreted policies and provided guidance on issues such as hours of work, changes in working conditions/schedules, leave requests/administration, pay entitlements, etc
- Recommended and/or evaluate proposed changes to HR regulations, HR requirements, and policies, providing analysis, comments, and coordination for responses
- Researched answers to situations that involve various questions raised by command management officials and/or staff
- Coordinated resolution of key personnel issues
- Maintained liaison with higher headquarters and CHRA Servicing Center personnel to obtain, clarify, or submit information pertinent to HR issues and/or any special projects assigned
Human Resource Specialist (Classification/Recruitment & Placement)
DoD Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
04.2020 - 11.2022
- Used, advised and assisted on the following automated personnel programs: FASCLASS, AutoNOA, CPOL, DCPDS, ASARS, and USA Staffing
- Managed and maintained full visibility over RPAs from cradle to grave in all stages of the recruitment process
- Input and collected data from personnel systems, assuring accuracy of organization and position data, interpreting results, and initiating corrective action when necessary
- Processed and instructed CHRA-serviced customers on preparation and submission of personnel actions
- Performed quality control on personnel actions submitted while ensuring nature of action, authority code, effective date, and all other information is correct prior to sending to processing
- Performed QC/technical reviews on the work of other human resource specialists while providing them with mentorship and guidance
- Effectively communicated with managers to foster understanding and acceptance of CHRA findings and recommendations
- Conducted strategic recruitment discussions in order to effectively prepare and post job announcements
- Developed job analyses to establish and document the required competencies and specialized experience prior to announcing the position
- Provided guidance on merit system principles, prohibited personnel practices, and the development and use of valid selection criteria
- Advised management on recruitment strategies, sources, and special programs, recruitment, relocation, and retention incentive programs which assists with barriers relating to employment
- Used special appointing authorities, both competitive and non-competitive to assist managers in hiring and appointing applicants (i.e., VEOA, VRA, DHA, Merit, Reinstatement, Military Spouse)
- Determined whether applicants meet eligibility and the minimum requirements (i.e., individual occupational requirements, specialized experience) for the positions being filled and issue certificates with eligible candidates to managers
- Facilitated staffing related training to our staffing team
- Verified employment eligibility, qualifications, salary determinations, and set pay
- Provided position management and classification support to assigned organizations under various personnel systems
- Applied classification principles and concepts to interpret and adapt classification standards/guides to secure sound classification on positions
- Advised employees on situations involving their benefits, leave, return rights, and transfers
Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement/Compensation)
South Dakota National Guard
12.2013 - 04.2020
- Provided advice and support to managers, supervisors, and the Human Resources Officer on recruitment and placement matters for a variety of professional, administrative, technical and clerical occupations and for wage grade occupations
- Relied upon by hiring managers to provide comprehensive guidance and advice relating to recruitment, desirable skills and qualification requirements
- Provided technical assistance to managers in developing justifications for requesting the use of special salary rate, recruitment bonuses and retention allowances
- Identified the appropriate qualification standard to be applied, validate hire authority, develop position announcements, locate position applicants, develop candidate evaluation criteria and evaluate candidate eligibility, referring qualified candidates for selection consideration
- Reviewed and verified information on requests for vacancy announcements to ensure correctness
- Initiated correspondence concerning recruitment and placement of applicants
- Notified candidates of the results of their application
- Maintained necessary documents associated with merit placement, applicant supply, Department of Defense (DoD) Priority Placement Lists, and Over-graded Technician Listings
- Accumulated and analyzed statistics concerning recruitment and placement function such as turnover rates, quit rates, promotions, minority hire rates, hiring lag time, etc
- Assisted in conducting long-range planning for projected mission and/or organizational changes to formulate a placement plan
- Interpreted and applied state pay setting tools such as highest previous rate rule and recruiting and retention incentives
- Analyzed technician and payroll information to identify and resolve pay-setting errors or discrepancies
- Set rates of pay for General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) technicians for appointments, transfers, promotions, changes to lower grade, and changes between GS and FWS pay systems
- Operated daily within the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System (DCPDS) to process and code promotions, reassignments, conversions, corrections, appointments and SCD changes
- Operated daily within the USA Staffing platform performing the following functions: draft vacancies, release announcements, recruit, assess, evaluate, refer, certify and notify applicants
- Provided advice and guidance to supervisors, managers and military commanders on assignment of technicians to compatible military assignments
- Ensured current employees in non-compatible status obtain the proper AFSC/MOS and/or correct military assignment, initiating or recommending approval of appropriate waivers as required
- Assisted technicians with permanent change of station (PCS) moves
- Initiated transportation agreements and completed travel orders authorizing various entitlements
- Assisted in conducting reductions-in-force (RIF), developing competitive levels and maintaining retention registers
- Evaluated qualifications and military assignment factors to reassign displaced employees
- Provided education to commanders, managers, and supervisors on various HR programs
- Responded to inquiries on recruitment and placement related matters from the serviced workforce
- Ensured compliance with federal laws, National Guard Bureau regulations and local labor agreements, utilizing both the CFR and merit system principles
- Interacted and resolved issues relating to classification, employee relations, labor relations and equal employment opportunity, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism
Master Religious Affairs Specialist (E-8/MSG)
South Dakota Army National Guard
04.2020 - Current
- Senior lead for a task/organized, mission/based team designed to accomplish and support the specified religious, spiritual, and ethical needs of soldiers in accordance with command responsibilities
- Evaluate the effectiveness of religious programs by soliciting feedback from participants, making necessary adjustments based on their input and maintaining a focus on continuous improvement
- Provide expertise in religious support and religious support operations for the South Dakota Army National Guard
- Support the State Chaplain in responding to the needs of Soldiers, family members, and other authorized personnel
- Lead, mentor, and train subordinates
- Prepare spaces for worship, manage supplies, and provide resources to Soldiers unique to their religious beliefs
Education
Master of Arts - Special Education
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ05-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD05-2008
Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Customer relations
- Training and mentoring
- Recruiting and recruitment strategizing
- Onboarding and orientation
- HR data and analytics
- Employee retention
- Workforce reshaping and planning
- Job analysis
- HR information systems
- HR policy/procedure development
Military Service
Enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard 23 years ago. Trained in the military occupational specialties of medic, patient administration, human resources, and religious affairs.
Certification
Distinguished Honor Graduate:
U.S. Army Basic Leadership Course, 2011
U.S. Army Advanced Leadership Course, 2016
U.S. Army HR Specialist Course, 2017
U.S. Army Senior Leadership Course, 2018
U.S. Army Master Leadership Course, 2021
Timeline
Human Resource Specialist (Team Lead)
U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command
03.2024 - Current
Human Resource Specialist
Army Sustainment Command
11.2022 - 03.2024
Human Resource Specialist (Classification/Recruitment & Placement)
DoD Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
04.2020 - 11.2022
Master Religious Affairs Specialist (E-8/MSG)
South Dakota Army National Guard
04.2020 - Current
Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement/Compensation)
South Dakota National Guard
12.2013 - 04.2020
Master of Arts - Special Education
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Black Hills State University
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