Chief People Officer - State of Colorado, Behavioral Health Administration - Denver, CO
(2024-11)
Direct and manages all human resources functions for a permanent state entity responsible for leading Colorado's behavioral health priorities, overseeing HR operations, benefits, worker's compensation, and case management for 200 full-time employees, while serving as a strategic partner to the Commissioner.
- Supervise and execute all workforce strategies, employee engagement programs, and labor relations to maintain internal equity and market competitiveness.
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive organizational development strategy to align human capital with BHA's mission and long-term business goals.
- Led cultural transformation initiatives focused on fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Partnered with senior leaders to identify development gaps and execute leadership coaching and succession planning programs.
- Managed performance for direct reports, utilizing coaching, mentoring, and progressive discipline to address issues.
- Acted as the primary subject matter expert (SME) on State Personnel Board Rules, Technical Guidance, and federal employment law.
- Consulted with program managers to resolve complex employee relations issues and determine legally defensible courses of action, mitigating organizational risk.
- Managed union conflict resolution, researched complaints, and coordinated Unfair Labor Practice issues with the Attorney General's Office.
- Partnered with the Commissioner and CFO to develop and manage the annual HR unit budget
Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer - COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (CDHS) - Denver, CO
(2022-06 - 2024-11)
Oversee the operations and provide strategic leadership to the Human Resources Division; supports the division's strategy, ensures accountability across teams, and ensures effective HR services and operations; manage the daily operation of multiple work units through subordinate professional program supervisors; determines the annual business plans that integrate with the department's mission and goals, determine the implementation of policies and guidelines, develop the Division budgets, establish staffing, and directly control the work of others as a second-level supervisor; acts as a subject matter expert (SME) in the State of Colorado Personnel Board Rules and Technical Guidance and acts on behalf of the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO); provides HR consultation and coaching to business leaders of the Department. When the business requires it, the deputy covers subordinate supervisors and performs other duties as assigned.
- Develop, evaluate, maintain, and update/control CDHS guidelines, policies, and procedures in conjunction with all HR teams as well as the payroll division and other Administration Solutions departments as needed.
- Maintain and expand knowledge and understanding of existing and proposed federal and state laws/regulations affecting human resource management. Identify trends that could affect organizational objectives and/or operational resources. Interpret appropriate laws and policies and advise management, and employees accordingly.
- Advises management on the formulation and administration of plans and policies for human resource activities.
- Acts as an internal consultant for analyzing and determining solutions to human resource issues.
- Ensures the Division is in compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Proficient as a thought partner in the development of the strategic planning process by setting forth work plans, timeframes, objectives, and measurements and identifying the individuals or teams accountable for implementing work plans.
Employee and Labor Relations Supervisor - COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (CDHS) - Denver, CO
(2021-08 - 2022-06)
The Employee and Labor Relations department support employee investigations, contract negotiation and Partnership Agreement disputes. The HRS&S team supports HR projects, training and all sound HR support for CDHS. In addition, providing necessary training for areas of deficiency (such as conflict resolution, coaching and performance management etc.)
- Develop, implement, and ensure standard work processes and best practice tools are consistently adopted, sharing learning across the Employee and Labor Relations team.
- Find opportunities to improve employee and labor relations and help build and implement innovative solutions, processes, and policies.
- Provides guidance and mentorship on performance management issues, including the development of performance improvement actions.
- Coordinates and provides training for departmental supervisory personnel in the areas of progressive discipline, grievance processing, and partnership agreement administration
- Design and deliver training for employees, supervisors, managers, and local Human Resource functional areas pertaining to employee relations and related partnership agreement compliance
- Research trends and practices in labor/employee relations and recommend programs that will enhance employee and labor relations at CDHS.
- Keeps up to date on upcoming laws and regulations helping the department adjust policies, practices, and procedures accordingly
- Manages competing, high-priority demands, prioritizing workload, managing projects, and multiple responsibilities against strict deadlines.
- Assists in the design and coordination of team member engagement programs designed to improve or maintain morale and engagement.
Employee and Labor Relations Lead - COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (CDHS) - Denver, CO
(2021-04 - 2021-08)
- Functions as an internal consultant to assist management in identifying and resolving complex employee and manager questions/concerns while maintaining and respecting confidentiality
- Ensure timely and effective responses to employee relations issues through employee and management engagement and counseling, preventative problem solving, and strategic planning with all parties involved.
- Works closely with internal and external resources to respond to agency claims including but not limited to EEOC and Civil Rights claims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
- Assists with developing, coordinating, and recommending changes for the improvement of workflow in the program area.
- Partners with management teams in the administration of collective bargaining agreements.
Human Resources Business Partner - COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (CDHS) - Denver, CO
(2019-07 - 2021-04)
- Provides strategic advice, counsel, and consultative solutions to executives on people management aspects of their business to include driving organizational development, team effectiveness, executing change management strategies, and employee relations/engagement solutions
- Contributes to driving a performance culture by providing support and training management in the areas of goal setting, evaluation, providing feedback, coaching, and developmental planning. Participates in the development, implementation, and enhancement of performance management programs and maintains consistent job titles and job descriptions for employees.
- Acts as a strategic business partner with senior leadership clients to understand the organization's business strategies and align human resource strategy and programs to achieve the business goals, including alignment of succession planning, leadership development, resource planning, talent acquisition, compensation, performance management, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
- Serves as the subject matter expert on all matters dealing with Personal Service Contract to include needs assessment, compliance with State statutes/rules, and process development.
- Influences and fosters collaboration between opposing parties; provides clarity and guidance in highly technical and/or political situations.
- Streamlines business processes; plans and implements large, complex programs; aligns human resources and operations with organizational business requirements.
- Develops a collaborative partnership with client groups; ensuring HR is part of Strategic Planning for programs.
- Works in concert with the Attorney General Office in providing guidance and statute and Board rule interpretation in the area of employee relations, performance management, and litigation processes.
Program Assistant I - COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (CDHS) - Denver, CO
(2017-12 - 2019-07)
Served as the office manager for the Southern Regional Office responsible for assisting the Regional Director by applying knowledge of and/or interpreting basic principles, rules
