VANESSA COLON-RIVERA

• Manage day-to-day HR operations involving employee benefits, eligibility, enrollments, life-event changes, leave administration, retirement-plan support, and employee inquiries across multiple campuses.

• Served as primary contact for employees and managers regarding benefits, leave, retirement, HR processes, and system-related inquiries; escalated complex issues to appropriate partners.

• Process and validate employee benefit transactions in ADP and carrier systems; investigate enrollment discrepancies, coordinate corrections, and follow cases through resolution.

• Administer and track FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, and related leave cases; maintain documentation, communicate status updates, and coordinate with employees, supervisors, and external administrators.

• Perform recurring reconciliations and data-quality reviews across ADP and benefit carrier records, identifying discrepancies and coordinating corrective action with internal teams and vendors.

• Prepared HR reports, trackers, audit support documentation, eligibility files, and vendor reconciliations using Excel and HR systems, ensuring accuracy in downstream processing.

• Support process improvement initiatives by identifying recurring employee-service issues, improving communications and workflows, and developing training and guidance for employees and supervisors.

• • Led HR projects to enhance employee engagement and promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace, fostering a more inclusive culture.

• Administered employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA, short-term disability, long-term disability, and ancillary benefits.

• Processed benefit elections, employee status changes, and enrollment updates in Workday and related benefit platforms while maintaining accurate employee records and data integrity.

• Resolved employee benefit issues by coordinating with carriers and internal partners, providing timely updates to employees throughout the process.

• Administered and tracked disability claims and served as liaison with external benefit providers for complex employee cases.

• Managed employee files and documentation, ensured transaction accuracy, and facilitated audits and data-validation activities.

• Conduct new hire benefits orientation quarterly.

• Provided responsive HR support to employees and internal customers through phone, email, and in-person inquiries, translating policies and processes into clear next steps.

• Supported HR operations for a workforce of 500+ employees, including benefits, payroll, employee status changes, leave adjustments, HRIS transactions, reporting, and manager/employee support.

• Processed biweekly payroll for 500+ employees and maintained payroll records for new hires, terminations, promotions, salary changes, leave adjustments, and benefit deductions.

• Conducted payroll and HR data audits, researched discrepancies, and implemented process improvements to strengthen accuracy and streamline recurring workflows.

• Generated HR and payroll reports, analyzed data trends, and prepared actionable summaries and recommendations for management and stakeholders.

• Managed HR vendor invoices, benefits changes, COBRA notices, disability and death claims, and annual Open-enrollment activities.

• Updated employee status and salary records, ensuring accuracy for longevity, merit increases, promotions, and range adjustments.
• Coordinated HR projects aimed at enhancing employee engagement and promoting workforce diversity, resulting in improved organizational culture.

• Guided managers and employees on HR policies and programs, ensuring compliance and addressing employee-service inquiries effectively.

• Entered employee data and coordinated onboarding, new-hire processing, training logistics, and HR reporting.

• Maintained HR files, employee records, and HRIS data; conducted audits to ensure documentation and data accuracy.

• Supported payroll processing, researched and corrected processing errors, and assisted with employee pay-related inquiries.

• Conducted research, analyzed HR information, and prepared reports with recommendations for management decision-making.

• Deliver sales fundamentals (Distribution, shelving and merchandising).
• Coordinated merchandising events in assigned territory to maximize product visibility and engagement.
• Ensure proper product placement that delivers best visibility.
• Cultivated relationships with store and market managers to enhance collaboration and support sales initiatives.
• Executed inventory management tasks by checking date codes and rotating stock.
• Assessed business needs to identify growth opportunities and formulated sales plans to address gaps.

• Achieved sales fundamentals goals for distribution, shelving, and merchandising in assigned territory.
• Coordinate and maintain all merchandising events in assigned territory and follow Company policy.
• Maintained full distribution and display of products.
• Read and follow a plan-o-gram to effectively complete reset and remodel work.
• Prepared, processed, submitted, and managed documentation for assigned reset and remodel work to ensure compliance with company standards.
• Moved and cleaned shelves, installed new racks, displayed merchandise, placed shelf strips, attached tags, checked date codes, maintained plan-o-gram integrity, and processed pack outs, restocks, and reorders.
• Communicated observations to Unit Manager on outdated products, unbalanced stock, out-of-stock situations, and point of purchase requirements to support inventory management.
• Executed special projects to enhance team performance and meet customer needs., communicating customer needs, objectives as assigned by Sales Manager.

• Coordinated and promoted activities, courses, and special educational projects for Continuing Education Program at University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, enhancing program visibility and engagement.
• Administered registrations and enrollments for all the programs offered by Continuing Education Program.
• Managed office operations, including ordering materials, organizing workspaces, and responding to emails and phone calls, ensuring smooth daily functions.
• Requested physical facilities, including classrooms, for educational programs.
• Processed certificates and updated student records, maintaining accurate documentation for program compliance.
• Collect and process payments of tuition.