Andrew Whitener
New Windsor
Summary
HR Professional who brings over 10 years experience of developing efficient payroll and benefits processes, recruitment, and compliance within corporate human resources settings. Adept at learning new industry laws and standards, as well as incorporating relevant best practices into new planning and coordination. I currently hold a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Business Partner
BUNZL
02.2024 - 06.2024
- Enhanced employee engagement by implementing innovative HR programs and initiatives.
- Acted as a coach and capability builder to leaders within the business.
- Provided advice on how the legislative framework impacts on boarding, employment contracts, terminations, grievance cases, disciplinary actions and investigations relative to process and risk for the business.
- Analysed and presented organisational data, performance indicators and other measures to support decision making.
- Implemented solutions consistent with BU group strategies, policies and procedures to improve business performance.
- Designed and delivered innovative HR solutions that created and fostered a proactive and sustainable business culture.
- Engaged with industry and stakeholders to develop valued and effective HR solutions.
- Delivers valued and actionable insights and solutions that meet stakeholder needs.
Human Resources Advisor
New Zealand Customs Service
02.2022 - 02.2024
- Managed complex and sensitive employee investigations.
- Instructed senior leaders on appropriate employee corrective steps.
- Educated management on successful policy implementation and enforcement actions to prevent employee legal entanglements.
- Maintained optimal staffing levels by tracking vacancies and initiating recruitment and interview processes to identify qualified candidates.
- Improved office efficiency by effectively managing internal communications and correspondence.
- Collected and analyzed information to monitor compliance outcomes and identify and address trends of non-compliant behavior.
- Coordinated activities of human resources team, distributing resources and personnel effectively across organization to meet HR needs.
- Forecasted expected personnel demands and developed forward-thinking approaches to achieve objectives.
- Liaised between multiple business divisions to improve communications.
- Assessed and aligned compensation packages to market to attract highly qualified applicants for organizational vacancies.
- Structured compensation and benefits according to market conditions and budget demands.
- Worked with managers to achieve compliance with organizational policies, providing clarifying information and recommending necessary changes.
- Enhanced team workflows and employee job satisfaction by coordinating communication between managers and employees.
- Reviewed human resources paperwork for accuracy and completeness.
- Revised disciplinary and Code of Conduct policies.
Human Resources and Payroll Advisor
Soletanche-Bachy
01.2021 - 02.2022
- Maintains a harmonious relationship with all site personnel as well as engages with all employees at all levels.
- Responsible for assisting the Finance & Administrative Dept. in all the Human Resources & Payroll responsibilities.
- Responsible for processing monthly payroll for all salaried employees; ensuring all are paid on time, and correctly.
- Create regular reports and presentations on HR.
- Coach and mentor for Junior HR Advisor in all aspects.
- Lead Advisor for all employee relation matters and investigations.
- Driven several operational improvements which resulted in savings.
- Managed several projects in partnership with Auckland Council and the Ministry of Social Development.
- Manages 'new starters' and departures.
- Liaise with external partners eg. Insurance vendors, and ensure legal compliance.
- Responsible for maintaining and administering yearly reviews and goal setting with managers and employees.
Human Resources Advisor (Fixed Term)
The Lines Company
06.2020 - 12.2020
- Orchestrated strategic recruitment approaches to engage talented and highly qualified candidates.
- Educated management on successful policy implementation and enforcement actions to prevent employee legal entanglements.
- Assessed and aligned compensation packages to market to attract highly qualified applicants for organizational vacancies.
- Forecasted expected personnel demands and developed forward-thinking approaches to achieve objectives.
- Identified development opportunities and succession gaps.
- Responsible for leading employment investigations, including complex investigations.
- Contributed to business and HR functions by identifying, prioritizing and building organizational capabilities, behaviors, structures and processes.
- Partnered with leaders on all HR and business functions using consultative approach to proactively identify and address issues and concerns.
Human Resources Business Partner (Fixed Term)
CAF New Zealand
12.2019 - 03.2020
- Managed full cycle of recruiting, hiring and onboarding new employees.
- Collaborated with leadership to assess and improve policies across board.
- Promoted and enabled necessary changes to align operations with strategic plans.
- Resolved understaffing issues, disputes, employee terminations and disciplinary procedures.
- Analysed and modified compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and comply with legal requirements.
- Worked with managers to achieve compliance with organizational policies, providing clarifying information and recommending necessary changes.
- Streamlined complaint response management by providing guidance on policies and ensuring appropriate and accurate investigation processes.
- Met with employees annually for progress reviews and performance assessments.
Human Resources Advisor
University Of Auckland
09.2018 - 12.2019
- Assisted senior management with making key decisions by developing and submitting performance and compensation reports with status updates and improvement recommendations.
- Collaborated with management to build and implement effective, modern employment policies.
- Counseled leadership and offered actionable initiatives to reduce compliance-related issues addressing equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment.
- Collected and analyzed information to monitor compliance outcomes and identify and address trends of non-compliant behavior.
- Oversaw all HR needs for the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Arts-employee operation across multiple locations.
- Lead multiple complex ER investigations.
- Reviewed job applications to identify, vet and recommend optimal candidates. Also was chair of several interview panels for both professional and academic roles.
Human Resources Advisor
Hellers
12.2016 - 09.2018
- Supported human resources staff with new hire orientations and monthly departmental meetings.
- Conducted background checks on candidates by obtaining information from law enforcement officials, previous employers and references.
- Managed ACC work claims and built valuable relationships.
- Implemented a tracking database for employee professional development and licensure renewal credits.
- Identified development opportunities and succession gaps.
- Coordinated employment offers with management and extended offers to selected candidates.
- Coordinated and conducted new hire pre-interviews.
- Accurately prepared government compliance reports and proposal requests for employee data.
- Reviewed human resource paperwork for accuracy and completeness by verifying, collecting and correcting additional data.
Human Resources Business Partner
ATPA
08.2012 - 04.2016
- Led a team of 3 direct reports.
- Provided a complete array of administrative services to numerous Labour and Management Trusts as well as Public Employee and Employer benefit plans.
- Accurately prepared government compliance reports and proposal requests for data.
- Ensured accurate employee hour and compensation reporting
- Working with clients and their employees to enroll in health plan benefits.
- Responsible for coordinating with medical and prescription carriers.
- Completed HR Metrics by obtaining information from law enforcement officials, previous employers and references.
- Liaised with senior management to extend employment offers to selected candidates; both white and blue collar.
- Created and implemented forward-thinking initiatives to improve employee engagement.
- Updated training processes by reviewing existing documentation, leveraging feedback from associates, and working with legal and compliance teams.
- Streamlined response management by providing guidance on policies and ensuring appropriate and accurate investigation processes; including complex investigations and mediation.
Human Resources Business Partner
T-Mobile
07.2004 - 08.2012
- Managed and provided direction for a Human Resources team of 4 direct reports.
- Responsible for preparing and delivering quarterly and annual reviews.
- Developed and delivered training content.
- Responsible for department compliance, and audited compliance for multiple departments.
- Competent in ERA (Employment Relations Act).
- Facilitated employee investigations ranging from performance, to harassment. This included facilitating a mediation process.
- Responsible recruiting and interviewing potential candidates (HR Metrics).
- Reviewed and corrected job offer letters for completeness and accuracy before approving their delivery.
- Regularly updated human resource paperwork for accuracy and completeness by verifying, collecting, and correcting additional data.
- Explained employee compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions and promotion opportunities.
- Identified development opportunities and succession gaps.
- Served as project manager for high value projects and roll-outs.
- Motivated employees through recognition and leadership.
- Achieved favorable company outcomes with labor union negotiations by using successful collective bargaining strategies.
- Implemented new-hire program by incorporating training initiatives while resolving problems and processing related documents.
- Collaborated with senior management and performed helpful tasks, including benefits analysis, corrective action planning and big-picture data capturing.
- Streamlined complaint response management by providing guidance on policies and ensuring appropriate and accurate investigation processes.
Education
J.D. - Law (Constitutional Law, Employment Law)
University Of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO2009
B.A - Business Human Resource Management
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia2004
Skills
- Staff recruiting and retention
- Benefits and payroll coordination
- HR department startup
- Proficiency in compliance/audits
- Management of workplace investigations
- Mediation experience
- Employment Relations Act (ERA)
- Experience with ACC
- Project Management
Accomplishments
- In 2021, I drove a partnership programme (Ngā Puna Pūkenga) between Soletanche-Bachy, Auckland Council, and Ministry of Social Development. This project focused on supporting people into sustainable full-time employment. This lead to numerous employees recruited by Soletanche-Bachy, and provided them long lasting and transferable skills. Additionally, for Soletanche-Bachy, I successfully obtained over $250,000 in funding, of which we placed into training budgets and helped launch the Vinci NZ Foundation.
- Additionally, I have managed and lead projects such as:
- Performance for Management for managers
- 'Workshops' for managers
- Equal Pay remuneration project
- Succession Plan projects
- T-Mobile Language-Line policy re-vamp project
Languages
Fluent: English, Afrikaans, Spanish
Proficient: German
Beginner: French
References
- References available upon request.
Timeline
Human Resources Business Partner
BUNZL
02.2024 - 06.2024
Human Resources Advisor
New Zealand Customs Service
02.2022 - 02.2024
Human Resources and Payroll Advisor
Soletanche-Bachy
01.2021 - 02.2022
Human Resources Advisor (Fixed Term)
The Lines Company
06.2020 - 12.2020
Human Resources Business Partner (Fixed Term)
CAF New Zealand
12.2019 - 03.2020
Human Resources Advisor
University Of Auckland
09.2018 - 12.2019
Human Resources Advisor
Hellers
12.2016 - 09.2018
Human Resources Business Partner
ATPA
08.2012 - 04.2016
Human Resources Business Partner
T-Mobile
07.2004 - 08.2012
J.D. - Law (Constitutional Law, Employment Law)
University Of Colorado Boulder
B.A - Business Human Resource Management
La Trobe University
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