Joselin Contreras

• Supported a workforce of approximately 450 employees, serving as a strategic HR partner to hotel and residential leadership teams.
• Managed and developed the People and Culture team, implementing process improvements and automation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and employee service delivery.
• Led complex employee relations investigations and conflict resolution efforts, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes while mitigating organizational risk.
• Reviewed and approved disciplinary actions, ensuring compliance with company policies, employment laws, and organizational standards.
• Coached leaders and managers on performance management, employee relations, conflict resolution, and leadership effectiveness to strengthen team performance and engagement.
• Oversaw employment compliance, including right-to-work verification, personnel documentation, and adherence to federal, state, and local employment regulations.
• Partnered with immigration counsel to facilitate employment-based visa and work authorization processes for international talent.
• Administered leave of absence programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, and company leave policies, ensuring compliance and a positive employee experience.
• Managed workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work programs, partnering with employees, managers, and insurance carriers to support timely claim resolution.
• Oversaw management-level recruitment and selection processes, ensuring the attraction of high-caliber talent aligned with organizational values and service standards.
• Directed onboarding initiatives for new leaders and team members, ensuring a seamless integration experience that reflected the organization’s culture and service excellence expectations.
• Led the annual performance review process, partnering with leadership teams to drive employee development, succession planning, and performance accountability.
• Developed and executed employee engagement and recognition programs that enhanced workplace culture and strengthened employee satisfaction and retention.
• Collaborated closely with Finance to support payroll administration, ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and timely resolution of payroll-related matters.
• Assisted in the management of departmental budgets and financial planning initiatives, maintaining alignment with organizational goals and fiscal objectives.

Per Se, NYC

The Surf Club Restaurant, Surf Side

Bouchon Bistro Coral Gables

• Supported multiple restaurant locations across the East Coast, serving as the primary Human Resources partner for management teams and employees.
• Led new hire orientation and onboarding programs, ensuring a consistent employee experience and successful integration of company culture across all East Coast locations.
• Acted as a cultural ambassador for a California-based organization, driving alignment of company values, service standards, and people practices across geographically dispersed operations.
• Administered employee benefits programs, including health insurance, 401(k) administration, leave management, and employee education initiatives.
• Managed workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work processes, partnering with employees, managers, and insurance providers to ensure timely resolution and regulatory compliance.
• Conducted employee relations investigations and provided guidance on conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and workplace concerns.
• Designed and facilitated management training programs focused on employee relations, performance management, difficult conversations, and employment law compliance.
• Partnered with operational leaders to ensure consistent application of Human Resources policies, procedures, and employment practices across multiple restaurant locations.
• Supported talent development initiatives by coaching managers on leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and performance management best practices.
• Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while minimizing organizational risk and maintaining positive employee relations.
• Provided Human Resources support for high-performing restaurant operations, including two Michelin-starred establishments, helping leaders maintain exceptional service cultures and operational excellence.

• Led full-cycle recruitment efforts for the launch of a new Miami restaurant concept, partnering with operational leaders to build a high-performing team from pre-opening through opening.
• Developed and implemented the property’s first staffing guide, establishing workforce planning standards, hiring timelines, and recruitment strategies to support operational goals.
• Designed and executed recruitment tracking and reporting processes, providing leadership with data-driven insights on hiring progress, candidate pipelines, and workforce needs.
• Trained hiring managers and operational leaders on effective interviewing techniques, candidate evaluation, and selection best practices to improve hiring outcomes.
• Managed salary and offer negotiations for management and hourly positions, ensuring competitive and equitable hiring practices while aligning with budgetary objectives.
• Oversaw candidate screening and selection processes to ensure hires possessed the skills, experience, and cultural fit necessary for success in a luxury hospitality environment.
• Partnered closely with international stakeholders, serving as a key advisor on U.S. employment laws, hiring practices, and compliance requirements.
• Educated and guided London-based leadership teams on federal, state, and local employment regulations to support compliant hiring and people management practices in the United States.
• Collaborated with operational and executive leadership to develop talent acquisition strategies that supported business growth, workforce readiness, and a successful opening.

• Supported the successful post-pandemic reopening of one of the largest wellness resorts on the East Coast, ensuring Human Resources operations aligned with evolving business and workforce needs.
• Managed HRIS administration and employee records, maintaining data integrity, compliance, and accurate reporting across the organization.
• Led new hire orientation and onboarding initiatives, fostering employee engagement and alignment with company culture and service standards.
• Administered workers’ compensation programs and partnered with leadership to support employee relations and day-to-day HR operations.
• Developed and implemented COVID-19 policies and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with public health and workplace safety requirements.

• Promoted from HR Coordinator to Human Resources Generalist in recognition of strong performance and expanding responsibilities within a Forbes Five-Star luxury hotel environment.
• Served as the first point of contact for employee inquiries, providing guidance and directing team members to appropriate Human Resources resources and programs.
• Coordinated candidate interviews and partnered with hiring managers and Talent Acquisition teams to support recruitment activities, hiring events, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Maintained employee records and processed personnel actions within the HRIS, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with company policies.
• Partnered with Benefits and Payroll teams to support open enrollment, employee benefits administration, and payroll accuracy for hotel team members.