MELODY LARSON
Corvallis,OR
Summary
Human Resources Administrator and Military Veteran with over 12 years of proven experience in program management, quality assurance, people management, process innovation management, and organizational development and change management. Possesses a comprehensive background in employee benefits, change management, risk management, employee growth and development, process improvement, and organizational strategy development. Adept at successfully constructing, implementing, and evaluating strategic planning efforts and change initiatives with a focus on human capital and organizational culture development.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, People & Culture
Oregon Fruit Company
10.2023 - Current
- Oversee operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Work closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Manage daily operations while overseeing multiple locations to foster increased productivity.
- Establish departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Monitor and coordinate workflows to optimize resources.
- Form strategic partnerships and connectedness with potential clients to drive business development.
- Maintains human resources regulatory compliance with local, state and federal laws.
- Structures compensation and benefits according to market conditions and budget demands.
- Oversees workers' compensation program for employees injured on job.
- Addresses employee conflicts with appropriate urgency, following all corporate procedures.
- Conducts exit interviews to better understand reasons why employees were separating from company.
- Educates employees on company policy and kept employee handbook current.
- Directs hiring and onboarding programs for new employees.
- Interviews potential hires, negotiated salaries and benefits and performed reference checks.
- Participates at strategic and operational level to develop and strengthen human resources services, relationships and mission.
- Spearheads shared governance and collaboration on employee relations, HR administration, collective bargaining agreements and related HR topics.
Associate Director, HR Strategic Development
Oregon State University
01.2023 - 10.2023
- Effectively directed the merger of two distinct human resource departments, leading change management efforts, orchestrating seamless integration of people and processes, and identifying and implementing best practices to optimize the unified HR function.
- Successfully led the formulation and execution of a comprehensive organizational design exercise at Oregon State University, resulting in the establishment of a compelling mission, vision, and value set that aligned each employee with the business's strategic goals. This initiative led to increased employee engagement, a stronger sense of purpose, and a more cohesive and motivated workforce.
- Acts as both a strategic and hands-on thought partner who is comfortable setting annual strategy as well as troubleshooting process issues against deadlines.
- Develops, manages, and mentors staff by providing training, guidance, and feedback that fosters inclusion and belonging values.
- Conducts regular reviews of all policies, programs, and practices to keep leadership and management informed of new developments.
- Conducts organizational assessments that focus on operational readiness and employee engagement, presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Leads the organization through organizational design exercises, establishing a mission, vision, and value set that connects and aligns each employee to the business's strategic goals.
- Drives organizational effectiveness and change management, partnering to support new initiatives, significant policy changes, process improvements, adoption of new tools, and other key activities.
- Serves as an advisor and strategic thought partner to the leadership team for the formulation, development, and execution of strategies designed to empower the employee experience.
- Budget management: prepares comparisons, justifications or benchmarks for reporting and strategic planning purposes.
- Engages analytical subject matter experts outside project teams to drive troubleshooting of critical process-related deviations and enhance process improvements.
- Successfully led a Continuous Process Improvement committee to identify pain points in HR practices and processes. By implementing streamlined efficiency measures, HR response time was reduced by 30%, leading to improved customer satisfaction and higher utilization of HR services.
HR Project Manager/Change Management Specialist
Oregon State University
05.2022 - 12.2022
- Played a pivotal role as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the leadership team at Oregon State University, contributing to the formulation, development, and execution of HR strategies. Through effective change management strategies, successfully supported the adoption of new tools and significant policy changes, resulting in enhanced employee experience and alignment with business objectives.
- Implemented a data-driven change management strategy during my tenure as an HR Project Manager at Oregon State University, which facilitated seamless adoption of new tools, significant policy changes, and new initiatives. Through the development and execution of well-crafted communication plans, I ensured that users were well-prepared and motivated for the changes, resulting in enhanced organizational agility and a smoother transition process.
- Managed projects from procurement to commission.
- Fostered an environment of continuous improvement through the evaluation of change strategies and lessons learned to identify opportunities to improve.
- Oversaw deliverables of communication plans and develops/coordinates clearly articulated messages that prepares and motivates users for adopting change.
- Developed and implemented short and long term goals and objectives to further organizational and parent organizational mission.
- Created, managed and maintained internal and external relationships to further drive and connect strategic initiatives.
- Resolved conflict, negotiates and collaborates on major projects.
- Handled sensitive issues and facilitates collaboration at the highest level.
- Developed and actionable change management strategy for the change based on situational awareness of the details of change and the organizational culture.
Benefits Specialist
Oregon State University
05.2020 - 05.2022
- Provided subject matter expertise on benefits-related matters and managed the administration of health insurance benefits for multiple employee classifications. Through conducting weekly audits and redesigning the assessment process, I significantly improved auditing efficiency and accuracy, ensuring that employees received comprehensive and compliant benefits packages.
- Communicated benefit plan information, enrollment requirements, and premium rates to employees.
- Managed administration of health insurance benefits for multiple classifications of employees including yearly open enrollment process.
- Collaborated with the Employee & Labor Relations team to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements when making benefits decisions that impact SEIU Employees, the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) and the university.
- Facilitated communication in person, via written and non-written methods with Human Resources team members, university department liaisons, service centers, directors and deans, insurance company representatives and account managers.
- Explained and clarifies benefits program, options, rules, processes and procedures for HR partners in service centers, managers, supervisors, and department heads.
- Conducted weekly audits, recently leading to an identified auditing shortfall resulting in a newly redesigned assessment for streamlined efficiency and accuracy.
Program Manager
United States Air Force
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Managed 12 programs and 20 personnel under Air Force Special Operations Command, demonstrating exceptional leadership and attention to detail. Introduced operating instructions that improved personnel accountability by 100% during a 15% personnel recall shortfall, ensuring the dissemination of classified information and mission success.
- Profiled organization’s operational security footprint; trained 300+ personnel on mitigating outside risks / exploitation.
- Managed $80 million in United States Air Force assets related to aircraft and facility equipment.
- Conducted and managed SharePoint migration initiative; collected metadata and implemented changes to organization’s online resources.
- Inspector General inspections, awarded highly effective top performer for all major graded areas.
- Provided subject matter expertise in all critical areas, continually protected personnel members, and managed quality programs, awarded Outstanding Performer.
- Operated as NATO liaison to ensure international training and relations remained as real-world missions were executed.
- Developed communication strategies for external allies as exercises and missions changed.
Education
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Human Resources
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH05.2022
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Liberal Studies
University of Texas
Arlington, Tx12.2012
Skills
- SHRM-CP
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt
- Certified FourSight Facilitator
- Microsoft Office Suite 365
- HRIS/Data Warehouse/ServiceNow
- Strategic Analysis
- Change Management Process and Methodology
- Conflict Resolution
- Stakeholder Management
- Employee Coaching and Motivation
- Team Building
- DEI and Belonging Champion
- Program Modification
- Policy Development
Timeline
Director, People & Culture
Oregon Fruit Company
10.2023 - Current
Associate Director, HR Strategic Development
Oregon State University
01.2023 - 10.2023
HR Project Manager/Change Management Specialist
Oregon State University
05.2022 - 12.2022
Benefits Specialist
Oregon State University
05.2020 - 05.2022
Program Manager
United States Air Force
01.2014 - 01.2020
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Human Resources
Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Liberal Studies
University of Texas
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