Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Priscilla Cardenas

Aurora,CO

Summary

Results oriented Senior Human Resources Director possessing strong interpersonal skills to create business partnerships and build trust with management and employees creating a positive work environment and increased organizational effectiveness for the company. Dedicated in contributing to company success with 19 years’ experience in HR and Operations with a focus in employee relations. Leadership skills include supporting all levels of management from entry level managers to executives. Proven success in providing solutions, recommendations, assessing management development needs and implementing training while overseeing an employee count of 4500.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

HR Director - Employee Relations

Natural Grocers
05.2017 - Current
  • Managed and led a 4,500-employee support HR team.
  • Executed on-site employee relations investigations, recommending appropriate courses of action to ensure consistency and adherence to EEOC, ADA, and FMLA regulations.
  • Documented and investigated EEOC claims and other legal matters, collaborating with legal counsel for mediation and litigation.
  • Supported executive management in union activity efforts and delivering company message to employees.
  • Support a culture of CARE by managing with empathy and kindness, and setting the standard of creating a supportive interaction with all employees.
  • Managed high-risk issues and provided guidance to HR Business Partners, VP of Human Resources, and Executives on necessary actions and preventive measures.
  • Presents, discusses, and participates in decision-making in high-impact employee relations issues with executive and VP-level leaders in HR and operations.
  • Devised strategies to orient, train, and direct staff to achieve corporate objectives.
  • Facilitated delivery of HR services by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with teams and leadership across the organization.
  • Organized and maintained records to facilitate programs, events, and activities.
  • Worked with department managers to assess needs.
  • Supervised HR Department employees by directing activities and monitoring performance.
  • Created succession plans and promotion paths for staff to boost passion for reaching goals and objectives of the organization.
  • Tracked programs closely to assess usefulness and make proactive changes to meet changing demands.
  • Developed and implemented hiring criteria and employment selection assessments to improve staffing quality.
  • Worked with the HR department to devise and update policies as needed for corporate accountability and workplace health.
  • Recruited and trained new employees to manage overall talent acquisition.
  • Regularly updated HR databases to reflect employee information, changes in benefits, and other details.
  • Supported top talent identification processes by interviewing candidates and executing onboarding, orientation, and benefits processes.
  • Met with current and departing employees to conduct surveys and determine areas in need of improvement.
  • Devised training programs for new and existing employees.
  • Developed hiring and recruitment policies to drive a transparent and fair hiring process for selecting candidates based on merit and relevance to the job.
  • Partnered with stakeholders to strategize and execute best-in-class hiring practices.
  • Launched EEOC and Affirmative Action investigations, and resolved employee complaints.
  • Guided startup and management of HR operations, systems, and programs for a new location within the company.
  • Complied with local, state, and federal laws, and established organizational standards.

Regional HR Business Partner - Employee Relations

Natural Grocers
04.2016 - 05.2017
  • Executed full-cycle employee relations activities, encompassing clear communication, conflict resolution, and proactive coaching/education for both employees and managers.
  • Partners with managers in matters of policies, practices, and procedures for the organization to ensure uniformity of application of company policy and compliance with current and pending legal regulations.
  • Assists in the education and training of personnel regarding company philosophies and human resources practices to ensure overall efficiency and consistency.
  • Facilitated leadership and HR training to minimize legal risk to the organization and further develop leadership skills.
  • Effectively manage ER issues (disciplinarians, grievances, employee litigation, redundancy, staff terminations) using sound judgment in resolving problems, advising, and suggesting alternative courses of action where appropriate.
  • Partner with the Recruitment team to ensure that the appropriate talent is sourced to meet business needs within an increasingly competitive market.
  • Demonstrate and model highly effective leadership skills.
  • Work closely with the senior management and executive team to identify the current and future needs of the business and develop/lead HR strategies, priorities, plans, and interventions to ensure successful results.
  • Coaching to help management strengthen their people leadership skills.
  • Serve as a sounding board and confidante during difficult interactions and business situations.
  • Successfully handled workplace investigations, achieving resolutions effectively via phone or teams communication.
  • Diagnosed potential personnel issues to create action plans to eliminate complications.
  • Drove changes to different areas of operations to align company with HR strategies.
  • Met with current and departing employees to conduct surveys and determine areas in need of improvement.
  • Conducted new employee orientation to introduce employees to policies, culture and objectives.
  • Analyzed workforce key performance indicators to achieve business objectives, coaching leadership on implementing corrective actions.
  • Conducted employee relations investigations into safety complaints, allegations of harassment and civil rights issues.
  • Worked with business leaders to evaluate and optimize human resources policies.
  • Maintained compliance with state and federal employment laws and regulations.
  • Administered human resources plans and procedures company-wide to guide both management and employees.
  • Advised leadership and personnel on driving HR policies, union negotiations, and business strategy implementation.
  • Served as a link between management and employees by handling questions and helping resolve work-related problems.
  • Created staff teams based on employee strengths and made adjustments to promote overall productivity.
  • Organized employee directories and updated individual contact information.
  • Prepared presentations to company executives regarding employee performance and retention trends.
  • Conducted employee performance reviews and implemented corrective actions to increase productivity.
  • Reported on workplace health and safety compliance to superiors.
  • Aligned HR policies with federal and local regulations.
  • Suggested promotions and wage increases, according to employee performance.
  • Developed employee orientation and training programs for new hires.
  • Negotiated collective bargaining agreements with labor unions by highlighting company profit and operational outcomes.
  • Scheduled meetings with employees to address concerns and grievances.
  • Handled employee discipline and termination to address policy infractions.
  • Created and implemented employee retention strategies.
  • Researched industry trends to inform compensation and performance strategies.
  • Helped with employee transfers and referrals.
  • Assisted in employee recruitment, hiring, and interview processes.
  • Liaised between management and employees by relaying work information, adjustments and grievances.

Store Director of Operations/Human Resources

National Stores Inc.
05.2014 - 04.2016
  • Coached, directed, and led store team members in delivering exceptional customer experiences while achieving sales and profit goals.
  • Demonstrated exceptional competency in fostering positive employee relations and facilitating talent development.
  • Implemented effective strategies for optimizing store operations including stock room management, visual merchandising, inventory tracking, and payroll supervision.
  • Demonstrated strong time management and priority setting skills.
  • Demonstrated excellent communication and organization skills to effectively handle store operational requirements.
  • Ensured consistent store staffing by managing the recruitment process, employee selection, orientation, and training.
  • Employed effective strategies of coaching, counseling, discipline; planning, mentoring and appraising employee performance resulted in maintaining a highly productive store staff.
  • Ensures availability of merchandising and services, maintaining inventories.
  • Formulated pricing policies through renewing merchandising activities and determining additional needed sales.
  • Protects employees and customers by providing a safe and clean store environment.
  • Maintains the stability and reputation of the store by complying with legal requirements.
  • Determines marketing strategy changes by reviewing operating and financial statements, and department sales records.
  • Maintain operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program operational and personnel policies and procedures.
  • Manage all employee relation issues, reporting to the district manager on conflict resolution strategies.
  • Met budget targets by controlling expenses and eliminating wasteful behaviors.
  • Secured store perimeter and enforced safety procedures to minimize losses and protect assets.
  • Fostered healthy team environments to promote collaboration and boost productivity.
  • Prepared weekly schedules to verify proper floor coverage within fiscal guidelines.
  • Developed and optimized store schedules to meet expected coverage demands and maintain optimal service levels.
  • Increased store revenues by cultivating new customers, providing superior service and applying pricing strategies and up-selling techniques.
  • Coached, counseled, recruited, trained and disciplined employees and evaluated on-the-job performance.
  • Worked on store displays and attended trade shows to identify new products and services.
  • Maintained current accounts and deposited funds to keep on-site cash low.
  • Checked promotions for accuracy and for merchandising to company standards.
  • Oversaw inventory management through cycle counts, audits and shrinkage control.
  • Maintained inventory, checking stock and keeping up with fluctuating supply and demand.
  • Delivered excellent customer service and adhered to standard practices to maximize sales and minimize shrinkage.
  • Generated repeat business by responding to customer concerns with friendly and knowledgeable service.
  • Reviewed customer feedback to make operational improvements and promote satisfaction.
  • Identified operational issues and implemented appropriate process improvements to promote workplace safety and productivity.
  • Exceeded team goals and resolved issues by sharing and implementing customer service initiatives.
  • Monitored employee performance and identified performance gaps for corrective action.
  • Balanced sales, reconciled cash and made bank deposits to facilitate opening and closing duties.
  • Preserved product quality by maintaining stockrooms and disposing of damaged items.
  • Built customer confidence by actively listening to concerns and complaints and quickly resolving issues.
  • Managed inventory tracking and physical inventory counts to minimize loss.
  • Enhanced customer satisfaction and store operations through relationship building and daily problem-solving.
  • Built relationships with key customers and stakeholders to grow business networks and locate new opportunities.
  • Updated and maintained store signage and displays.
  • Strengthened work flow productivity by hiring, managing and developing top talent.
  • Showcased and built visually appealing displays and signs to encourage customers to buy specific products.
  • Answered product questions with up-to-date knowledge of sales and promotions.
  • Trained and mentored associates to teach daily tasks and procedures.
  • Oversaw storewide merchandising benchmarks to maintain operational excellence.
  • Evaluated store performance and incorporated feedback to implement improvement plans.
  • Established store tactics and strategies to achieve operational performance and sales goals.
  • Completed thorough opening, closing and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.

Operations/HR Manager

Wal-Mart
12.2004 - 05.2014
  • Implement the business plan for the area of responsibility by communicating goals and managing staffing and scheduling, assigning duties and coordinating workloads, and ensuring associates complete required training in order to achieve facility goals
  • Manage daily administrative functions of the HR office (e.g., benefits, hiring/transfers, terminations, payroll) by executing and refining recruiting and staffing initiatives; and researching and addressing employment-related concerns for applicants, associates and managers
  • Ensure compliance with company HR policies by reviewing and managing the accuracy, confidentiality and maintenance of HR-documents; assisting in the implementation of and ensuring compliance with HR systems applications; and researching to gather data for HR related issues
  • Maintain quality and safety standards in the area of responsibility by ensuring associates are trained on Logistics and company policies, standards and procedures and monitoring compliance; distributing and maintaining procedures and supporting documentation
  • Identify associate, customer, and/or supplier concerns by listening, consulting with others when needed to determine corrective action to take or make recommendations in order to resolve
  • Supervise and develop associates and leaders in area of responsibility by assigning duties and coordinating workloads, monitoring performance and providing feedback; teaching, supporting and modeling Logistics and company policies and procedures; identifying training and development needs; and participating in the hiring, promotion, coaching, teaching, and evaluation of associates and leaders
  • Manage and coordinate training (e.g., new hire orientation, CBL modules, web-based training, virtual classroom) for Distribution and/or Transportation associates by helping to identify training and development needs for hourly associates, Drivers, and/or management; monitoring the completion of training curricula; presenting and facilitating training courses; and monitoring the schedules, completion deadlines, and compliance for multiple training activities
  • Manage all employee relations issues per company policy up to the point of termination.
  • Proactively identified and solved complex HR problems that impacted operations management and business direction.
  • Prepared and led new employee orientation to familiarize with company policies, procedures, culture and campus.
  • Communicated with supervisors to plan and review employee evaluations.
  • Recruited applicants for vacancies to fill open positions with qualified staff.
  • Handled sensitive employee and company information with highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Provided HR consultation services to leadership and department heads.
  • Identified operational weaknesses to improve or innovate people, programs and processes.
  • Recruited new employees and built relationships, driving visibility.

Skills

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Business partnerships
  • Trust building
  • Positive work environment
  • Organizational effectiveness
  • Leadership skills
  • Solutions provider
  • Management development
  • Training implementation
  • Employee relations
  • HR operations
  • Union activity support
  • Culture management
  • High risk issue management
  • HR guidance
  • Decision-making
  • Employee litigation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Coaching/education
  • Policy compliance
  • Leadership development
  • Store operations expertise
  • Time management
  • Multitasking
  • Communication skills
  • Organization skills
  • Legal compliance
  • HR policy compliance
  • Quality and safety standards
  • Problem resolution
  • Supervision and development
  • Training coordination
  • Employee relations management
  • Employee Relations
  • Legal Compliance
  • Human Resources Management
  • Training leadership
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Background Checks
  • Exit Interviews
  • Union Negotiations

Timeline

HR Director - Employee Relations

Natural Grocers
05.2017 - Current

Regional HR Business Partner - Employee Relations

Natural Grocers
04.2016 - 05.2017

Store Director of Operations/Human Resources

National Stores Inc.
05.2014 - 04.2016

Operations/HR Manager

Wal-Mart
12.2004 - 05.2014

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Priscilla Cardenas