Sanika Simmons
Austell,GA
Summary
Dynamic and strategically minded HR professional with a strong focus on student-centered initiatives, offering extensive experience in supporting academic institutions through effective workforce planning, employee relations guidance, and policy development. Expertise in collaborating with faculty, staff, and campus leadership to address complex organizational needs while promoting an inclusive, collaborative, and service-oriented environment. Proficient in interpreting institutional policies, streamlining HR processes, and delivering empathetic guidance that balances compliance with community well-being. Recognized for fostering strong relationships, facilitating productive dialogue, and providing data-informed insights that enhance campus culture and operational effectiveness in a rapidly evolving college landscape.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Onboarding & Hiring Lead
Georgia Tech
08.2022 - Current
- Advised employees on payroll issues, benefits programs, and foreign national concerns, delivering compliant, employee‑centered solutions and escalating complex matters as needed.
- Reviewed and approved Departmental Hiring Forms (DHFs), ensuring accuracy, policy compliance, and providing consultative feedback to support effective hiring decisions.
- Served as a strategic advisor to managers, directors, faculty, and HR partners to resolve complex hiring and onboarding challenges across the institution.
- Led training and knowledge transfer for new onboarding and hiring specialists, ensuring alignment with institutional policies, roles, and best practices.
- Maintained expert knowledge of I‑9 regulations and employment compliance requirements, proactively addressing issues to mitigate risk and ensure institutional adherence.
- Provided advanced case management and troubleshooting for escalated employee relations concerns and service desk issues, delivering timely, compliant resolutions.
ON-BOARDING SUPERVISOR
Georgia Institute of Technology
05.2021 - 08.2022
- Assessed employee work performance to identify areas for improvement and provided constructive, solution‑oriented feedback to support development and operational effectiveness.
- Conducted one‑on‑one coaching sessions with employees to clarify performance expectations, support professional growth, and align individual goals with organizational needs.
- Facilitated training on I‑9 regulatory updates and policy changes to ensure institutional compliance and consistency across hiring and onboarding functions.
- Led training and onboarding for new onboarding specialists, ensuring clear understanding of role responsibilities, institutional practices, and HR service expectations.
- Partnered with managers, directors, faculty, and HR colleagues to collaboratively resolve hiring and onboarding issues and support workforce needs.
- Maintained expert knowledge of I‑9 policies and employment compliance requirements, proactively identifying and resolving I‑9 issues to reduce institutional risk.
- Provided advanced troubleshooting and case management for escalated employee concerns and service desk tickets, delivering timely and compliant resolutions.
- Served as the primary point of contact for onboarding and acted as a subject matter expert for benefits, payroll, and global employment matters, ensuring continuity of HR support.
ON-BOARDING SPECIALIST
Georgia Institute of Technology
04.2016 - 05.2021
- Served as the primary point of contact for employee onboarding and offboarding processes, providing consultative guidance and ensuring compliance with institutional policies.
- Investigated, resolved, or appropriately escalated employee inquiries and concerns, delivering accurate information and timely resolutions.
- Coordinated and verified interactions between clients and Office of Human Resources (OHR) units to ensure efficient case flow through the Customer Service Center (CSC).
- Generated, reviewed, and processed employment documentation related to employee hiring, ensuring accuracy and adherence to HR procedures.
- Responded to inquiries regarding HR policies and procedures via phone, email, and in‑person consultations, serving as a trusted HR resource.
- Developed and maintained working knowledge of OHR operations, processes, and procedures to provide informed guidance and effective problem resolution.
- Maintained confidential employee records and HR documentation in accordance with data privacy and record‑keeping requirements.
- Conducted exit interviews and provided employee counseling as needed, supporting workforce transitions and continuous improvement efforts.
CALL CENTER SUPERVISOR
T- Mobile Wireless
09.2008 - 03.2015
- Supervised a team of 16 call center associates, providing hands‑on training, mentoring, and ongoing coaching to meet performance, quality, and productivity standards.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations and delivered clear verbal and written feedback to improve call handling, customer service skills, and product knowledge.
- Managed day‑to‑day customer service operations, ensuring professional, consistent interactions with internal and external customers.
- Oversaw phone‑based service delivery, driving first‑call resolution and effective caller education through accurate and efficient communication.
- Monitored associate call activity to ensure issues were researched, resolved, and properly documented across multiple systems and tools.
- Supported service excellence by promoting adherence to procedures, escalation protocols, and customer service best practices.
TEAM LEAD
T- Mobile Wireless
09.2000 - 09.2008
- Led a team of 15 customer service representatives, overseeing daily operations and providing support to resolve customer inquiries and issues.
- Managed high‑level customer complaints, escalations, and disputes, ensuring prompt resolution and customer satisfaction.
- Implemented service and productivity strategies to improve customer experience, increase team efficiency, and support business objectives.
- Handled issue escalations and evaluated team performance through ongoing monitoring, feedback, and coaching.
- Supervised team activities while supporting continuous improvement initiatives and operational enhancement plans.
- Conducted side‑by‑side coaching sessions to assess performance, reinforce best practices, and provide targeted development feedback.
Education
Diploma -
ORANGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Orange Park, Florida06-1996
Skills
- I9 compliance management
- Skilled in Microsoft tools
- PeopleSoft application knowledge
- Decision-making
- Problem resolution
- Verbal communication
- Critical thinking
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Dependable and responsible
- Calm under pressure
Accomplishments
I am currently in Culture Champions.
Timeline
Onboarding & Hiring Lead
Georgia Tech
08.2022 - Current
ON-BOARDING SUPERVISOR
Georgia Institute of Technology
05.2021 - 08.2022
ON-BOARDING SPECIALIST
Georgia Institute of Technology
04.2016 - 05.2021
CALL CENTER SUPERVISOR
T- Mobile Wireless
09.2008 - 03.2015
TEAM LEAD
T- Mobile Wireless
09.2000 - 09.2008
Diploma -
ORANGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL