Katherine Sowa
Houston,TX
Summary
Experienced Human resources professional offering progressive experience in HR. Strategic thinker, decision-maker and problem-solver. A collaborative, cross-functional leader committed to the value of hiring, developing, and retaining a diverse and innovative workforce.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Employee Experience
Oceaneering International
Houston, TX
12.2023 - Current
- Serve on the CHRO leadership team.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, policies and procedures as they relate to HR compliance.
- Lead the development and implementation of training and consistent processes for conducting and documenting employee investigations.
- Collaborate with CHRO and internal legal counsel to identify and manage risk.
- Utilize data from employee relations cases to identify patterns and provide support to leaders and HRBPs.
- Manage project team responsible for creating and implementing enterprise-wide employee engagement survey.
- In collaboration with the CHRO, analyze engagement survey data, distribute it to leaders and offer resources for action planning.
- Partner with the Employee Experience team to create professional development plans to support personal and business growth.
Senior Manager, Employee Experience
Oceaneering International
Houston, TX
06.2022 - 12.2023
- Work collaboratively across all aspects of HR to support development and implementation of action plans to address opportunities and make improvements.
- Offered global assistance with sensitive and complex employee relations issues, providing necessary structure and support.
- Developed and implemented global processes and procedures to ensure consistent documentation and structure for employee relations investigations.
- Collaborated with both internal and external legal professionals to ensure compliance with various regulatory matters, such as AAP, EEOC, OFCCP audits, and Gender Pay Gap reports.
- Restructured and expanded Employee Resource Group program, leading to the establishment of seven new ERGs worldwide.
- Developed and implemented an enterprise-level Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy to enhance workforce diversity and strengthen the organization.
Human Resources Manager
Oceaneering International
Houston, TX
08.2019 - 06.2022
- Lead HR Operations and a team of HR Business Partners for the Aerospace & Defense Technologies service line.
- Provide HR expertise to leadership and department heads in the areas of diversity & inclusion, employee relations, employee engagement, and compliance matters.
- Participate in global enterprise project teams driving change in the areas of organizational change and post-Pandemic work structure.
- Advise leadership, consultants, and other personnel on HR policies and business strategy implementation.
- Mitigate audit risk by optimizing compliance tools, identifying deficiencies, and implementing corrective actions.
- Advise bidding teams on employment regulations as they relate to work on Federal Contracts.
- Partner with leaders to identify and develop internal talent to align with enterprise objectives.
- Investigate sensitive and complex employee relations and compliance matters.
Human Resources Business Partner
Oceaneering International
Houston, TX
05.2011 - 08.2019
- Partnered with internal strategy teams on projects in the areas of skill set identification, performance management, and internal job classifications.
- Actively monitored current legislation and coached management to ensure that policies and practices were in compliance with current regulations.
- Resolved employee issues and complaints, counseled employees, and coordinated with management regarding disciplinary actions.
- Provided expertise in employee issues relating to FMLA and other types of leave.
- Composed Wage Determination reports as required under the Service Contract Act for four different government contracts.
- Partnered with managers to develop strategies for workforce planning and future hiring needs.
- Lead business unit recruitment efforts by reviewing resumes, interviewing candidates, and coordinating with managers to fill open positions.
- Presented training to employees, including health and wellness seminars, policy training, performance review and goal writing, and other identified training needs.
- Maintained and processed Federal Facility Access (NASA) paperwork, including entering information into IDMAX and coordinating with Contracting Officers to maintain the required authorizations.
- Partnered with Corporate HR resources to develop processes and guidelines for HR data entry and data changes in PeopleSoft.
- Developed local compensation guidance by researching trends, providing statistical analysis, and gathering demographic data.
- Developed and facilitated training in the areas of harassment, bullying, and positive discipline to employees.
Human Resources Assistant
Oceaneering International
Houston, TX
01.2007 - 05.2011
- Provided support for employees regarding benefits, payroll, company policies, FMLA , COBRA, and all other general requests for assistance.
- Lead the recruiting and onboarding process including posting job requisitions, screening applicants, entry into the eVerify system, generating applicant flow data for AAP and EEO reports, and maintaining security background check information.
- Provided support to the HR Department by maintaining all security, training, personnel, and medical information files both electronically and in hard copy,
- Performed data entry of all new hire information into PeopleSoft, and worked with all departments to ensure a smooth on-boarding process
- Lead the effort to transfer all paper files to electronic storage.
- Coordinated all activities for the OSS Wellness program and served as the Health Champion on the Safety Committee.
- Researched salary trends, provided statistical analysis and gathered demographic data in support of merit increase actions.
Human Resources Coordinator
MEI Technologies
Houston, TX
08.2005 - 12.2006
- Provided support to the Benefits Administrator by enrolling new employees in benefits, maintaining all benefits records, reporting payroll changes, conducting new hire orientation, conducting exit interviews, and reviewing billing statements for accuracy.
- Served as COBRA administrator by compiling COBRA packets, processing COBRA payments, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations
- Provided support to the Technical Recruiter with duties that included posting job requisitions, screening applicants, conducting interviews, maintaining new hire information packets, and generating applicant flow data.
- Managed and coordinated all corporate outreach activities including budget management, charity event screening, and design of event publications.
- Maintained all legally required employee documentation both electronically and in physical files
Education
Master of Arts - Human Resources Management
University of Houston, Clear Lake
Houston, TX01-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Music Education
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX01-1998
Skills
- Employee Engagement
- Compliance Management
- Employee Relations
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Employee Surveys
- Relationship Building
- Employee Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
Additional Skills & Interests
- DDI Leadership Training Facilitator
- E-Colors Facilitator
- People and Culture Committee, Energy Workforce & Technology Council (EWTC)
Timeline
Director, Employee Experience
Oceaneering International
12.2023 - Current
Senior Manager, Employee Experience
Oceaneering International
06.2022 - 12.2023
Human Resources Manager
Oceaneering International
08.2019 - 06.2022
Human Resources Business Partner
Oceaneering International
05.2011 - 08.2019
Human Resources Assistant
Oceaneering International
01.2007 - 05.2011
Human Resources Coordinator
MEI Technologies
08.2005 - 12.2006
Master of Arts - Human Resources Management
University of Houston, Clear Lake
Bachelor of Arts - Music Education
Texas Tech University
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