Nicole Ilarraza
Beacon,USA
Summary
Strategic Human Resources professional with experience partnering with leadership to support market level business operations. Expertise in employee relations, talent acquisition, onboarding, leave management, benefits administration, and performance support. Known for balancing operational efficiency with people first solutions. Master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management enhances ability to analyze workforce trends, streamline HR processes, and drive data informed decision making in dynamic environments.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Employee Services Business Partner
Apex Service Partners
New York, NY
05.2025 - Current
- Developed strategic partnerships to enhance service offerings and drive business growth.
- Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for new initiatives and service enhancements.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline operations and improve service delivery efficiency.
- Mentored junior staff on best practices in partnership management and operational strategy execution.
- Implemented process improvements that reduced operational costs while maintaining service quality standards.
- Facilitated training sessions focused on relationship-building techniques for client engagement success.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders for improved collaboration and strategic alignment.
- Facilitated change management processes during organizational restructuring efforts, ensuring smooth transitions for affected employees.
- Optimized team performance by providing continuous feedback, coaching, and development opportunities.
- Delivered insightful data-driven recommendations that informed key decision-making processes within the organization.
- Navigated complex legal and regulatory challenges to ensure compliance across all business operations.
- Championed diversity and inclusion efforts, fostering a positive work environment for all employees.
- Prepared and presented reports on status of projects and initiatives.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
Manager, Human Resources
Florida East Coast Railway
Jacksonville, FL, USA
02.2025 - 05.2025
- Prepare, process and manage new hire benefits enrollment
- Consult and advise employees on benefit plans
- Conduct analysis and reporting (plan reviews, compliance, contribution modeling etc.)
- Design, develop and implement company recruiting and retention strategies and practices
- Post job positions internally and externally according to company standards and policy
- Screen and interview job candidates
- Perform required drug testing and background checks
- Manage the hiring process to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and company policy
- Maintain recruitment/staffing process and communications with business units
- Work with hiring managers on resume sourcing, screening, and interviews
- Manage and support new hire orientation
- Understand various collective bargaining and union labor agreements to ensure compliance related to benefits plans
- Produce employee communications (e.g., handbooks, policies and procedures, changes to benefits, phonebooks, organizations chart etc.)
- Ensure compliance with state/federal laws
- Ensure the consistent and fair application of all policies/procedures
- Participate and take a HR leadership role in E-1 system development, modifications and testing
- Provide functional and technical E-1 support for the HR business unit
- Entry, maintenance, backup and extractions of all employee information and data
- Process employee data changes (adds, modifications, terminations, reports)
- Generate E-1 reports on all aspects of HR (employee, plans, carriers etc.)
Human Resources Generalist
QualityBuilt/SkyeTec
Jacksonville, FL, USA
12.2023 - 02.2025
- Create a recruitment plan and calendar according to operation and sales projections
- Generate official internal documents such as offer letters, appointment letters, salary slips and warning letters
- Create onboarding plans and educate newly hired employees on HR policies, internal procedures and regulations
- Maintain digital files for employees and their documents, benefits and attendance records
- Create employee engagement plans, get necessary budget approval and initiate activities
- Collaborate with outside vendors, upper management and employees to maintain CSR standards conscribed by authorities
- Evaluate employee performance and appraise their pay scale accordingly
- Take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who violate rules and regulations and address employee grievances
- Handle all administrative tasks for onboarding, new-hire orientations, and exit interviews, including data entry in human resources information systems (HRIS) and audits for accuracy and compliance
- Provide a dedicated and effective HR advisory service to employees that covers absence and health issues, conduct and capability, grievances, organizational change, and all other employee-relations matters
- Be the primary backup for payroll processing, including biweekly and semi-monthly updates to employee files, bonus/incentive pay, vacation/sick pay, expense reimbursements, hourly-employee validations, and benefits changes
- Assist in the communication, interpretation, and upkeep of employee handbook, employee directory, and organizational chart, and contribute to policy development
Associate, Human Resources
Tapestry
Jacksonville, FL, USA
04.2023 - 12.2023
- First line of HR support ensuring daily business operations
- Support hiring managers during the recruitment process - screen resumes, schedule interviews, assist in selection, and coordinate offers
- Complete onboarding tasks including I-9 verifications and employee ID cards
- Schedule and facilitate orientation for all new hires
- Liaise with leadership and security for administration of badging process for building access and timekeeping
- Report on key recruiting metrics like time to fill and hiring costs
- Gather benchmark data about jobs, compensation, and benefits
- Actively pursue knowledge of business practices, policies, organization structure, roles, and responsibilities to better understand the business
- Build relationships with employees of all levels; be available and responsive to requests and inquiries
- Plan and facilitate events, engagement activities and recognition programs
- Create training materials and lead training sessions for people, managers and employees on employee benefits, systems, and policies
- Analyze employees' answers to internal surveys like job satisfaction surveys
- Maintain a positive employee relations environment through Tapestry's Open Door Policy
- Partner with HR Partners and leadership to investigate and address employee relations issues
- Participate in coaching, counseling, and development conversations
- Provide support for the Performance Management (PM) process via communication of deadlines, scheduling groups for PM activities and monitoring completion rates
Human Resources Assistant
SkyeTec
Jacksonville, FL, USA
03.2021 - 03.2023
- Support the Human Resources Department as well as perform administrative work, including scheduling and maintaining over 500 employee files
- Enter a high volume of almost 500+ of employment data into the database as well as track and update hourly employee leaves of absence
- Maintain accurate records of active job openings and received applications; manages internal and external job postings
- Submit job postings online and scheduling candidate interviews on Indeed and Paycom
- Recruit and interview potential applicants regarding their skills, experience, and education
- Review applications for entry-level and non-exempt positions; conducts and/or schedules preliminary interviews
- Creation of headcounts reports, turnover rates, and other KPIs
- Perform administrative and record-keeping tasks related to staffing changes, which may include layoffs, resignations, terminations, and extended leaves of absence
- Coordinate logistics for new hire orientations and employee training sessions
- Create onboarding plans and educate newly hired employees on HR policies, internal procedures, and regulations
- Lead the Talent and Learning Development of employees by providing training and courses
- Maintain physical and digital files for employees and their documents, benefits, and attendance records
- Contact references and performing background checks on applicants
- Create employee engagement plans, get necessary budget approval, and initiate activities
- Provide employment verifications and wage verifications
- Inform applicants about position details, including working conditions, benefits, and duties
- Assist with the administration of employee benefits, which may include collecting and submitting employee information and notice of changes in status to health, dental, life, disability, and other insurance carriers or insurance brokers
- Plan and support company-wide information meetings such as open enrollment, new hire orientation, and meetings to announce or discuss changes in retirement or benefits plans
- Generate official internal documents such as offer letters, appointment letters, salary slips and warning letters
- Conduct or assist with recording audits and mandatory reports, which may include I-9 audits, EEO-1 filings, payroll audits, and other compliance reviews
- Evaluate employee performance and appraise their pay scale accordingly
- Take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who violate rules and regulations and address employee grievances
Administrative Assistant / HR Representative
Emanuelli Group
Ponce, PR, USA
05.2020 - 03.2021
- Manage the Human Resources team that consists of 5 employees provide consistent customer service, manage company resources, control, and coordinate the administrative tasks of the organization and give directions to the company
- Promoted once in 6 months from Administrative Assistant to Human Resources Representative
- Ensured the efficient and effective operations, processes, and procedures for hiring, workers compensation, employee leave, payroll, and scheduling management of the department
- Lead activities of the hiring teams, guiding committees of up to 5 members through candidate evaluation, interviewing, and selection
- Manage budget, collecting, compiling, and auditing financial documentation for the activities completed by 25 staff
- Work with the Purchasing Department in search of materials and suppliers
- In charge of negotiating with suppliers to reduce materials costs
- Maintain employee records, ensuring completion and accuracy of details such as employee contact information, job classification, pay rates, organizational structure, and other key details
- Create invoices, purchases, orders, projects, and vendors by using Intuit for QuickBooks software
- Prepare communications, such as memos, emails, invoices, reports, and other correspondence
- Create and maintain filing systems, both electronic and physical
- Manage accounts and perform bookkeeping
- Write and edit documents from letters to reports and instructional documents
Education
Master of Science - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
Daytona Beach, FL2022
Bachelor in Business Administration - Concentration in Management
University of Puerto Rico
Ponce, PR01.2020
Skills
- Workers’ Compensation
- Supply Chain & Logistics
- Human Resources Management
- Benefits Management
- Strategic Sourcing/ Planning
- Full Cycle Recruiting/ Onboarding
- Leave of Absences Management
- Database & Documentation Management
- Transportation Management
- Process Improvement
- Talent Management
- HR Analytics/ KPIS
- Technology integration
- Partnership development
- Employee Relations
- Partnerships & Acquisitions
Certification
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, USF Corporate Training and Professional Education, 03/22, No Expiration Date
- Inclusive and Ethical Leadership Certificate, USF Corporate Training and Professional Education, 04/22, No Expiration Date
- Leadership Basics, Talent Magnet Institute, 03/22, No Expiration Date
LANGUAGES
English - Native or Bilingual
Spanish - Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Employee Services Business Partner
Apex Service Partners
05.2025 - Current
Manager, Human Resources
Florida East Coast Railway
02.2025 - 05.2025
Human Resources Generalist
QualityBuilt/SkyeTec
12.2023 - 02.2025
Associate, Human Resources
Tapestry
04.2023 - 12.2023
Human Resources Assistant
SkyeTec
03.2021 - 03.2023
Administrative Assistant / HR Representative
Emanuelli Group
05.2020 - 03.2021
Bachelor in Business Administration - Concentration in Management
University of Puerto Rico
Master of Science - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical