Melisa D.

About

I am an experienced Canadian professional driven by a passion for lifelong learning. With extensive experience in HR and talent management across various industries, I excel in strategic HR initiatives, leadership development, and organizational growth. Whether you’re a leader trying to steer your team through a change, an org/brand seeking thought leadership, or an individual contributor trying to overcome barriers or map a new direction - I’d love to help you connect, explore, and unlock what's next.

Experience

• Building · FlocknFir2025-11-01 –
• Regional HR Partner · Cytiva2023-05-01 – 2025-11-01

  Pall Life Sciences & Cytiva merger which included the Nanomedicine business (formerly PNI). Provided exceptional HR guidance & business partnering locally and globally - quality, R&D (science & eng), sales, operations - enabled improvements in performance, talent development/growth and maturity (promotions, transfers), prioritized the regional people agenda - ie associate experience & ServiceNow automation, DE&I, our compliance, process improvement in Talent Acquisition (offers, co-op program), contributed the people insights for strategic developments. Decreased VOL turnover, partnered with change and engagement champions on delivering leadership workshops and drove meaningful actions

• HR Business Partner (people M&A) · Cytiva2021-09-01 – 2023-05-01
• HR Manager, Vanrx Pharmasystems · Cytiva2020-04-01 – 2021-09-01

  HR leadership across full employee life cycle making changes where needed with an amazing team. Supported business growth needs achieving multi million $ revenue growth, increased productivity and global customer expansion in new markets. HR integration stakeholder after 2021's Cytiva acquisition collaborating with COEs globally for changes in platforms/policies/payroll/benefits/procedures. Leadership development program focused on trust-building, performance management, addressing workplace biases, resulting in stronger leadership capabilities. Championed a safety culture collaborating with EHS to pass ISO9001 and ISO14001 audits, aligning org safety standards with operational goals. Improved talent development and HR programs, enhancing consistency and fairness, boosting engagement and retention

• HR/Talent Consultant · Freelance2018-12-01 – 2020-04-01

  Talent advisory projects + recruitment services working with companies in security, manufacturing, tech, marketing, BeaconHR

• HR Manager | People Operations · Checkout 512018-03-01 – 2018-12-01

  Post acquisition HR - transition and bridging people ops project work with local leaders and parent company, change management, OKRs, headcount growth up 21%, compensation benchmarking, engagement, career pathing, professional development

• HR Business Partner · Mindshare2017-04-01 – 2018-03-01

  Business partnered on strategic people and culture initiatives to improve productivity, retention, experience, drove business growth - internal/external L&D design and development with SMEs i.e GoogleU training, Mindshare Bootcamp, data driven insights, internal comms, support team with new business pitch plans/wins, workforce plans, recruiting

• HR Generalist · Mindshare2015-07-01 – 2017-04-01

  HR “go-to” - such a fun job, kept a pulse on the org serving ~185 employees in Ontario and Quebec and help building growth. Full cycle recruitment, JHSC, total rewards, reports, turnover reduction by 10%, HR/people/culture-related matters and interpretation, onboarding and offboarding, reorg, global mobility/interoffice transfers, manage benefits incl RRSP & stock options, oversaw HR Assistant responsibilities and ensure growth, pass audits, etc

• HR Specialist · GroupM2015-01-01 – 2015-07-01

  HR support for ~120 employees in Ontario and Quebec (GroupM Corporate & Catalyst Search Marketing): this is where I expanded my HR learnings - full cycle recruitment, new hire orientation, HR admin and policy interpretation, SOX compliance, financial reporting, HRIS/payroll/benefits, health & safety etc

• Organizational Development Coordinator · CPP Investment Board2013-08-01 – 2014-12-01

  Supported strategic projects and programs for 1000+ regular full time, contingent, and intern hires locally and for emerging global offices (London, New York, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo). Handled admin and logistics for instructor-led trainings, training effectiveness reporting for HRBPs, business workflow/implementation/testing of systems, process mapping, campus recruitment ie 3-week ‘New Grad’ program for a group of 31 new hires, internal comms, company-wide events, sponsorship & mentorship, new manager training, diversity initiatives

Education

• Humber CollegeBusiness postgraduate, Human Resources Management
• Western UniversityBachelor of Education
• Western UniversityHonours Bachelor of Science - BSc

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