Taja McLaughlin
District Heights,MD
Summary
Strategic HR leader with 6+ years of experience driving talent strategy, employee engagement, DEI, and organizational growth. Proven track record of partnering with executives to align people operations with mission-driven goals. Adept at leading all stages of the employee lifecycle and elevating HR into a strategic business function. Known for strong interpersonal skills, goal-oriented leadership, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with impact. Seeking a leadership role with a forward-thinking organization to deliver high-level HR strategy, policy development, and talent transformation.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Ingenuity Prep
03.2023 - Current
- Manage Ingenuity Prep's HRIS systems (ADP/TriNet) maintaining personal records / reporting to ensure accurate data
- Oversee and Lead recurring HR processes such as performance reviews, engagement surveys, and employee handbook and policy development.
- Manage the employee experience life cycle to include onboarding / internal transitions / rewards/benefits / leave and payroll and off boarding process
- Oversee and execute administration of staff benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies. Collaborate with finance to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing and resolve discrepancies as needed.
- Create and monitor workflows in the HR space to ensure processes are effective and efficient
- Serve as a resource for staff, managers, and applicants by addressing employment-related questions. Provide timely, accurate information and escalate complex issues to appropriate personnel when necessary.
- Handle employee investigative and disciplinary processes for staff
- Collaborate in partnership with the Chief Talent Officer on DEI initiatives.
- Facilitate new staff professional development programming.
- Handle employee investigative and disciplinary processes in a thorough, fair, and confidential manner.
- Collaborate in partnership with the Chief Talent Officer to lead and support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- Manage all reporting information used for staff information
- Facilitate professional development programming for new staff to ensure a strong start and alignment with organizational values.
- Lead all core HR functions
Human Resources Generalist
Virginia Heart
11.2022 - 03.2023
- Coordinated and executed all employee appreciation activities.
- Setup and initiate biannual employee engagement surveys through the engagement survey platform
- Handled inquiries regarding HR questions concerning policies, procedures, and processes
- Provided support to the Human Resources director in retention building strategies
- Investigate and provide solutions for employee relations issues
- Setup and Initiate company's annual performance review process
- Handled all employee investigation requests and employment verifications
- Maintained and revise and issue company policies
- Coordinated quarterly meetings and department communications and assist with strategic planning for HR projects.
- Maintained HRIS and other HR managed systems ie employee engagement / D&I initiatives etc.
- Ran reports to monitor employee activity ie exit interviews/ retention/stay interviews etc to further strategic company growth initiatives to maximize the employee experience.
- Performed routine tasks required to administer and execute human resource programs including but not limited to disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale.
- Attended and participated in employee disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations.
- Maintained compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices; reviews policies and practices to maintain compliance.
- Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, of current HR systems and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.
- Oversee the schedule and assignments of the director, as well as coordinate workflows of team members within the department, particularly regarding meetings, projects, and other strategic operations within the HR Department.
- Performs other HR duties/projects as assigned
Human Resources Generalist
LPR International
07.2021 - 11.2022
- Administers benefits, compensation, unemployment insurance, and workers compensation programs; liaise with consultant, managers, and vendors to process required documents, claims, and responses.
- Prepare/maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
- Handles employment-related inquiries from applicants, employees, and supervisors
- Interprets and explains human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
- Attends and participates in employee disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations.
- Maintains and updates human resources documents, such as organizational charts, employee handbooks, performance evaluations forms, engagement surveys and exit surveys.
- Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.
- Maintains HRIS system and runs key performance indicator reports to monitor performance and set strategies
- Reviews, tracks, and documents compliance with mandatory and non-mandatory training, continuing education, and work assessments.
- Implements employee recognition programs.
- Provide HR Consulting Services
Human Resources Coordinator
Marcum LLP
10.2020 - 06.2021
- Assisted within the DE&I HR Committee / Initiatives
- Managed the full cycle of the onboarding process, performed new hire orientation training
- Managed the Intern program
- Coordinated employee engagement activities
- Prepared Out Processing Documents
- Prepared payroll changes (ie, tax changes, new hire, FLSA, salary changes etc)
- Managed the DC/MD office employee recognition program
- Managed performance management of the 90 day review process for the DC/MD office
- Maintained employee records
- Assisted with ad hoc HR projects
- Produced monthly reports on HR activity and firm initiatives
- Coordinates employee benefits, programs, and event planning
- Manages the 2020 Intern Program
- Serves as lead of the DSP Academy Taskforce and a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce
- Assists with compliance updates for the DC, California and Maine Office Locations
- Consistently audits and maintains employee personnel files and charts in HRIS system
- Successfully supported the implementation of BenefitEd, Student Loan Repayment Program
- Manages company-wide employee recognition program for work anniversaries and birthdays
Human Resources Assistant
DSPolitical, LLC
05.2020 - 10.2020
- Assists in full cycle recruiting responding to inquiries, scheduling interviews, processing offer documents
- Onboarding, orientation, training and supporting staff inductions
- Organized incoming mail, scheduled meetings, and answered incoming callsMaintained supply inventory and coordinated events as needed.
Business Department Office Assistant
West Virginia State University Institute
08.2018 - 03.2020
- Responsible for managing the day to day office activities
- Performed administrative duties such as scheduling appointments with the professors and the department chair
Human Resources Intern
Proctor & Associates
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Served as an HR representative for the organization.
- Responsible for scheduling appointments, benefits, account receivables, and assisted with weekly payroll
- Provided excellent customer service to clients while handling incoming calls and correspondence
- Assisted with the implementation of new events and programs for company advertising
- Created and scheduled content for YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook
Human Resources Intern
Aflac Insurance
05.2018 - 08.2018
- Assisted with recruiting, conducting orientations and managing onboarding paperwork
- Served as team leader for interns and developed an Intern Guide Book for operational use
- Monitored daily operations and recorded meeting minutes
- Provided customer service to ensure quality of service
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Public Administration
West Virginia State University Institute
Institute, WV05.2020
Skills
- Recruiting
- Benefits Administration
- Event Planning
- Employee Engagement/Retention
- Organization Skills
- Team Building
- HR HRIS (Bamboo, ADP, TriNet, Sage, Workday)
- ATS (Recruiter Box, VidCruiter, Greenhouse)
- Employee Relations/Investigations
- Payroll Processing
- Onboarding/Offboarding Processing
- Time/Attendance Management
- Talent Management
- Performance Management (15 Five/Engage, ADP, Perform)
- Succession Planning
- Strategic Planning
Certification
SHRM-CP- 02/22- Current
Affiliations
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.- (Alpha Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter) 02/2024 - Current
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Ingenuity Prep
03.2023 - Current
Human Resources Generalist
Virginia Heart
11.2022 - 03.2023
Human Resources Generalist
LPR International
07.2021 - 11.2022
Human Resources Coordinator
Marcum LLP
10.2020 - 06.2021
Human Resources Assistant
DSPolitical, LLC
05.2020 - 10.2020
Human Resources Intern
Proctor & Associates
06.2019 - 08.2019
Business Department Office Assistant
West Virginia State University Institute
08.2018 - 03.2020
Human Resources Intern
Aflac Insurance
05.2018 - 08.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Public Administration
West Virginia State University Institute
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