Colin Braaten: Employment and Classification Services Manager, Human Resources Division in Sacramento, California

Experienced HR leader overseeing a team of consultants to ensure compliance with California's civil service hiring laws and merit system principles. Responsible for managing classification and pay plan administration, workforce planning, complex personnel issues, and strategic staffing initiatives. Provide expert consultation to executives and managers on HR policies, employment law, and recruitment practices. Lead critical projects, conduct audits, and represent the department in control agency hearings. Proven ability to develop staff, enhance operational efficiency, and foster strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Provide staff direction and guidance in all aspects of merit based hiring to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the State Personnel Board (SPB) and the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) laws, rules, and systems. Monitor staff workload and progress to ensure goals and deadlines are met. Organzie and monitor staff resources and develop implementation plans to effectively respond to workload fluctuations. Regularly monitor and review CDPH's automated Requests for Personnel Action (RPA) using the Online Appointment and Separation Information System (OASIS) and CalHR's Examination and Certification Online System (ECOS) to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures.

Serve as an expert consultant and advisor to management on employee discipline. Advise management in the interpretation and enforcement of labor agreements as it relates to employee discipline and conduct. Review, evaluate, and draft personnel actions; make recommendations on content revisions; determine appropriate level of disciplinary action; consult and partner with DHCS attorneys; and, ensure appropriate processing of Adverse Actions. Represent personnel management/program management interests, in partnership with the DHCS staff attorneys, in confidential settlement discussions, which include rank and file employees and/or their union representatives regarding rejections on probation, notices of adverse actions, and other sensitive employee-related matters. Evaluate position and organizational proposals utilizing class specifications, allocation guidelines, laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to ensure proposals are sound and consistent with classification concepts and other uses within the Department. Provide alternative classification and organizational proposals, prepare written analysis and recommendations to the Chief Deputy Director/Deputy Directors for discussion. Advise and assist management in the interpretation and enforcement of labor agreements, policies, procedures and laws as it relates to compliance with collective bargaining issues when dealing with wages, hours, hiring, transfers, layoffs and leaves. Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) Coordinator for the Department of Health Care Services. Provide tools and consultation to managers on the LEAP evaluation process. Assist managers with addressing performance concerns during the job examination period.

Responsible for all aspects of merit-based hiring to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the State Personnel Board (SPB) and the California Department of Human Resources’ laws, rules and systems. Review, approve, and process hires. Review duty statements, job postings, organizational charts, justifications, verify candidate eligibility, and provide approval and program alternatives to hiring managers. Review and approve position allocation requests, out-of-class assignments, alternate range change requests, and alternate range change criteria. Investigate unlawful appointments and research viable remedies. Research and compose responses to out-of-class grievances and merit issue complaints. Investigate and respond to the SPB, candidates, and candidate representatives on appeals related to the personnel selection and certification process. Serve as a consultant to candidates, candidate representatives, and management regarding sensitive personnel issues relating to selection and certification policies, procedures, and rights of competitors. Evaluate and measure information pertaining to the work performed by individuals, and the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics required for satisfactory work performance. Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) Coordinator for California Department of Public Health. Provide tools and consultation to managers on the LEAP evaluation process. Assist managers with addressing performance concerns during the job examination period. Upward Mobility Program mentor: work with mentees on career planning, establishing SMART goals, and identifying education and experience gaps.

Responsible for providing personnel management support to CDPH programs. Review and process hires; review and approve duty statements, organizational charts, and justifications for position movement, vacancies, reorganizations, and promotions-in-place, provide approval and/or program alternatives to hiring managers. Review position allocation requests, analyze and determine appropriate alternatives to meet program needs; recommend alternative hiring solutions; analyze salary related requests; review and approve alternate range change and hire above minimum requests. Review and draft responses for out of class assignments. Research and compose responses, on behalf of second and or/third level department management for merit issues complaints and SPB appeals. Promoted to Associate Personnel Analyst

Developed, coached, counseled, and directed a team of 6 Major Sales employees. Reviewed department sales, schedules, and productivity figures. Implemented sales, merchandising, and personnel plan for Major Sales and Jewelry department. Managed personnel performance and counseling duties for department.

Oversees employees, coordinates activities and upholds company and department standards. Promotes a high level of productivity and member service. Essential Functions: Determines staffing needed to accommodate members and maintain productivity. Educates and trains staff on current marketing promotions. Assists members with questions and problems regarding merchandise, membership accounts, payment or service to provide prompt and courteous member service. Drafts and participates in presentation of performance reviews. Interviews prospective employees and makes recommendations for further interviews. Observes employee performance and paperwork to determine that proper department procedures are followed. Provides training, encouragement, advice and feedback to employees. Carries out and ensures employee participation in Manager’s plans for special promotions and increasing department productivity. Performs support duties with management team. Schedules employees, makes supply orders, arranges for equipment maintenance and repair, tracks employee errors, and audits merchandise returns.

Determined staffing requirements for location by reviewing budgets, forecasts, and historical sales data. Used Excel, BI Reporting, and Kronos Workforce software to analyze various data points and optimize staff schedule. Streamlined scheduling process using analytics and automation software. Increased productivity, reduced overtime and staffing delays.

Overseas and coordinates activity for merchandising. Coordinates and participates in merchandise moves. Reviews list of items for Forklift Drivers to place in the aisles for stocking. Coordinates with Merchandising Managers to determine daily goals. Organizes and prioritizes daily goals and communicates to floor personnel. Upholds safety and security procedures. Leads, schedules, develops, counsels, trains, and directs department personnel. Makes recommendations for hiring, promotion and termination to Warehouse Manager. Reviews and approves area timecards. Drafts and participates in presentation of employee performance evaluations. Observes employee performance to ensure that best merchandising and sales practices and standards are followed. Checks for accurate signage, product rotation and pull dates for perishable items. Implements plan and practices to reduce loss due to damaged and destroyed merchandise. Provides and ensures prompt and courteous member service. Maintains current knowledge of product. Reviews sales reports. Communicates with Merchandise Manager regarding quantity, status, vendor returns, and promotion of merchandise.

Oversees employees and coordinates activities of Bakery department. Assists with baking and other areas of the department. Essential Functions: • Participates in baking product. Oversees and participates in product presentation and merchandising. Leads by example, trains and encourages personnel. • Observes employees to ensure proper departmental production procedures and standards are followed. Checks quality and consistency of finished product. • Upholds safety and security procedures. Monitors health code compliance, such as sanitation, temperatures, pull dates. • Provides and ensures prompt and courteous member service. • Coordinates activities to achieve sales and merchandising plan for department. • Assists with physical inventory periodically (13 times per year). Assists with orders to buying office for equipment, product, and supplies.

Oversees employees and coordinates activities of the Tire Shop. Essential Functions: Provides training, encouragement, advice, and feedback to Tire Shop employees. Assists in conducting job interviews. Drafts and participates in presentation of employee reviews. Writes Tire Shop schedule. Reviews employee time cards. Drives member vehicle into service bay, assists with tire install and rotation as necessary, performs torque checks, drives and parks member vehicle to lot after service. Observes employee performance and paperwork to determine that proper department procedures are followed. Upholds safety and security procedures. Assists members with purchasing tires. Writes tire purchase and service invoice. Answers questions, makes recommendations, provides and insures prompt and courteous member service. Upholds safety and security procedures. Follows release procedures, including a 10-point check, on tire installations to authorize auto release. Communicates with Tire Shop Manager, Buyers, Receiving department, and Inventory Auditors regarding special orders, quantity, status, price, delivery, and promotion of merchandise. Coordinates and performs preventive maintenance and arranges repairs for machinery and equipment. Approves product refunds. Overrides and checks register codes. Verifies refund amount for certain types of warranties or returns of tires and auto batteries. Monitors cleanliness of sales area and shop. Coordinates and participates in cleaning. Ability to operate vehicles, equipment or machinery Computer, calculator, cash register, phone, fax, copier, member automobile, balancer, torque wrench, dolly, mounter, impact gun, hydraulic hoist and power jack.