Gisele Williams

Director of Employee Engagement & Benefits/Leave with 20+ years of HR leadership improving benefits administration, leave management, employee relations and employee programs. Director of Human Resources leadership in profit and non-profit.

Experience including but not limited to, assisting with and fulfilling organization staffing needs and requirements. A proven track record of using excellent personal, communication and organization skills to lead and improve HR departments, recruit excellent personnel, and improve department efficiencies. Leads multi-platform HR system implementations, reduces processing errors through standardized workflows, and resolves discrepancies to protect budgets.

Brings strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills and works independently or with a team.

Director of Employee Engagement & Benefits/Leave - Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

(2022-03)

Direct employee engagement, benefits and leave team to improve HR responsiveness and daily operations while managing day-to-day HR responsibilities

• Led agency-wide strategic planning and managed cross functional HR projects to align programs with goals
• Coordinate with administrative, operational and senior leaders to align HR initiatives to agency objectives
• Administer all benefit plans, 457b and 401a retirement plans, and life insurance programs
• Ensure regulatory compliance and complete required reporting on schedule
• Mange labor relations and maintain working relationships with ATU, IBEW and ULU unions
• Manage implementation of four (4) HR and benefits platforms: ORACLE, NEOGOV, Employee Navigator and ADP FMLA
• Implemented employee engagement programs (Employee of the Month, surveys, wellness, EAP, retiree recognition)
• Led vendor performance audits for benefits carriers and produced remediation plans for service gaps
• Standardized leave-request forms and approval workflow, reducing processing errors and missing documentation
• Train HR staff on ORACLE, NEOGOV, Employee Navigator and ADP FMLA modules to improve case handling accuracy
• Train HR specialist on complex FMLA and leave eligibility rules to improve case handling consistency
• Redesigned benefits communication materials, reducing employee inquiry volume during open enrollment

Interim Director of Employment Engagement & Benefits - Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

(2021-03 - 2022-02)

• Designed and refined engagement and benefits processes to reduce administrative steps and cycle time
• Collaborated with union leaders to ensure contract and CBA compliance during benefits administration
• Audited vendor invoices and reconciled claims billing, correcting discrepancies and preventing overpayments
• Authored clear open enrollment communication templates that lowered repetitive HR inquiries
• Rewrote open enrollment timelines and checklist, reducing missed deadlines and late paperwork submissions
• Worked directly with broker on all benefit plans (medical/dental/vision/FSA/DFSA/supplemental policies) for cost analysis rates
• Developed benefit presentation and conduct benefits orientation, CEO's monthly round table session, and payroll
• Coordinated agency wide benefits and engagement programs, improving clarity of offering for employees

Human Resources Consultant - Robert Half Management Resources

(2020-06 - 2021-02)

Consultant and client services for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA)

• Managed onboarding and personnel processes for 850 employees, ensuring compliance and timely hire completions
• Designed a 10-step compensation grading plan for agency roles covering officers to administrative staff
• Served on NORTA HR leadership team and contributed to job description and policy development
• Audited employee handbook and revised policies to align client practices with state employment laws
• Wrote vendor scopes of work and created a template specifying deliverables, timelines and acceptance criteria

Corporate Human Resources Manager - GCR, Inc. Software Technology

(2019-01 - 2020-05)

• Established HR business partner model serving five divisions and 350 employees, improving HR accessibility and consistency
• Managed corporate compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, reducing legal risk
• Communicated policy and procedure changes to leadership and staff, ensuring adherence to updated requirements
• Advised CEO, CFO, VP of Shared Services, and legal counsel on complex HR matters and employment decisions
• Coordinated committees and special projects addressing employee relations and company-wide initiatives
• Maintained compliance with AA, EEO, FLSA, FMLA, DOL, ACA and OFCCP requirements across operations
• Served as training liaison to educate managers on employment laws, workplace conduct and morale building techniques

Director of Human Resources - Marriott Hotels

(2006-10 - 2018-08)

• Business partner to the overall management team
• Manage the Human Resources systems and practices
• Provide counsel on policy and procedure interpretation, recruiting, retention, and employee relations issues
• Align all Human Resources policies and programs
• Investigate and resolve complaints of harassment and/or discrimination
• Collaborated with the legal and Corporate Human Resources department
• Reduce safety related issues in compliance with all federal, state and local occupational safety and health laws
• Overseeing the annual review process, benefits, recruitment and selection practices and process, ensure interviewing techniques are in compliance with the organizations policies and procedures as well as applicable laws and regulations
• Review and audit approval of salary matrix as well Human Resources audits
• Counsel and advise management regarding salary planning, compensation, promotions, reclassifications and transfers
• Implemented and converted contract labor to FTE with a savings of 90k monthly
• Developed consistent training program for staff which improved customer and employee experience
• Developed employee recognition programs that improved employee engagement by 50%
• Corporate Human Resources Director liaison comprised of on boarding new Human Resources Directors, training and employee relations for newly acquired locations

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration and Economics - Southern University of New Orleans