Kara Wood

Provide leadership and subject matter expertise in the delivery, administration and processes related to benefits management across the company (US, Canada and UK) by supporting current employees, retirees and former employees, HRBP’s and internal leaders by delivering communication and executing on escalated concerns, ensuring plan compliance, policy implementation and owning the relationships with external vendors.

• own and implement all aspects of benefits annual open enrollment cycle.
• lead benefits team personnel, supervising daily performance as well as training and improvement plans.
• research, problem solve and respond on issues related to benefits programs, objectives and procedures raised by employees, HR and third-party vendors.
• collaborate with payroll to ensure benefits changes are entered appropriately in payroll system for payroll deductions and timely HRIS management.
• assist employees with escalated medical, dental, vision, life, RRSP, 401K, pension, retiree and other benefits issues.
• scale and align global benefits across the business post acquisitions.
• develop partnerships with vendors acting as the first point of contact and the conduit to the business.
• manage leave of absence programs, reports and administration and partner with wellness team members to implement programs and policies related to short term disability, long term disability, pregnancy and parental leaves.
• subject matter expertise on state compliance related to paid family leave laws, state STD programs, time off plans and integrating internal processes to implement pay according to policies.
• teach and mentor direct reports, advise leaders and HRBP's and support business cross functions with payroll and wellness team.

Provide professional HR guidance and support to internal client groups (Engineering, QA, DevOps, Digital Ops, IT) in areas such as benefits, compensation, employee performance, documentation production, yearly review cycles, employee relations and advise on local compliance and legislation alignment to the larger organization.

• manage employee relations issues professionally, resolving conflicts efficiently while maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• act as partner to both the business and external benefit vendors to
  review and assess coverage, tender plans to market for analysis,
  provide insight and feedback to senior decision makers for approval
  on wider scope alignment of benefits across the business regardless
  of geography (ie implementing SUB Plans)
• advise on and communicate the COVID return to work plans,
  vaccination policies in consultation with legal counsel. Plan and
  implement reopening strategy.
• co-chair the company culture committee and plan, implement and
  host employee engagement activities and events
• own and administer benefits programs for the Canadian population
  including medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D and RRSP plan
• lead the Canadian Co-op/internship program successfully driving its implementation stage from a 1 person test cycle in 2019 to current status of 30+ including owning the relationships with 3 partner universities, recruitment and talent teams, guidance on appropriate compensation and supporting managers of teams the interns work within.
• coach managers on personal strengths development using Gallup/Clifton
  Strengths framework,

Frontline HR Partner and subject matter expert for Canadian employees for benefits, compliance, employee relations and onboarding/offboarding with office management duties.

• coordinate new employee onboarding with the larger HR team and own benefits onboarding processes for Canadian employees.
• credit card and expense reconciliation (Oracle & Concur)
• manage and communicate the COVID return to work plans,
  vaccination policies in consultation with legal counsel, plan and
  implement reopening strategy.
• source vendors for services, plan and coordinate with staff.
• manage contractor workflow and supervise labour.
• coordinate new employee onboarding with the larger HR team and
  own benefits onboarding processes for Canadian employees.
• credit card and expense reconciliation (Oracle & Concur)
• book travel arrangements, calendar management for meeting rooms and arrange interviews on behalf of senior leaders.
• oversaw office inventory activities - ordering, stocking and shipment receiving.

• progressed through various roles - Front Desk Agent, Front Office Manager, Group Sales Manager, Revenue Analyst, Revenue Manager and was considered one of the top 5 Hilton CRM system experts for Canada.
• led and project managed the implementation of a new sales CRM system. Selected and directed the team, delegated work, reviewed weekly goals and deliverables and drove the work process to completion.
• managed a team of 12 front office staff - scheduling, payroll, time off approvals, performance reviews, recruiting, training, terminating etc.
• trained and supervised one sales coordinator.