Jennifer Taunton
Chandler,AZ
Summary
Experience Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, and compliance. Adept at fostering collaborative environments and driving organizational success. Proven ability to adapt to evolving needs while maintaining high standards. Skilled in conflict resolution, HR strategy, and performance management.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior HR Generalist
Contexteure
Phoenix, AZ
05.2024 - Current
- Partner with organizational leaders to coach and develop managers, strengthen team performance, and improve retention.
- Lead employee relations strategy including investigations, corrective actions, performance improvement plans, ADA accommodations, FMLA, and compliance matters.
- Conduct talent assessments and support leadership with performance documentation, development planning, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
- Provide data-driven recommendations through analysis of turnover, performance, ER trends, and workforce insights.
- Own full-cycle onboarding for new hires including I-9, E-Verify, and HR compliance; oversee offboarding including exit interviews and system deprovisioning.
- Partner with Benefits teams during open enrollment.
- Support payroll, HRIS updates, policy development, and employee engagement programming.
- Collaborate across the HR team to improve programs, streamline processes, and support organizational change initiatives.
- Technologies used include: ADP, Bamboo HR, UKG and PerformYard.
Benefits Manager
Morgan & Morgan
Phoenix, AZ
10.2022 - 05.2024
- Served as HR functional expert supporting 5,000 employees across multiple states with benefit issues, HRIS transitions, and policy interpretation.
- Key HR leader in HRIS migration from Paychex to UKG, partnering with implementation project teams on Benefits Administration, LOA, and Wage Garnishment modules.
- Led benefits and vendor transitions (401k migration to Empower; COBRA migration to WEX).
- Designed centralized ADA and Leave of Absence programs ensuring federal and state compliance; advised leaders on complex cases.
- Delivered data insights and reporting for audits, compliance testing, ACA, and 401k plans; documented SOPs for process consistency.
- Partnered with HR leadership and brokers on plan design, vendor selection, and open enrollment strategy.
- Technologies used include: Paychex, Benetrac, Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and UKG.
- Remote
Human Resources Generalist
Great Hearts Academies
Phoenix, AZ
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Supported HR for a large school network including employee relations intake, policy guidance, talent movement, and performance support.
- Conducted onboarding, background checks, I-9/E-Verify, and HRIS audits for accuracy and compliance.
- Managed LOA coordination, Workers’ Compensation, unemployment claims, and OSHA logs.
- Supported managers with benefits, PTO, employee relations, and policy interpretation.
- Contributed to updates of Employee Handbook, employment agreements, and HR policies.
- Systems used include UKG and Taleo.
Human Resources Assistant
Mesa Public Schools
Mesa, AZ
02.2019 - 09.2021
- Managed staffing operations supporting district-wide substitute placement.
- Processed new hire documentation, background checks, I-9/E-Verify, HRIS updates, and personnel records.
- Supported payroll for unfilled classroom coverage and collaborated with LOA and Workers’ Compensation teams.
- Co-led New Hire Orientation sessions for substitutes and nurses.
- Systems used include Power Schools, and SmartFind.
HR Consultant
Multiple Contract Roles
California
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Advised multiple client organizations on HR policies, state labor law, EEO, benefits, LOA, compensation, and organizational design.
- Supported recruiting operations including scheduling, candidate communications, travel support, phone screening, and workflow coordination.
- Provided HR functional support across employee relations, HRIS, and talent acquisition.
- Various Contract Roles
HR/Recruiting Operations Coordinator
Appirio, Inc.
San Francisco, CA
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Supported national HR and recruiting teams with high-volume interview scheduling and candidate management.
- Facilitated virtual new hire orientations focused on HR policies, benefits, and employee support.
- Completed background checks, generated offer letters, and maintained recruiting systems and reporting.
- Supported immigration processes including PERM and H-1B applications.
- Coordinated with payroll on sign-on bonuses, expense reports, and audits.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Human Resources Management
California State University
FresnoAssociate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Fresno City College
Skills
- Employee Relations & Investigations
- Performance Management
- Talent Review, Succession Planning & Workforce Planning
- HRIS Systems Implementation
- HR Policy Interpretation & Compliance
- Organizational Development & Change Management
- Leadership Development & Coaching
- Benefits & Leave Administration (ADA, FMLA, State LOA)
- Multi-State HR Support
- Full Cycle Recruitment
Certification
- Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Card Number 2019S06501
- Expires 2031-01-17
Timeline
Senior HR Generalist
Contexteure
05.2024 - Current
Benefits Manager
Morgan & Morgan
10.2022 - 05.2024
Human Resources Generalist
Great Hearts Academies
01.2022 - 10.2022
Human Resources Assistant
Mesa Public Schools
02.2019 - 09.2021
HR Consultant
Multiple Contract Roles
01.2014 - 01.2018
HR/Recruiting Operations Coordinator
Appirio, Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2013
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Fresno City College
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Human Resources Management
California State University