Senior HR & Operations Specialist - Whole Foods Market - Central Support (Remote/Hybrid)
(2021-07 - 2025-07)
- Managed 50+ leave of absence (LOA) cases per month, ensuring strict compliance with federal/state laws and internal policy.
- Acted as primary point of contact for employees and leadership on LOA eligibility, documentation, and return-to-work coordination.
- Partnered with Benefits, Payroll, and HR departments to resolve complex leave inquiries, cutting resolution time by 30%.
- Tracked, reviewed, and processed LOA requests in Workday and Salesforce, maintaining 100% data accuracy.
- Streamlined recruitment processes for 400+ locations worldwide, reducing time-to-hire by 20%.
- Supported unemployment claims by coordinating with state agencies and Equifax, ensuring timely submission of accurate records.
- Trained and onboarded new Senior Specialists in Workday, Salesforce, Kronos, and proprietary internal systems.
- Led Evergreen Strategy initiatives across 25+ stores, improving operational efficiency and team communication.
- Participated in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for Workday updates, ensuring smooth system rollouts.
Operations & Team Leader - Whole Foods Market - Evanston & Green Bay Road, IL
(2016-08 - 2021-07)
- Directed daily operations for high-volume retail locations, achieving a 15% increase in efficiency through optimized scheduling and operational audits.
- Oversaw hiring, onboarding, and training for 15+ employees, with a 20% improvement in departmental performance.
- Designed and maintained schedules for 70+ team members across multiple departments, aligning labor needs with sales forecasts.
- Coordinated regional initiatives that boosted operational compliance by 20% and enhanced workplace culture.
- Implemented corrective action plans for 20+ employees, leading to a 30% performance improvement while maintaining high morale.
- Spearheaded Amazon Prime in-store logistics improvements, increasing order fulfillment speed by 20%.
- Mentored 10 team members, resulting in 4 promotions and 3 internal transfers within one year.
Customer Service Supervisor & Floor Lead - Whole Foods Market - Northbrook, IL
(2012-08 - 2016-08)
- Supervised front-end operations for a large-scale grocery store, ensuring top-tier customer service and operational accuracy.
- Trained, coached, and evaluated employees on customer engagement and operational best practices.
- Managed cash handling, register balancing, and daily sales reporting.
- Coordinated with other department leads to optimize staffing and customer flow.
Cashier / Barista - Whole Foods Market - Northbrook, IL
(2009-10 - 2012-08)
- Delivered excellent customer service in a high-volume retail environment.
- Prepared specialty coffee beverages with precision and attention to detail.
- Processed high-volume transactions quickly and accurately while maintaining accuracy in cash handling.
- Assisted with product stocking, merchandising, and seasonal display setups.
Nanny (Part-Time) - Various Families - Chicago, IL
- Provided daily childcare for multiple families, managing routines, homework help, and activity planning.
- Created structured, safe, and engaging environments for children ranging from toddlers to school-age.
- Coordinated schedules and activities to support developmental milestones.
