Kelli McCandless

Senior HR Generalist / HR Business Partner with 10+ years of experience across healthcare, manufacturing, union, non-union, multi-state, and remote environments. Trusted partner to leaders and employees on workplace investigations, employee relations, performance management, leave and accommodations, benefits, recruiting, onboarding, and HR compliance. Currently supports HR and benefits operations for 22,000+ employees across five lines of business; previously supporting approximately 1,000 employees, including 500 union employees.

Benefits Operations Associate - TAG - The Aspen Group - Remote

(2024-06)

• Support enterprise HR and benefits operations for 22,000+ employees across five lines of business using Workday HCM and ServiceNow.
• Resolve complex employee cases involving benefits, leave, disability, COBRA, qualifying life events, dependent eligibility, payroll deductions, arrears, and eligibility discrepancies.
• Coordinate with employees, HR teams, payroll, carriers, vendors, third-party administrators, and Legal to resolve high-volume, time-sensitive issues accurately and consistently.
• Audit premium rates, payroll deductions, eligibility files, and dependent documentation; identify discrepancies and drive resolution.
• Supported the ServiceNow-to-Workday Help migration through test-case execution, issue identification, user acceptance testing, and go-live support.

Senior Human Resources Generalist - AP Tech - Napa, CA / Hybrid

(2023-12 - 2024-06)

• Served as a full-scope HR partner across employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, recruiting, onboarding, benefits, leave administration, policy interpretation, and compliance.
• Led investigations involving policy violations, conflict, retaliation concerns, and performance issues; conducted interviews, documented findings, and partnered with Legal and leadership on outcomes.
• Advised managers on employee relations, corrective action, performance management, policy interpretation, and consistent application of employment practices.
• Administered FMLA, ADA accommodations, CFRA, and California leave programs in compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Managed full-cycle onboarding, including background checks, drug testing, I-9 verification, offer letters, and New Hire Orientation.

Human Resources Generalist - Jelly Belly Candy Company - Fairfield, CA / On-site

(2021-10 - 2023-10)

• Supported approximately 1,000 employees, including roughly 500 union employees, across employee relations, labor relations, recruiting, leave, benefits, attendance, and HR operations.
• Conducted workplace investigations involving policy violations, attendance, conflict, retaliation concerns, and performance matters.
• Administered the collective bargaining agreement and partnered with union representatives and operations leadership on grievances, employee concerns, attendance issues, and contract interpretation.
• Advised managers on corrective action, performance management, policy interpretation, and contract-compliant employee decisions.
• Administered leave, accommodations, benefits, return-to-work, full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, and New Hire Orientation for union and non-union employees.

HRBP & Program Administrator - Walnut Creek Downtown - Walnut Creek, CA / Hybrid

(2019-06 - 2021-09)

• Provided day-to-day HR partnership to organization leadership and staff across hiring, onboarding, employee documentation, payroll-hours verification, scheduling, and employee matters.
• Conducted workplace investigations and supported sensitive employee issues while maintaining confidential personnel records and defensible HR documentation for the Executive Director.
• Coordinated internal communications, organizational programs, events, vendors, and member-facing operations in a fast-paced business association environment.
• Managed budgets, receivables, and financial tracking in QuickBooks for an 80-member business association and served as a key operational resource to leadership.

Human Resource Generalist - IRC - Benicia, CA / On-site

(2018-07 - 2020-04)

• Managed onboarding for new employees, ensuring completion of required documentation and compliance with company policies and employment requirements.
• Provided general HR support across employee records, benefits administration, ADP payroll coordination, and day-to-day HR operations.

Senior Human Resources Generalist - iMOD Structures - Mare Island, CA / Remote

(2016 - 2019)

• Built and managed the HR function for a 250-employee modular building manufacturer as the organization’s primary HR resource.
• Established recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, leave administration, policy development, HR compliance, and employee documentation processes from the ground up.
• Led full-cycle recruiting and New Hire Orientation for hourly, technical, administrative, and leadership positions.
• Partnered with leadership on employee relations, performance issues, manager coaching, leave and accommodation processes, and workforce needs.
• Led an HRIS system transition and managed vendor selection, invoice review, cost comparisons, and HR program administration.