ROBERT PETTIT
Benicia,CA
Summary
Dynamic Human Resources professional recognized for driving transformative change and achieving organizational success through effective people management and strategic planning. Proven track record in overseeing large-scale projects from conception to implementation. Senior leader dedicated to professional development and empowering employees to reach their fullest potential. Committed to leveraging innovative HR practices that enhance workforce productivity and drive sustainable growth.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Director
Stanford University
03.2024 - Current
- Direct and oversee hiring and recruitment activities. Review recruitment efforts to support organizational goals. Review hiring/retention data and explore/implement options to meet staffing goals. Develop complex employment offers.
- Coordinate and collaborate with management on performance evaluations, supervisory practices, dispute resolution, and employee accountability.
- Optimize workforce planning strategies to align staffing levels with business needs efficiently.
- Implement data-driven decision-making processes within the HR department to identify areas of improvement.
- Mitigate risk exposure through diligent workplace safety practices and proactive policy enforcement.
- Participate at strategic and operational level to develop and strengthen human resources services, relationships and mission.
- Oversee the performance appraisal process to ensure compliance with organization objectives and mission. Collaborate with senior staff to develop organizational goals and implement processes that support those objectives.
- Manage employee leaves including work-related disability leave, personal leaves and work place accommodation requests.
- Oversee interpretation and implementation of collective bargaining agreement and actively participate in negotiating labor contracts.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES OPERATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
01.2017 - 2024
- Direct HR programs for over 14,000 staff and student employees with an emphasis on student support and research.
- Oversee the annual administration of over 10,000 leaves of absence and worker’s compensation cases.
- Overhauled payroll, and leaves administration processes resulting in a 30% increase in efficiency and greater transparency for client groups.
- Passed all Joint Commission audits and received commendation from COO for highest ratings in over 10 years.
- Collaborated with executive management and strategic business partners to champion innovative HR solutions, such as rapid hiring and pre-employment screening programs.
- Led seamless integration of medical center HR departments into new operating model within 6 months.
- Analyzed workforce data to identify trends in relation to comparator institutions and provided specific recommendations to senior leadership.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, HASTINGS COLLEGE OF THE LAW
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Engineered a turnaround in client satisfaction within 4 months.
- Negotiated three new collective bargaining agreements within 3-month period.
- Engaged in community outreach programs to facilitate applicant pipelining and mentoring efforts.
- Established metrics-driven approach for measuring HR effectiveness and satisfaction.
- Oversaw legal compliance of Human Resource practices to ensure state/federal compliance.
- Provided coaching senior managers on employee relations issues, minimizing legal risks.
- Managed labor relations and resolved conflicts between management and employees through mediation and negotiation techniques.
- Evaluated compensation structure using market data analysis to ensure competitiveness.
- Participated at strategic and operational level to develop and strengthen human resources services, relationships and performance.
SR. HR BUSINESS PARTNER, SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Managed talent acquisition for all senior management positions including sourcing, salary negotiation, relocation, and institutional onboarding.
- Developed standardized metrics for executive compensation programs that passed all UC Regents and legislative reporting requirements.
- Designed and successfully delivered a performance management program tailored for executives within the first 6 months.
- Pioneered the development of the organization's inaugural onboarding program for senior management in just 90 days.
DIRECTOR, HR AND RETIREMENT ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Directed complex human resource, benefit, and retirement administration programs for over 125,000 staff members.
- Provided fiscal oversight of $2.25 billion in annual disbursements.
- Oversaw hiring, development and performance management for a professional staff of 30.
- Worked closely with internal and external counsel on development of policies and procedures to maintain IRS plan compliance.
- Maximized total compensation impact via oversight and management of deferred compensation programs and pre-tax savings accounts.
- Accomplished transformation of HR department including organizational structure, classification programs and budget within 90 days.
Education
Bachelor's - Political Science
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
Skills
- Managing applicant tracking systems
- Compensation and benefit benchmarking
- Workforce engagement
- HRIS and payroll integration
- Collaborative HR leadership in unionized environments
- Development of absence management strategies
- Institutional compliance programs
- Professional development
- Benefits oversite
- Workforce analytics
Accomplishments
- Led transition to new absence management system for annual savings of $150,000.
- Reduced offer-to-start time by 40%.
- Led integration of multiple HR departments into new operating model within 6 months of appointment while preserving service levels and reducing costs.
- Restructured HR services to deliver over $100,000 in annual savings.
- Developed compliance program which lead to a reduction in plan costs by $650,000 in one year.
Timeline
Human Resources Director
Stanford University
03.2024 - Current
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES OPERATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
01.2017 - 2024
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, HASTINGS COLLEGE OF THE LAW
01.2015 - 01.2017
SR. HR BUSINESS PARTNER, SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
01.2009 - 01.2010
DIRECTOR, HR AND RETIREMENT ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
01.2007 - 01.2009
Bachelor's - Political Science
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
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