CHERESA BACCHUS

As Director, People and Culture and a member of the Senior Leadership, I oversee the evolution of the Human Resources function to support the organization’s current and future needs. Selected accomplishments include:

• Provide expert human resources coaching and advice to all levels of leadership to address all HR-related initiatives, including proactively addressing HR-related plans.
• Develop and implement action plans to address improvement in employee experience identified through engagement survey results. Action plans included increasing and improving communication and recognition programs.
• Implement annual people and culture strategic plans that align with the company's strategic initiatives, and oversee the delivery of these plans through providing leadership and guidance to the HR team.
• Leads all high-impact employee relation issues and investigations, such as contractor negotiations, human rights investigations, and responding to legal claims.
• Manage, coach and develop the human resources team through regular team and 1:1 meetings.
• Partner with the Operations Leaders to create and lead quarterly clinic leadership development days, role-specific in-person learning activities, online learning and annual company learning day.
• As the Management co-chair of the JHSC ensure compliance with the OHSA and timely responses to all health and safety-related issues and reports.
• Partnered with the payroll team to successfully transition to one HRIS from a separate HRIS, and payroll system. Led the development of the HR modules and created and delivered the training and supporting tools for the organization.
• Led a working group responsible for the conception and implementation of corporate and role-specific orientation programs.
• Update policies and procedures and leverage technology to modernize, improve, and streamline human resources and health and safety programs.
• Developed and oversaw the implementation of a talent acquisition strategy and process, including targeted recruitment and sourcing programs and hiring best practice training which have reduced time-to-hire and improved candidate pools.
• Develop and oversee the implementation and execution of the annual performance review cycle and goal-setting process.
• Oversee the compensation and benefits programs, including annual review, partnered with external consultants to establish wage bands, and led the annual review and analysis of the benefits program.

As Leader, People and Culture, I was responsible for designing and developing the human resources function and related policies and programs for the Canadian and US divisions. Selected accomplishments include:

• Developed strategic direction in the conception, design, and implementation of innovative employee experience and engagement programs, and ensured compliance with related employment legislation.
• Acted as an expert advisor to all levels of management on people-related issues including policy questions, employee relations and organizational development issues.
• Oversaw the implementation of a focused and strategic talent attraction strategy to decrease time-to-hire for critical roles, including Medical Directors, Dermatologists, Nurses, and US Division Leadership.
• Partnered with the Business Leaders to implement an inclusive employee onboarding and orientation program, using a variety of platforms to prepare and engage new hires.
• Gathered, consolidated, and analyzed data to design and implement programs to improve employee engagement, morale, and retention of talent.
• Designed the company’s compensation philosophy and implemented a compensation framework, ensuring pay equity, consistency, and annual compensation review, with consideration for regional differences.
• Managed the performance evaluation and annual salary review process in collaboration with the Leadership Team.
• Developed, implemented, and communicated all People policies and procedures, with consideration for regional differences, and ensured that related matters were proactively researched and managed.

In this role, my main responsibility was to oversee a team of human resources consultants, ensuring they were providing timely and sound HR support to the laboratory and logistic line managers. I worked closely with the HR and Business Division leadership teams to improve employee experience and management capability.

• Provided expert HR advice to the Senior Leaders of the Ontario Laboratory and Logistics division on all human resources-related matters.
• Partner closely with Operators to understand priorities and plans to support workforce planning and management.
• Partnered with the Business Leaders to implement business improvement strategies including route optimization and attraction and retention strategy for critical and hard-to-fill roles.
• Based on the analysis of HR metrics such as fill rates, absence tracking and investigation trends oversaw the implementation of programs to support improvement in rates.
• Involved with labour relations through support to management address union certification, preparation for Ontario Labour Relations Board hearings, contract negotiation preparations, and the grievance process.
• Developed and delivered Labour Relations Training for People Leaders to increase leadership competency in managing a newly unionized environment.
• Supported managing workforce and business continuity plans during the Covid-19 pandemic; represented HR Management on daily Covid-19 touchpoints.

In the role of Human Resource Business Partner, I worked closely with the Centre’s Leadership team to ensure that we were appropriately staffed to meet our targets. My experience in this role included:

• Ensured that human resources policies were applied consistently and fairly; ensured that Centre Senior Leadership was aligned on a resolution for cases requiring an exception to policy and when setting a precedent.
• Monitored employee engagement through ad-hoc floor walks, scheduled interviews, and survey results, and provided feedback and improvement plans to Senior Leadership.
• Led the Centre’s employee-facing communication plans, using multiple platforms to circulate important information in a timely manner to all employees.
• Managed the monthly human resources budget, proactively working with the human resources team to plan spending, monitor expenses and identify cost savings.
• Managed a team of 10 generalists including distribution of their workload, monitoring results and providing coaching and support as required.
• Participated in regional human resources and operational performance calibration processes, identifying candidates for promotion and development.
• Partnered with Centre and Regional Senior Leadership to successfully open a fulfillment centre in Canada.nsured that human resources policies were applied consistently and fairly; ensured that Centre Senior Leadership was aligned on a resolution for cases requiring an exception to policy and when setting a precedent
• Monitored employee engagement through ad-hoc floor walks, scheduled interviews, and survey results, provided feedback and improvement plans to Senior Leadership
• Led the Centre's employee-facing communication plans, using multiple platforms to circulate important information in a timely manner to all employees
• Managed the monthly human resources budget, proactively working with the human resources team to plan spending, monitor expenses and identify cost savings
• Managed a team of 10 generalists including distribution of their workload, monitoring results and providing coaching and support as required
• Participated in regional human resources and operational performance calibration processes, identifying candidates for promotion and development
• Partnered with Centre and Regional Senior Leadership to successfully open a fulfillment centre in Canada.

Human Resources Manager: November 2014 - May 2019

Human Resources Advisor: April 2012- November 2014

I was responsible for the efficient operation of the Human Resources department and ensured services were carried out confidentially, timely, and professionally. My experience in this role included:

• Key Partner to the Executive and Management teams, providing consultation, advice and support regarding human resources-related issues, and in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
• Developed solution-focused strategies for managers and employees to resolve and manage conflicts through communication and cooperation.
• Collaborated with the management team in developing staffing models, training programs and safety initiatives.
• Supported management in conducting the performance management process, mentoring and coaching on executing performance management and critical conversations.
• Refreshed policies annually and implemented new policies including Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, and Conflict Resolution policies.
• Collaborated with Communications and Senior Leadership Team to develop and execute employment branding and talent attraction campaigns.
• Led the job evaluation process of newly created positions to ensure fair and equitable compensation.
• Second chair in two successful rounds of collective bargaining and participated in setting mandates, strike contingency and related preparation for bargaining.
• Management co-chair of the JHSC, ensuring compliance with the OHSA and timely response to all incident reports and other health and safety incidents.