Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Nicci Plata

Santa Maria,CA

Summary

To obtain a position where I can utilize my skills and experience to provide excellent service to your company with integrity, professionalism, and a teamwork approach.

Experienced HR professional with strong expertise in employee relations and organizational development. Proven track record of fostering positive workplace environments through effective communication, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Highly adaptable, results-driven, and reliable in addressing evolving business needs. Skilled in performance management, policy implementation, and employee engagement strategies.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Employee Relation Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
11.2023 - Current
  • Participate in labor negotiation meetings for successor MOU’s and side letter agreements including managing proposals and responding to information requests from the labor group.
  • Recommend appropriate level of progressive discipline to leaders.
  • Partner with legal counsel on matters that involve proposed and final notices of disciplinary action and working through settlements and last chance agreements with employees.
  • Conduct administrative investigations and assist in meetings pertaining to disciplinary issues for all Departments throughout the County, working closely with labor unions on disciplinary and grievance issues to ensure fair and objective outcomes.
  • Provide consultation and guidance to department leaders and front-line supervisors on sensitive personnel matters, performance management, classification and compensation issues, workforce planning, various employee/labor relations matters, and interpretation of MOU’s and Civil Service Rules to ensure compliance.
  • Participate in revisions and implementation of County policies and procedures that includes the County’s obligation to meet and confer with the appropriate labor groups.

Division Chief: Labor/Employee Relations

City of Santa Maria
12.2021 - 11.2023
  • Managed the Labor/Employee Relations division within Human Resources.
  • Provided consultation and guidance on sensitive personnel matters including disciplinary action, grievances, and performance management.
  • Recommended appropriate level of progressive discipline to leaders.
  • Partnered with legal counsel on matters that involve proposed and final notices of disciplinary action and working through settlements and last chance agreements with employees.
  • Provided guidance and consultation to supervisors/managers on labor matters.
  • Collaborated with 3 labor organizations by building trusted working relationships to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Negotiated labor contracts and side letter agreements with all employee labor groups.

Senior Labor Relations Specialist

PG&E, Corporation
03.2021 - 12.2021
  • Supported Diablo Canyon Power Plant as Senior Labor Relations Specialist.
  • Oversaw grievance procedure at first step in the process.
  • Recommended appropriate level of positive discipline to leaders.
  • Provided guidance and consultation to supervisors/managers on labor matters.
  • Worked collaboratively with 3 labor organizations by building trusting working relationships in order to achieve positive outcomes.

Human Resources Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
07.2016 - 03.2021
  • Provided HR support in all aspects as the Human Resources Manager for the Public Health Department; the department consists of approximately 600 employees. Worked closely with an executive team (5 total); 25 managers and help support approximately 75 supervisors.
  • Provided consultation and guidance on all human resources functions including oversight on all recruitments from beginning to end, disciplinary matters, performance management, layoffs, classification and compensation, labor relations, benefits, leave of absences, employee engagement, reorganizations, workforce planning, organizational development, and all other human resource functions. The Public Health Department employs over 550 regular employees, contractors, and temporary (extra help) staff.
  • Provided direction to staff and serve as the key advisor to the executive and management team for planning, organization development, and administration of human resource policies and procedures.
  • Provided assistance to managers through sensitive disciplinary and leave issues to ensure appropriate level of action and positive outcomes while working closely with the unions, Employee Relations and County Counsel.
  • Collaborated with County Counsel on matters that involve proposed and final notices of disciplinary action; when releasing a probationary employee; and working through settlements and last chance agreements with employees.
  • Participated in leadership/executive level interview panels and made recommendations to the hiring authority.
  • Represented the department at Civil Service Commission meetings on all appeal requests that result from disciplinary action.
  • Coordinated with supervisors/managers on leave of absences, work restrictions, accommodation requests and Back to Work assignment, as needed. Working closely with County Disability Manager and often times County Counsel throughout the interactive process to ensure positive outcomes.
  • Facilitated claims review meetings with Risk Management, County Counsel, and third-party administrator for all workers compensation cases on a quarterly basis.
  • Ensured appropriate staff has completed AB1825 Workplace Harassment Prevention Training in compliance with the law.
  • Oversaw the HR function in Public Health and supervise the full-time recruiter and two (2) HR Technicians.

Assistant HR Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Department of Social Services
05.2015 - 07.2016
  • Assisted the HR Manager on all HR related matters for the Department of Social Services. Responsible for drafting and issuing options letters to employees who were out on a leave of absence as well as issuing Notice of Proposed and Separation letters on issues pertaining to disciplinary matters in accordance with the county’s Civil Service Rules. Advised and issued termination letters for probationary and extra help employees.
  • Acted as department Filing Official for Form 700 reporting requirements and responsible for AB1825 Workplace Harassment Training compliance with the law.
  • Submitted extra help extension requests to the Civil Service Commission and represented the department at the monthly meeting as well as monitored extra help for Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits to ensure compliance with the law.
  • Conducted exit interviews for employees leaving the organization.

Assistant HR Manager for Public Health and ADMHS

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
03.2014 - 05.2015
  • Assisted HR Manager on all HR related matters for the Public Health Department and Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services and supervised two (2) HR staff on the day-to-day operations and provide guidance on all HR related matters.
  • Submitted extra help extension requests to the Civil Service Commission and represented the department at the monthly meeting as well as monitored extra help for ACA benefits to ensure compliance with the law.
  • Approved and processed eP/HRIS transactions including timesheets.
  • Reviewed and processed Temporary & Modified Work Agreements for employees with work restrictions and coordinated with county Disability Manager to ensure positive outcomes.
  • Conducted investigations into alleged misconduct by employees and interviewed witnesses to determine the level of discipline appropriate for the behavior.

Employee Relations Specialist

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
09.2009 - 03.2014
  • Attend and participated in labor negotiation meetings by presenting data to assist managers in making operational and administrative decisions for the Employee Relations division. Draft and distribute summaries of negotiation meetings to the CEO and Assistant HR Director for review and final distribution to appropriate department directors’ and union organizations.
  • Conducted administrative investigations and assisted in meetings pertaining to disciplinary issues for all Departments throughout the County, working closely with labor unions on disciplinary and grievance issues to ensure fair and objective outcomes.
  • Participated in Health Oversight Committee meetings, which included drafting and distributing of agendas and minutes to labor organization representatives.
  • Conducted salary surveys by obtaining and analyzing information from comparable city/county agencies and compiled data into excel spreadsheets for further consideration.
  • Created and developed spreadsheets to gather various data pertaining to County employees for the HR Director to provide to the Board of Supervisors and at the request of union organizations.
  • Participated in revisions and implementation of County policies and procedures.

Education

High School Diploma -

Santa Maria High School
Santa Maria, CA
06.1991

Skills

  • Skilled in Microsoft Office applications and HRIS systems
  • Detail-oriented professional
  • Performance Management
  • Employee relations
  • Disciplinary actions
  • Labor agreements
  • Workplace investigations
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Data-driven decision making

Accomplishments

  • Employed business acumen and creative thinking skills to aid in developing a layoff abstract for Santa Barbara County Social Services which resulted in over 100 employees being affected by either layoff or displacement rights to another job class in accordance with the county’s Civil Service Rules. Strategized opportunities to minimize the final number of layoff separations from service by identifying alternative solutions.
  • Used technical expertise and analytical skills to review and revise multiple policies and procedures, which requires the keen ability to interpret complex Federal, State, and County laws and regulations.
  • Developed strong working relationships with other County/City departments as well as labor organizations that help to achieve positive outcomes for all parties involved.

Timeline

Employee Relation Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
11.2023 - Current

Division Chief: Labor/Employee Relations

City of Santa Maria
12.2021 - 11.2023

Senior Labor Relations Specialist

PG&E, Corporation
03.2021 - 12.2021

Human Resources Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
07.2016 - 03.2021

Assistant HR Manager

County of Santa Barbara – Department of Social Services
05.2015 - 07.2016

Assistant HR Manager for Public Health and ADMHS

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
03.2014 - 05.2015

Employee Relations Specialist

County of Santa Barbara – Human Resources
09.2009 - 03.2014

High School Diploma -

Santa Maria High School

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