Sheila Azari

SHEILA AZARI, Executive MBA, SHRM Orange County, CA 92656 / - /-Strategic thinker with 15+ years of experience in executing complex, cross-functional projects and programs and leading complex strategy discussions across all HR functions at companies including Amgen, Baxter Bioscience, Genentech/Roche, City of Hope and Providence St. Joseph. Former Chief of Staff of Clinical Operations at Amgen. Partnered with C-suite leaders in organizations from 10 to 100,000+ employees, often challenging the status quo, helping companies reimagine and reinvent how work is done. Exceptional knowledge of employment law, both at federal and state level. Learning agile and able to navigate ambiguity while translating complex issues into clear and coherent solutions. Proven ability to see the big picture beyond assigned scope of work, using proven concepts and expertise to manage complex problems independently. Leveraged qualitative and quantitative data analytics and HRIS (Workday, ADP, Oracle and others) to inform strategic HR decisions. Aligned people strategies with organizational goals to enhance operational efficiency. Exceptional communication, writing, and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse stakeholders, fostering meaningful connections. Interim Human Capital Leadership/HRBP Nov 2022 – present • As HRBP, drove strategy, design, implementation, communication, and operations for Compensation, Benefits, HRIS, and Payroll. Led and coached team of 5 HR employees. • Completed ADP Workforce Now implementation for Raytheon spinoff, while leading all facets of Human Resources function. • Managed employment contracts for overseas military operations employees in Qatar, Afghanistan and other MidEast regions as well as U.S. • Provided total rewards and compensation program design and analysis to clients. Delivered in areas of improving compensation programs, market pricing, and improving pay equity. • Partnered with leaders, operations, finance, and HR to establish overall compensation plans’ processes including design, administration, calculations, governance, and communication. • Presided over redesign of U.S. time-off plans/policies into one Paid Time-Off (PTO) program simplifying administration requirements and increasing flexibility for employees. • Led benefits plans, including health, welfare, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, employee assistance, 401(k), and COBRA, as well as voluntary/supplemental programs. Performed vendor negotiation and selection, budget analysis, and staff communication. • Supported clients with leading HR strategy offsites, employee engagement strategies, DE&I, recruitment strategies, focus groups, employee handbooks, policies, employee engagement strategies, HRIS, employment law, FMLA / ADA & employment issues. Vice President & Board Member, Human Resources, HR On-Call, Inc. 2016 - 2022 • In client-facing CPO and HRBP capacity, created and partnered with People Teams – Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Total Rewards, People Operations and HRIS to ensure life cycle transactions are managed. • Partnered with client groups to support all year-end initiatives including performance documentation, ratings, and compensation recommendations. • Managed employee relations issues including participation and resolution of internal investigations. • Partnered with business leaders to assess talent, navigate change, and build organizations. Demonstrated culture in decisions and behavior, monitored the effect of business decisions on people, and advised management. • Trusted advisor and thought-leader to clients on people and organizational topics, complex organizational challenges. • Developed performance management strategies with clarity of direction, creating a culture of accountability, measurement and ongoing, regular feedback. • Partnered with cross-functional groups to design and execute strategy for staffing, onboarding, developing, motivating, engaging, and retaining talent. Chief People Officer, Interstate Therapy Solutions Mar 2020 – Apr 2021 • Reporting to CEO and President, led HR function through the COVID pandemic for healthcare company following sudden departure of HR manager. Led 4-person Talent Acquisition, Compensation and Payroll team, and managed all workers compensation. • Partnered with senior leaders to define strategic direction for people agenda impacting 400+ employees across 37 hospitals. • • • Managed furloughs and constantly evolving pandemic legislation in addition to hospital-specific policies that took precedence, resulting in the need to develop multiple decision trees daily to determine how to handle COVID cases. Implemented Paychex Flex for payroll, retirement, benefits, and time and attendance. Advised on employee relations matters for entire 400-employee organization. Managed investigations, compliance, policies, workers compensation and employee data. Optimized operational efficiency, reducing labor costs by 15%. Streamlined processes for 20% reduction in overhead costs. Human Resources Business Partner, Alorica 2019 Contract role for largest BPO. 100,000 employees. 15 countries. 130+ locations. 12 time zones. 45,000+ employees in U.S. & Canada. 38,500+ Philippines employees 2nd largest BPO in country. 17,500+ employees in Latin America & Caribbean. • Created Global Talent Management Cycle, Future Global Performance Management & Rewards Cycle and EC Comp strategy PPTs. Led Spans and Layers project, developed WARN materials, new MIP and PIP processes, WorkDay rollout and Performance Management. • Developed all global training for 100K employees across US, APAC, EMEA, LATAM. Key results: goal alignment, 21% engagement score increase, high performance culture/ competencies. Director, Strategy PMO, HR & Transformation, City of Hope Mar 2017 – Apr 2018 • Responsible for overall operations and strategic delivery of the "Accelerating City of Hope Excellence" team and portfolio of projects; facilitating lean process improvement activities and cultural transformation. • Partnered with CHRO on Physician Leadership Development program design, and led organization design and change workstreams during $4 million EPIC (EHR) implementation. • Led due diligence activities for T-Gen (precision medicine) merger & acquisition. Independent HR Consultant, Providence St. Joseph Healthcare Mar 2016 – Apr 2017 Southern California Edison • For Providence St. Joseph Healthcare, implemented WorkDay across 4 Southern California hospitals - Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, St. Joseph Orange and St. Jude. • For Southern California Edison, supported OpEx restructuring, led organizational development interventions, leadership strategy sessions, developed new Compliance operating model and organization design, and stood up OCM office in HR function. Provided guidance and input on organization design, restructuring and resource optimization initiatives. Director, Talent Management, Hyundai Capital America Apr 2014 – Mar 2016 Senior Manager, Talent Management Consultant, Talent Management HCA supports the financial needs of Hyundai Motor Group, Genesis Motor America, and Kia Motors America, serving more than 1.8 million customers and 1,600 dealers nationwide. • Led and developed a department of 12 HR professionals at global headquarters who provided both direct HR services for all 4,800 employees ($96 trillion in global assets) and regional shared services for consumer financial services (auto, private and corporate financing) subsidiary unit of Hyundai Motor Group. • Developed Hyundai's first-ever Leadership Development Program, First 90-Days Leadership Acceleration Program, and Management Development Program. • Stood up Talent Management Center of Excellence focused on Organizational Development, Talent Development, and Change Management. • Developed customized change management methodology and tri-level certification program. Certified over 200 Hyundai project managers, and coached executive leaders on effective project sponsorship. EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS • Executive Masters of Business Administration, Pepperdine University, Entrepreneurship GPA: 3.13 • Legal Courses in Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts, Abraham University School of Law • Bachelor of Science, Journalism, California State University, Northridge GPA: 3.44 • Post Graduate Courses in Human Resources Management: SHRM-SCP, UCLA Extension, College of the Canyons • Member of SHRM, NHRA – OC and LA