Open To Work
Melissa Topete
Strategic Materials Inc (DBA: Sibelco)
Sioux City,United States
Work Preference
Desired Job Title
Human Resources Business PartnerSenior Human Resources ManagerSenior Human Resources ManagerHuman Resources Operations ManagerHuman Resources Generalist
Work Type
Full Time
Location Preference
RemoteHybridOn-Site
Location:
Sioux City, United StatesOmaha, NEHarrisburg, PACharlotte, NCSioux Falls, SD
Open to relocation:
Yes
Important To Me
401k matchWork from home optionPersonal development programsCompany CultureCareer advancementWork-life balanceStock Options / Equity / Profit SharingTeam Building / Company RetreatsPaid time offHealthcare benefitsFlexible work hoursPaid sick leave4-day work week
1
Language
10
years of professional experience
Accomplished Human Resources professional with over 10 years of progressive multisite leadership experience supporting complex operations across the U.S. and Canada. Demonstrated expertise in enhancing leadership capabilities, elevating compliance and risk management disciplines, and driving consistent, defensible HR practices in regulated environments. Proficient in employee relations, high-risk investigations, workforce planning, talent strategy, and operational partnerships. Recognized for disciplined execution, data-driven decision-making, and delivering onsite HR leadership that improves outcomes, stabilizes challenged locations, and advances enterprise-wide HR priorities.
Work History
Human Resources Business Partner
1 Year 4 Months- Provide strategic and tactical HR support to management and over 450+ employees across 20 plant locations in the Northeast and Southeast US regions, including three sites in Ontario, Canada.
- Serve as the primary HR contact for plant leaders and employees, offering guidance and support on HR processes, policies, and employee relations matters.
- Act as a trusted advisor to operations leadership, ensuring HR strategies remain aligned with business goals.
- Lead and execute HR initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness, talent development, and employee engagement.
- Tracked, analyzed, and reported key workforce metrics to inform staffing decisions, operational planning, and leadership insights.
- Produced comprehensive turnover analyses for Board of Directors meetings, identifying trends and root causes to inform targeted retention strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional HR teams to ensure consistent program delivery and alignment across the organization.
- Conduct complex onsite investigations, prepare detailed summary reports, and document findings in the Navex system.
- Analyze market data and provide compensation recommendations for merit cycles, off-cycle adjustments, and market corrections.
- Serve as project lead for federal DOT compliance, reducing organizational risk and implementing approved mitigation strategies.
- Maintain expert knowledge of federal, state, local, and provincial employment laws to ensure compliance.
- Facilitated training programs to support employee development and performance improvement.
Senior Human Resources Manager
2 Years 7 Months- Implemented HR strategies to enhance talent acquisition and retention, aligning with organizational growth objectives.
- Partnered with executive leadership to forecast workforce trends and develop strategic growth plans.
- Developed and updated employee handbooks and policies to streamline HR operations while ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Ensured compliance with compensation and benefits documentation, supporting organizational adherence to employment regulations.
- Streamlined onboarding processes, enhancing integration of new hires into organizational culture.
- Led recruitment strategy to attract top talent for nursing and administrative positions.
Senior Human Resources Manager
1 Year 2 Months- Coached managers on employee relations, performance management, and compliance with HR practices to foster effective leadership.
- Built scalable reporting and analytics solutions to support workforce planning and business decision-making.
- Established key performance indicators, monitoring progress towards strategic human resources objectives.
- Facilitated onboarding sessions and on-the-job training for new hires bolstering position knowledge and skillset.
- Led engagement initiatives, including recognition programs and team-building events, to strengthen workplace culture and morale.
- Collaborated with insurance brokers to enhance benefits offerings, contributing to increased employee satisfaction and retention.
- Designed employee surveys to evaluate employee satisfaction.
Human Resources Operations Manager
2 Years 10 Months- Served as a liaison between management and employees during company-wide initiatives, ensuring clear communication of expectations and objectives.
- Administered workers' compensation programs and represented the organization during hearings, achieving favorable outcomes.
- Conducted internal audits and ensured compliance with employment laws and company policies, achieving zero findings in external audits.
- Partnered with senior leadership to design and implement comprehensive talent management strategy, boosting employee engagement.
- Maintained current knowledge of industry regulations and legislation to amend policies and promote compliance.
Human Resources Generalist
1 Year 11 Months- Partnered with stakeholders and legal team to develop compliant policies and procedures aligning with business objectives, ensuring regulatory adherence.
- Conducted workforce analysis to identify skill gaps, optimizing recruitment and compensation strategies to enhance talent acquisition.
- Supported HR operations in non-union and unionized plants, contributing to labor negotiations and fostering collaborative relations that strengthened workforce engagement.
- Supported HR operations in both non-union and unionized plants, contributing to labor negotiations and fostering collaborative relations.
- Oversaw annual benefits open enrollment processes for 300+ employees, maintaining strong participation rates across voluntary benefit offerings.
- Collaborated with OSHA compliance teams to support safety initiatives and secure new OSHA certification for the plant.
Education
Master - Human Resource Management and Leadership
Bachelor - Human Resource Management and Business Administration
Associate - General Studies
Skills
Multi‑Site HR Leadership
Employee Relations & High‑Risk Investigations
Regulatory & Survey Compliance (OSHA
FMLA
ADA
FLSA)
Workforce Planning & Talent Strategy
Leadership Coaching & Development
HR Policy Development & Governance
Compensation Strategy & Market Analysis
Engagement & Retention Strategies
Conflict Resolution
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Honors and Awards
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE STUDENT IN MANAGEMENT AWARD FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Briar Cliff University, May 2024
Timeline
Human Resources Business Partner
Strategic Materials Inc (DBA: Sibelco)
04.2025 - CurrentRead More
Senior Human Resources Manager
Helping Hands Nursing Solutions, Inc (Rehired)
08.2022 - 03.2025Read More
Senior Human Resources Manager
Wytec Production Services
06.2021 - 08.2022Read More
Human Resources Operations Manager
Helping Hands Nursing Solutions, Inc
07.2018 - 05.2021Read More
Human Resources Generalist
AdvanSix
08.2016 - 07.2018Read More
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Associate from General Studies
Read More
Briar Cliff University
Bachelor from Human Resource Management and Business Administration
Read More
Briar Cliff University
Master from Human Resource Management and Leadership
Read More