Katherine Defaye
Angus,ON
Summary
Skilled business leader offering over 10 years of management experience developing high-performing teams through recruitment, training, organizational development and evaluation of performance. Talented communicator with a persuasive style and results-driven approach. Proactive in building strategic partnerships, fostering collaboration, coordinating tactical plans, and leveraging talent and technology to achieve maximum potential.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
DIRECTOR, HR PROJECTS
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Mississauga, Ontario
07.2023 - Current
- Led interdisciplinary project team through selection, contract negotiation, project planning, and implementation of UKG HR Suite (HR Data, Payroll, Benefits, Recruitment, Compensation and Performance Management) in a two-phased implementation.
- Managed all aspects of project including budget, timelines, risks, change management and reporting to Steering Committee and CHRO.
- Worked collaboratively with leaders across organization to ensure system supported organization-wide initiatives.
- Fostered strong business partnership with IT to ensure seamless interaction between HR subject matter experts and IT project resources (Project Management, Change Management, Testing, etc.)
- Established strong relationship with Union leadership to allow for open communication, and effective risk mitigation/issue resolution.
- Participated as a member of HR Leadership team, collaborated with other Directors and VP regarding People Strategy, team structure, HR initiatives., etc.
MANAGER, EMPLOYEE SERVICE CENTRE
St. Michael's Hospital / Unity Health Toronto
Toronto, ON
04.2015 - 06.2019
- Responsible for day to day management of team with focus on reviving team morale, and repairing/growing relationship with various key stakeholders.
- Redeveloped team structure, expanded team to cover three hospital sites.
- Set clear expectations and SLAs for customer service reps, transformed HR reputation across organization.
- Streamlined processes to completely eradicate overtime hours and allow for ever increasing volumes of transactions and staff inquiries.
- Exceeded service level targets by reducing average processing time from 4 weeks to 1 week.
- Nominated by Senior Leadership to participate in Mentorship Program based on excellent Performance Review and 360 Assessment.
MANAGER, WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT & STAFF SCHEDULING
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, ON
12.2014 - 04.2015
- Managed the new team of system specialists focused on supporting schedulers and ensuring accuracy of time entered for payroll purposes.
- Fostered a collaborative work environment where the diverse skillsets of the team were utilized to their fullest potential.
- Built strong relationships with IT resources and other HR streams to ensure that cross-functional dependencies were met, and issues resolved in a timely manner.
- Nurtured relationship with managers and union representatives to fully understand reported issues, and set consistent expectations.
PROJECT MANAGER
St. Michael’s Hospital
Toronto, ON
05.2014 - 12.2014
- Led the Workforce Management team in a multi-stream ERP implementation.
- Responsible for day to day management of team to ensure deliverables were met according to agreed timelines.
- Built knowledge base around hospital culture and policies to ensure seamless transition to operations.
- Worked with multiple stakeholders throughout the hospital to understand operational impacts and mitigate foreseeable risks through system adaptation or end user communication.
- Worked closely with communications and change management to provide relevant and impactful messaging to end users.
MANAGER, IT and PMO
Blue Pebble Inc
Toronto, ON
02.2010 - 05.2014
- Increasingly senior role with Blue Pebble, an entrepreneurial start-up healthcare and consulting company.
- Recruited as the first employee and played many roles as the company moved from concept to a fully formed organization.
- Hired for my ability to bring structure to unformed environments and quickly become proficient in varied roles.
- Performed initial HR function for the organization until department was formed.
- Implemented and managed the entire IT operation setting up an infrastructure that could be accessed from any site.
- Obtained buy-in from physicians and practitioners to implement integrated EMR solution across four clinics.
- Setup and managed PMO function including all aspects of business requirements gathering and prioritization to ensure requirements of clinical and professional staff across the BP divisions were met.
- Spearheaded change management across the organization to ensure efficient adoption of technology.
PROCESS ANALYST / PROJECT COORDINATOR
Blue Pebble Inc, Alberta Health Services
Calgary, AB
07.2009 - 02.2010
CONSULTANT
Blue Pebble Inc
06.2008 - 02.2010
PROCESS ANALYST
Blue Pebble Inc
06.2008 - 05.2009
BUSINESS COORDINATOR
Blue Pebble Inc
04.2006 - 05.2008
BUSINESS ANALYST
MOH Long Term Care Common Assessment Project
04.2005 - 04.2006
Education
Prosci Change Management Certification -
01.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Partial Completion
Carleton University
Ottawa, ONSkills
- Charismatic Leadership
- Business Planning
- Staff Development
- Team Building
- Creativity and Innovation
- Issues Resolution
- Budget Management
- Strategy and execution
- Contract Negotiation
- Systems Thinking
Timeline
DIRECTOR, HR PROJECTS
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
07.2023 - Current
MANAGER, EMPLOYEE SERVICE CENTRE
St. Michael's Hospital / Unity Health Toronto
04.2015 - 06.2019
MANAGER, WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT & STAFF SCHEDULING
St. Michael's Hospital
12.2014 - 04.2015
PROJECT MANAGER
St. Michael’s Hospital
05.2014 - 12.2014
MANAGER, IT and PMO
Blue Pebble Inc
02.2010 - 05.2014
PROCESS ANALYST / PROJECT COORDINATOR
Blue Pebble Inc, Alberta Health Services
07.2009 - 02.2010
CONSULTANT
Blue Pebble Inc
06.2008 - 02.2010
PROCESS ANALYST
Blue Pebble Inc
06.2008 - 05.2009
BUSINESS COORDINATOR
Blue Pebble Inc
04.2006 - 05.2008
BUSINESS ANALYST
MOH Long Term Care Common Assessment Project
04.2005 - 04.2006
Prosci Change Management Certification -
Bachelor of Arts - Partial Completion
Carleton University
Similar Profiles
SAKINA KHANSAKINA KHAN
Screening Officer at Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSA, GARDA World, Greater Toronto Airports AuthorityScreening Officer at Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSA, GARDA World, Greater Toronto Airports Authority
EYLUL CELIKEYLUL CELIK
Management Assistant at Greater Toronto Airports AuthorityManagement Assistant at Greater Toronto Airports Authority
DAVID FITZGERALDDAVID FITZGERALD
Project Coordinator at Greater Toronto Airport AuthorityProject Coordinator at Greater Toronto Airport Authority