Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Professional Affiliations
Timeline
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Robert Bilak

Fort Lauderdale,FL

Summary

Experienced human resources leader with a strong background in employee relations, talent acquisition, compliance programs and benefits administration. Strategic-minded professional with a proven track record of delivering measurable business objectives. A results-oriented leader adept at managing interdepartmental relationships.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of People

JetBlue Travel Products
05.2018 - Current
  • Delivers core people services including talent acquisition, employee relations, talent management/development, compensation management, benefits administration and people regulatory compliance for subsidiary of JetBlue Airways.
  • Key member of executive leadership team providing counsel, coaching and direction regarding all employee relations initiatives to all levels of leadership.
  • Served as project manager for design, development, build-out and financial management of innovative support center in Florida.
  • Sources and recruits for all roles within the organization which includes all areas of the business i.e. Commercial, Operations, Technology, Finance and People.
  • Developed and implemented the talent management strategy with a focus on retaining talent and motivating professional development throughout all levels of the organization.
  • Created and fosters a culture of high performing curious talent, encompassing elements of the JetBlue values-based culture.
  • Incident director for emergency response events that impact the airline. i.e. Severe weather events, aircraft incidents and critical employee health and wellness occurrences.

Director, Crew Relations & Compliance Programs

JetBlue Airways
10.2013 - 05.2018
  • Provided leadership and support for 8 regional people managers and 38 people generalists for US and international operations. 21,000 employees, 100 locations and 4 support centers.
  • Provided oversight of company handbook and all departmental supplements maintaining consistency across the organization.
  • Managed company's ADA program, Affirmative Action Program and led OFCCP audits.
  • Supported all areas of leave administration, including employee notifications, tracking and reporting and business partner management.
  • Audited workplace employee and management policies and procedures, provided reports to senior leadership teams with recommended corrective actions.
  • Conducted employee relations investigations including but not limited to harassment, discriminatory claims, inappropriate workplace conduct and policy violations.
  • Overseen the employment review process for all involuntary separations. Company representative with internal employment counsel for outside litigation with attorneys representing current and former employees in court filings/proceedings.
  • Managed the company's drug and alcohol abatement program. Annual audits conducted by the FAA with 5 consecutive years of successful "Pass" requirements attained.
  • People incident director for all company emergency response events.
  • Partnered with the Henry Viscardi School (Albertson, Long Island) and launched a disability culture campaign that included various programs centered around aviation specific disability awareness. Media produced to inspire similar behaviors in other organizations. (Current BOD member)

Chief People Officer

Great Bend Regional Hospital
11.2012 - 10.2013
  • Member of the executive leadership team responsible for directing a team of people generalists, payroll specialists and benefits administrators.
  • Advised employees on group health plans, voluntary benefits and 401(k) retirement plans.
  • Conducted RFP for new benefits provider. This included a cost benefit analysis, employee satisfaction survey and suggested enhancements to current group health and wellness offerings. The process resulted in staying with the current provider, decreasing employer costs which resulted in a more comprehensive and cost effective program for the employees.
  • Developed and facilitated all new-hire orientations for staff in partnership with 401(k) administrators and benefits provider.
  • Managed HRIS and all personnel files in compliance with KDOL state regulations.
  • Developed and enforced company policies and procedures relating to all phases of people activity.
  • Conducted market research to provide fair and equitable compensation to all employees with a focus on physician recruitment. This included implementing new clinician based pay scales.
  • Provided monthly updates at board meetings on all people initiatives which included turnover data, talent acquisition efforts and employee relations matters.

Director, Crew Relations

JetBlue Airways
04.2010 - 11.2012
  • Provided leadership and support for 5 regional people managers and 25 people generalists for US and international operations. 14,700 employees, 72 locations, 3 support centers.
  • Implemented corporate-wide strategic talent partner program which provided a departmental subject matter expert to support operational people programs. This reduced the inconsistency in practices related to company policies and procedures, provided a single point of contact and a more efficient service to internal clients.
  • Designed, developed and implemented a new people generalist team in the corporate university facility located in Orlando, Florida.
  • People project manager for three year relocation program of support center in New York. This included demographic studies, geographical research which included compensation studies, position consolidation and elimination and workplace environment best practices for the design and build-out of new support center.

Director, Talent Acquisition

JetBlue Airways
10.2007 - 04.2010
  • Directed a team of 3 talent acquisition managers and 20 recruiters.
  • Developed and implemented cost-effective recruitment strategies for fast-paced, large-scale hiring of front-line employees which included staffing the airports as well as sourcing and coordinating talent acquisition strategies for all corporate positions.
  • Facilitated new-hire orientation, conducted on-boarding meetings and supported relocation processes to ensure employees were welcomed and educated on company policies, procedures, expectations and the corporate strategy.
  • Implemented new recruiting management system (RMS) to support the rapid growth of the organization. This included researching social media platforms that entered the marketplace to support a broader reach of candidates.
  • Provided talent acquisition efforts for a company that was growing at an unprecedented rate in the industry- launched operations in 17 markets in a single year.

Regional Manager, Crew Relations

JetBlue Airways
12.2003 - 10.2007
  • Led a team of 2 people generalists managing all people programs for company's largest base of operations with 4,200+ employees.
  • Developed and facilitated programs to educate operational leadership teams of all the workgroups on employee recognition, union avoidance, sexual harassment prevention, investigatory meetings and involuntary separation processes.
  • Identified and implemented an automated performance management system providing all levels of management with a tool to manage yearly productivity and performance.
  • Implemented an employment review process that provided specific expectations, accountability and a structured process to mitigate outside litigation for involuntary separations.
  • Recruiting lead for pilots, university faculty and corporate support center roles.
  • Provided people support for pilots, flight attendants, airport employees, technical operations employees and staff regarding employee relations, benefits, leave administration, talent acquisition, 401(k) and equity inquiries.

Inflight Crewmember

JetBlue Airways
11.2002 - 12.2003
  • Provided the JetBlue Experience to customers while inflight. This encompassed safety, security and customer service procedures.

Skills

  • Proven track record of leading highly productive teams
  • Significant employee relations and talent acquisition experience
  • Advanced skills in state and federal EEOC claim investigation response and resolution
  • Innovative "People thinker"
  • Highly effective communicator with an emphasis on conflict resolution
  • Knowledgeable in many ATS, TMS, RMS and HRIS platforms
  • Strong abilities in independent planning and execution of special projects
  • Strategic and tactical thinker who considers the human factor in all people initiatives

Professional Affiliations

Board of Directors, Abilities, Inc. The Viscardi Center

Timeline

Head of People

JetBlue Travel Products
05.2018 - Current

Director, Crew Relations & Compliance Programs

JetBlue Airways
10.2013 - 05.2018

Chief People Officer

Great Bend Regional Hospital
11.2012 - 10.2013

Director, Crew Relations

JetBlue Airways
04.2010 - 11.2012

Director, Talent Acquisition

JetBlue Airways
10.2007 - 04.2010

Regional Manager, Crew Relations

JetBlue Airways
12.2003 - 10.2007

Inflight Crewmember

JetBlue Airways
11.2002 - 12.2003

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Robert Bilak