Lissette Medina
Los Angeles
Summary
Dynamic HR leader with extensive experience in excelling in labor relations and strategic negotiation. Proven track record in enhancing employee engagement and implementing effective workforce planning initiatives. Skilled in conflict resolution and data analysis, driving organizational success through innovative HR strategies and strong union partnerships.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Labor Relations
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO HEALTH SYSTEM
06.2024 - 03.2025
- Provide strategic vision, leadership, and planning for the Labor Relations activities for UC San Diego Health, Health Science, and Ambulatory and Physician Group, with an employee population of over 20,000 unionized, represented employees.
- Directed strategic labor relations for over 20,000 staff across 17 union agreements, implementing comprehensive workforce solutions, and dispute resolution protocols.
- Collaborate with HR to create workforce strategies, resolve disputes, and enhance employee relations.
- Re-established union relationships with the local union leaders of C.N.A., SEIU, UAW, AFSCME, UPTE, AFT, UAPD, and Teamsters.
- Analyzed labor trends to guide policy, ensuring effective contract negotiations, and union partnerships.
- Executed local negotiations with multiple unions, ensuring alignment with health system objectives, while maintaining positive stakeholder relationships.
- Spearheaded complex negotiations with eight major unions, fostering positive partnerships while maintaining organizational objectives and stakeholder interests.
- Drove timely dispute resolutions through proactive union engagement, establishing sustainable partnerships, and improving workplace dynamics.
- Transformed labor relations through data-driven trend analysis, implementing strategic policies that strengthen institutional partnerships.
Human Resources Consultant – Kaiser Permanente Regional Offices
KAISER PERMANENTE – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION
Los Angeles
10.2022 - 06.2024
- Lead bargaining and implementation of client groups' initiatives, such as workforce planning and organizational changes.
- Serve as a strategic partner to Southern California Kaiser Service and Hawaii Region leaders on various employee and labor relations matters, such as performance management, leveling disciplinary actions, complex investigations, and compliance-related issues.
- Guided the development and deployment of operational strategies, initiatives, and organizational changes.
- Oversaw the administration of the various collective bargaining agreements, managed and resolved grievances, and performed ad hoc bargaining to support operational changes and initiatives.
- Maintained relationships with various Unions across the regions – SEIU-UHW, USW, UNAC/UHCP, C.N.A, NUHW, SCNSC, HNHP, UFCW to address topics of interest promptly and to build cohesive relationships between the unions and organizational leaders.
- Oversaw impact bargaining resulting from organizational or departmental initiatives, changes in business decisions, or changes in employment conditions.
- Directed and partnered in overseeing employee and labor relations activities by consulting on employee relations, labor relations, performance management, and employee discipline issues and recommendations.
Employee Relations Manager
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
Los Angeles
09.2019 - 10.2022
- Primarily responsible for overseeing Union activities, such as the grievance process, including arbitration and mediation hearings between the Southern California Gas Company system-wide and the six local labor unions.
- Responsible for overseeing the negotiation, implementation, and administration of the collective bargaining agreements.
- Developed a comprehensive employee relations framework, partnering with six unions to establish efficient arbitration protocols, and enhance labor-management dynamics.
- Orchestrated strategic mediation programs and conflict resolution initiatives, reducing workplace disputes and grievance cases.
- Spearheaded cross-functional engagement strategies with department heads to implement fair employment practices, and strengthen communication channels.
- Revamped HR policies and compliance procedures, driving measurable improvements in workplace culture and operational efficiency.
- Designed and executed strategic change management initiatives, fostering a positive organizational culture, and enhancing employee satisfaction metrics.
- Directed a comprehensive labor relations strategy, establishing efficient arbitration protocols with six unions, while maintaining positive workplace dynamics.
Senior Employee and Labor Relations Manager
KECK MEDICINE OF USC
Los Angeles
11.2015 - 09.2019
- Implemented and managed the systemwide labor and employee relations framework for over 5,000 employees. Additionally, ensuring contract compliance and aligning labor relations activities with the Medical Center's organizational business objectives.
- Lead strategic employee relations initiatives and labor negotiations across multiple facilities, implementing comprehensive workplace policies to enhance organizational culture.
- Developed and executed dispute resolution frameworks, reducing workplace conflicts through systematic analysis and proactive mediation strategies.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to streamline HR processes, fostering positive labor relations, and ensuring compliance with employment regulations.
- Drive the modernization of the workplace policies, which resulted in improved employee satisfaction and strengthened labor-management partnerships.
- Guided managers through complex employee relations matters, providing expertise in conflict resolution and performance management protocols.
- Spearheaded labor negotiations, yielding over $550,000 in savings, while managing relations for over 5,000 employees across multiple healthcare facilities.
- Provided senior management with guidance on labor relations activities, including performance management, employee relations matters, compensation plan design, and contractual interpretations.
- Managed responses to NLRB charges, grievances, and arbitrations systemwide, which included conducting hearings, drafting, and responding to grievances, planning, and representing the hospital in arbitration proceedings.
- Facilitated collaborations by working with executive leadership and management to establish and maintain positive employer-employee and union relationships to contribute to productivity.
Human Resources Manager
TESORO REFINING & MARKETING COMPANY
Los Angeles
02.2013 - 11.2015
- Led HR operations for over 5,000 employees, which included managing all the plant-wide human resource activities, including labor relations, employee relations, recruitment, hiring, training, and performance management.
- Led successful negotiations, improving contractual agreements, and employee satisfaction.
- Resolved complex personnel issues, guiding EEOC and other employee relations matters.
- Implemented a new leave program, enhancing compliance, and operational efficiency.
- Developed HR strategies, anticipating organizational needs and trends.
- Led HR operations for over 5,000 employees, implementing performance management systems, and reducing turnover through strategic talent retention initiatives.
- Redesigned recruitment processes and employee development programs, establishing comprehensive training frameworks that enhanced workforce capabilities.
- Analyzed workforce metrics to optimize staffing levels and developed data-driven HR strategies that improved employee satisfaction ratings.
- Partnered with department heads to resolve complex personnel matters and fostered a positive workplace culture through effective conflict resolution.
- Managed benefits administration, ensuring compliance, while advocating for enhanced employee wellness programs and work-life balance initiatives.
- Streamlined HR compliance procedures for multi-state operations, integrating regulatory requirements across jurisdictions, while maintaining 100% audit readiness.
Regional Human Resources Director- Human Resources Department
EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS GROUP
Los Angeles
05.2007 - 02.2013
- Spearheaded the labor relations, employee relations activities, staff development, talent acquisition, employee engagement, compensation, and benefits management for the largest battery recycling centers and 13 distribution centers across the western region and Mexico.
- Led strategic HR initiatives across multiple regions, directing talent acquisition, development programs, and organizational restructuring to drive business growth.
- Redesigned benefits plan, reducing costs while expanding offerings for over 2,000 employees.
- Implemented return-to-work programs, significantly reducing workers' compensation claims.
- Collaborated on legal investigations, representing company interests at governmental hearings.
- Implemented comprehensive performance management systems and workforce analytics, optimizing resource allocation and improving employee engagement.
- Streamlined HR operations through digital transformation, reducing processing time and enhancing service delivery across regional offices.
- Partnered with senior leadership to develop succession planning strategies and establish talent development frameworks aligned with business objectives.
- Spearheaded cultural transformation initiatives, fostering inclusive workplace practices, and establishing employee wellness programs across regions.
- Orchestrated comprehensive HR transformation initiatives, establishing performance metrics, and succession frameworks that enhanced talent retention across regions.
- Implemented a Workers' Compensation Return-to-Work Program, which resulted in lower claim costs.
- Collaborated with in-house counsel on EEOC, OFCCP, FEHA, and Title VII investigations; represented the company at governmental hearings.
- Created and implemented talent selection strategies based on a thorough analysis of organizational needs, statistical reports, and turnover rates; identified and screened candidates, conducted interviews, and facilitated background and reference checks.
- Renegotiated health benefits for over 2,000 employees, overseeing the transition from Cigna to Kaiser Network, and transitioned over 1,000 employee profiles from ADP to SAP.
- Improved human resource functions by spearheading plant-wide projects to create job descriptions, revamping compensation structures, and introducing training programs in alignment with business goals.
Education
MBA - Business Administration And Management
Keller Graduate School of Management
Long Beach, CA06-2005
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration and Management
California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA06-2002
Skills
- Workday
- PeopleSoft HRMS
- Oracle
- ADP
- SAP SuccessFactors
- Federal and State Employment Law
- OSHA regulations
- FMLA
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Talent Acquisition
- Job Description Development
- Employee Coaching & Mentoring
- Leadership Development
- Multi-Disciplinary Team Leadership
- Labor Relations
- Dispute Resolution
- Performance Management
- Workforce Planning
- Collective Bargaining and Negotiations
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data analysis
- Change management
- Conflict resolution
- Union relationship management
- HR policy development
- Recruitment
- Effective communication
- Policy development and enforcement
- Supervision and training
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Written communication
- Strategic Planning
- Human Resources Management
- Performance Evaluation and Monitoring
Certification
SHRM California Law HR Specialty, 12/08/21
Skills Recruiting
- LinkedIn Recruiter
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Talent Acquisition
- Job Description Development
Skills Performance Management
- Employee Coaching & Mentoring
- Leadership Development
- Multi-Disciplinary Team Leadership
Skills Law Compliance
- Federal and State Employment Law
- OSHA regulations
- FMLA/ADA/EEO
Skills Software
- Workday
- PeopleSoft HRMS
- Oracle
- ADP
- SAP SuccessFactors
Timeline
Director, Labor Relations
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO HEALTH SYSTEM
06.2024 - 03.2025
Human Resources Consultant – Kaiser Permanente Regional Offices
KAISER PERMANENTE – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION
10.2022 - 06.2024
Employee Relations Manager
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
09.2019 - 10.2022
Senior Employee and Labor Relations Manager
KECK MEDICINE OF USC
11.2015 - 09.2019
Human Resources Manager
TESORO REFINING & MARKETING COMPANY
02.2013 - 11.2015
Regional Human Resources Director- Human Resources Department
EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS GROUP
05.2007 - 02.2013
MBA - Business Administration And Management
Keller Graduate School of Management
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration and Management
California State University, Los Angeles
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