Kayla Higgins
Verona,PA
Summary
Accomplished Senior Project Analyst with a proven track record at UPMC Health Plan, enhancing project efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction through expert application of Scrum Framework and exceptional coaching abilities. Spearheaded quality assurance and risk management initiatives, achieving significant improvements in team collaboration and strategic decision-making. Excelled in fostering professional growth, with a keen focus on results and ethical professionalism. Conscientious and compassionate human resources professional with drive for helping employers recruit, develop and retain qualified candidates. Skilled at partnering with management teams to build employee-centric cultures promoting positive morale and optimizing productivity. Motivating and positive with excellent interpersonal, coaching and communication skills.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Analyst
UPMC Health Plan
07.2022 - 06.2024
- Established clear lines of communication between team members, fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue and constructive feedback.
- Drove continuous improvement efforts by analyzing past performance data and identifying areas for enhanced efficiency or effectiveness.
- Spearheaded quality assurance efforts, thoroughly reviewing deliverables before submission to clients or stakeholders.
- Led change management initiatives that facilitated seamless transitions during organizational restructuring or process improvements.
- Delivered high-quality results within budget constraints by diligently monitoring expenses and proactively identifying cost-saving opportunities.
- Utilized advanced analytical tools to evaluate complex datasets, generating actionable insights that informed strategic decision-making processes.
- Mitigated risks through comprehensive risk analysis, contingency planning, and ongoing monitoring of potential issues.
- Served as a subject matter expert in project management methodologies, training and mentoring colleagues as needed.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to secure optimal pricing and service levels for project needs.
- Enhanced team collaboration with cross-functional departments to ensure alignment of project goals and objectives.
- Provided expert guidance to junior analysts in order to foster professional growth and development within the team.
- Assessed clients' ongoing projects for potential issues, advising project managers on possible solutions and necessary precautions.
Consultant - HR
Clark Resources
07.2022 - 06.2024
- Conducted thorough exit interviews with departing employees, gathering valuable feedback used to improve overall retention strategy efforts.
- Collaborated with leadership teams to develop workforce planning initiatives that aligned with business objectives.
- Strengthened employer brand by revamping company career site and social media presence, attracting top candidates to open positions.
- Implemented a new applicant tracking system that streamlined the hiring process, reducing administrative burden on HR staff and improving overall candidate experience.
- Ensured legal compliance in all HR practices, minimizing risk exposure for the organization through regular audits and policy updates.
- Improved employee retention rates by developing and implementing comprehensive onboarding programs.
- Implemented effective succession planning strategies to secure long-term organizational stability and growth opportunities for employees.
- Established an effective performance review system that facilitated constructive feedback exchange between managers and direct reports leading to improved workplace relationships.
- Evaluated HR analytics data, using insights gained to drive continuous process improvements across various functions within human resources management.
- Evaluated employee onboarding programs and presented strategic improvement recommendations to upper management.
- Facilitated successful policy implementation and enforcement to maintain legal and operational compliance.
- Updated training processes by reviewing existing documentation, leveraging feedback from associates and working with legal and compliance teams.
- Performed budget analysis to control expenditures and predict future budget needs.
- Assisted with writing job postings and job descriptions for boards.
- Collaborated with managers to identify and address employee relations issues.
Consultant- HR
American Personnel Managers And Consultants
07.2022 - 06.2024
- Delivered customized training solutions to address specific skill gaps, resulting in increased employee productivity levels.
- Collaborated with leadership teams to develop workforce planning initiatives that aligned with business objectives.
- Established an effective performance review system that facilitated constructive feedback exchange between managers and direct reports leading to improved workplace relationships.
- Streamlined HR processes by identifying areas for improvement and implementing efficient solutions.
- Planned, monitored and appraised employee work results by training managers to coach and discipline employees.
- Collected and analyzed information to monitor compliance outcomes and identify and address trends of non-compliant behavior.
- Generated and analyzed reports to monitor employee engagement and attrition trends.
- Advocated for staff members, helping to identify and resolve conflicts.
- Conducted performance reviews and provided feedback to managers on employee performance.
- Improved organizational filing systems for confidential employee records, resulting in improved accessibility and efficiency.
- Partnered with departmental managers to ascertain hiring needs and subsequently provide candidate recommendations.
Education
Master of Arts - Human Resources Management And Employee Relations
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA05.2023
Master of Science - Human Resources And General Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA08.2022
Associate of Science - Business Management
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA05.2022
Associate of Science - Business
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA12.2021
Skills
- Scrum Framework
- Stakeholder Management
- Project Management
- Professionalism and Ethics
- Performance Appraisals
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Employee Relations
- Payroll Management
- Recruitment Strategies
- Compliance Management
- Talent Acquisition
- Benefits Administration
- Employee Surveys
- Employment law
- Risk Management
- Microsoft Excel
- Onboarding Processes
Timeline
Senior Project Analyst
UPMC Health Plan
07.2022 - 06.2024
Consultant - HR
Clark Resources
07.2022 - 06.2024
Consultant- HR
American Personnel Managers And Consultants
07.2022 - 06.2024
Master of Arts - Human Resources Management And Employee Relations
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Master of Science - Human Resources And General Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Associate of Science - Business Management
Community College of Allegheny County
Associate of Science - Business
Community College of Allegheny County
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