Saira Afzal
Manteca,USA
Summary
Strategic and results-driven HR professional with extensive experience in employee relations, performance management, and business partnership. Adept at providing coaching and consultation to managers, building trusted advisory relationships, and implementing HR strategies that align with organizational objectives. Skilled in problem-solving, data-driven decision-making, and fostering high-performance teams.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior, Human Resources Specialist
Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
08.2020 - Current
- Serve as a strategic HR business partner to executive leadership, providing data-driven workforce planning, talent strategy, and organizational design support across a dynamic, multidisciplinary organization.
- Partner closely with senior management to drive high-performance culture initiatives, implement change management strategies, and advise on long- and short-term workforce planning aligned with evolving organizational needs.
- Coach and consult managers at all levels on a wide range of people matters—including performance, employee relations, conflict resolution, and policy adherence—ensuring alignment with organizational values, compliance standards, and long-term objectives.
- Act as a trusted thought partner, influencing leadership decisions on complex issues including succession planning, organizational structure, workforce development, and employee engagement.
- Lead strategic projects focused on recruitment, retention, and workforce redesign, aligning talent strategy with mission-critical initiatives; successfully navigated complex staffing models and adapted to mission changes through agile workforce planning.
- Develop and deliver HR strategies and programs across performance management, DEI, learning & development, talent acquisition, and employee engagement, with proven success in enabling organizational agility and resilience.
- Leverage data and analytics to identify trends, forecast talent gaps, and craft innovative solutions to improve workforce outcomes and enhance manager effectiveness.
- Mentor and guide HR professionals and cross-functional teams, providing thought leadership in recruitment, classification, staffing optimization, and policy development.
- Actively contributed to agency-wide HR modernization by co-developing federal-level HR policy (Directives & Standards), offering scalable solutions for process improvement and enhanced service delivery.
- Led internal training and workshops on a variety of technical HR topics; created compelling presentations to build capability in managers and increase awareness around evolving workforce needs and best practices.
- Fostered strong partnerships with leadership and stakeholder groups to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including oversight of EEO programs, special emphasis programs, and inclusive recruitment strategies.
- Navigated ambiguity with ease, supporting cross-boundary problem-solving and leading organization-wide transformation efforts to enhance people operations and culture.
- Regional Diversity Management and Outreach Coordinator, collaborating with the Equal Opportunity Office to implement inclusive outreach strategies, foster cultural awareness, and drive workforce diversity initiatives across the region.
- Represented the agency at key recruitment and networking events focused on diverse and underrepresented talent pools, including college campuses, veteran organizations, and community programs.
- Led diversity assessments and organizational audits to evaluate systems, policies, and practices; delivered actionable insights and strategic recommendations to advance inclusivity and equity.
- Designed and implemented diversity training programs to build awareness and capability among leaders and staff, aligning with agency objectives and federal compliance (e.g., MD-715, EEO reporting).
- Conducted pre-complaint counseling and resolution support in accordance with federal regulations, supporting a fair, respectful, and legally compliant workplace culture.
- Spearheaded process improvements to promote equity and transparency in hiring, advancement, and workplace practices, influencing both policy and cultural change.
Human Resources Specialist
Department of Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sacramento, CA
03.2019 - 08.2020
- Strategic HR advisor to senior leadership, supporting workforce planning, recruitment strategy, and employee engagement initiatives aligned with organizational and mission goals across multiple divisions.
- Provided proactive talent solutions by anticipating business needs, and delivering pre-positioned recruitment strategies and workforce planning tools in support of emerging programs and priorities.
- Designed and led end-to-end recruitment strategies using USA Staffing, including job analysis, vacancy creation, candidate screening, and advising on competitive pay-setting, and hiring incentives.
- Advised on innovative talent acquisition methods, leveraging direct hiring authorities and targeted outreach campaigns to attract top technical and professional talent across regional and national markets.
- Mentored and coached managers on key HR matters including succession planning, workforce shaping, organizational design, employee development, and retention strategies.
- Served as the district’s lead coordinator for Department of Defense Direct Hiring Authorities (DHA), partnering with local and national stakeholders to optimize usage and drive efficient hiring outcomes.
- Led cross-functional collaboration across HR and EEO teams to align staffing efforts with diversity and inclusion priorities; conducted detailed data analyses to drive decision-making and track outreach success.
- Played a pivotal role as Senior Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, representing the district at local and national career fairs, conferences, and strategic hiring events, building relationships to strengthen employer brand and diversify talent pipelines.
- Developed and delivered workforce training on recruitment, staffing, engagement, and succession planning to enhance management effectiveness and elevate employee experiences across the district.
- Provided one-on-one coaching and group training to employees and managers on creating inclusive, healthy work environments, supporting wellness and work-life balance while addressing workplace concerns.
- Conducted assessments of organizational systems and policies to improve diversity management, and ensure operational alignment with EEO objectives, and federal compliance standards.
- Drove data-informed strategies by producing actionable reports and visual dashboards on hiring trends, outreach effectiveness, and diversity benchmarks—directly influencing strategic HR initiatives.
- Maintained current knowledge of HR laws and legislative developments to ensure proactive compliance, and support scalable, forward-thinking talent strategies.
Human Resources Specialist
Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
05.2014 - 03.2019
- Served as a key HR partner across multiple divisions, delivering full-cycle talent acquisition support, classification expertise, and strategic HR advisory services to help leadership attract, develop, and retain top talent.
- Advised senior leaders on career pathing and classification strategies to improve recruitment outcomes, creating career ladder opportunities and aligning organizational structure with workforce needs.
- Designed and implemented recruitment strategies using delegated examining and merit promotion procedures, optimizing hiring efficiency and ensuring equitable processes across professional, technical, and administrative roles.
- Developed and maintained HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve consistency, efficiency, and compliance across staffing and recruitment functions.
- Led position classification initiatives, including interdisciplinary engineering reclassifications, working cross-functionally with leadership and HR partners to reflect evolving organizational requirements and competitive pay structures.
- Subject matter expert in USA Staffing, managing end-to-end recruitment processes: job analysis, assessment development, announcement drafting, candidate evaluation, and issuance of certificates of eligibility.
- Ensured all recruitment actions aligned with federal guidelines while embracing continuous improvement practices around job analyses, crediting plans, and KSAs to improve hiring outcomes and candidate experience.
- Proactively supported hiring managers throughout the recruitment lifecycle—from consultative intake through onboarding—ensuring compliance, clarity, and a positive candidate experience.
- Provided new hire onboarding support including offer coordination, benefits counseling, and orientation guidance to promote smooth transitions and early employee engagement.
- Delivered HR training and presentations to internal stakeholders, hiring managers, and external audiences, including university and veteran-focused career fairs, to strengthen organizational outreach and talent pipeline development.
Education
Master of Science - Management and Leadership (Emphasis in Change Management and Business Strategy)
Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business
Malibu, CA04.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Business & Organizational Communications
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA08.2015
Skills
- Strategic Recruitment & Workforce Shaping
- Organizational Design & Succession Planning
- Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution
- Performance Management & Coaching
- Stakeholder Management & Talent Branding
- HR Data Analytics & Insights
- Talent Development & Succession Planning
- Organizational Change & Leadership Development
- Compliance & Policy Implementation
- Business Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Talent Acquisition & Succession Planning
- High-Impact HR Program Management
- Federal to Private Sector HR Policy Translation
- People Analytics & Decision Support
- Program Development & Project Execution
- Strong customer service skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Group-oriented
- Excellent reporting skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
Duty Location
Manteca, California
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Urdu
Native/ Bilingual
Punjabi
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior, Human Resources Specialist
Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
08.2020 - Current
Human Resources Specialist
Department of Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
03.2019 - 08.2020
Human Resources Specialist
Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
05.2014 - 03.2019
Master of Science - Management and Leadership (Emphasis in Change Management and Business Strategy)
Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business
Bachelor of Arts - Business & Organizational Communications
California State University, Sacramento
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