Uzo Chima

Passionate and people-centric Human Resources Professional with years of HR & Change Management work experience.

Teson Global Canada                                                                                                                                     Jan 2023 – To date

HR Business Partner & Change Management Specialist

• Provided expert advice and support to senior management on a range of HR issues, including employee relations, talent management, and organizational development.
• Worked closely with cross-functional teams to implement HR processes and procedures, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and best practice.
• Facilitated workshops and training sessions for employees to support the adoption of new systems and processes.
• Conducted regular training and development sessions for HR and line managers on change management and performance management, leading to increased confidence and competence in these areas.
• Monitored progress and provided regular status updates to project teams and senior management.
• Utilized various change management methodologies and tools, particularly ADKAR, and Kotter's 8-Step Model, to design and implement effective change strategies.
• Participated in the change management strategy for a major organizational restructuring ERP project, ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing the impact on employees and stakeholders.

Keystone Bank Limited – Working Remotely in Canada                                                                              Dec 2019 – Jan 2023

Lead - Human Resource Business Partner

Talent Acquisition

• Managed a team of recruiters and provided leadership, guidance, and support to ensure high-performance results.
• Conducted candidate sourcing and screening, including resume reviews, phone screens, and interviews, to identify top talent.
• Collaborated with hiring managers and senior leaders to determine manpower plan and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Analysed and reported on recruitment metrics and trends to identify areas for improvement and optimize recruitment processes.

HR Operations

• Contributed to employee wellness and engagement programs by providing strategic support to the business.
• Advised and coached managers across a wide range of employee relations issues considering best practices, legislative framework, and commercial outcomes.
• Conducted consistent collaborative sessions with different HR teams to provide updates on business priorities.
• Effectively managed the Bank’s disciplinary process, via conducting efficient workplace investigations.
• Managed KPI development, performance monitoring and annual review cycles organization-wide (over 1600 employees)

HR Change Management Analyst

• Project Lead on successfully developing and implementing new performance appraisal measure indices.
• Successfully served as a dependable and reliable HR policy expert and provided guidance and consultation to HR stakeholders and partners.
• Developed and executed change management, communication, and training strategy and plans for all internal HR initiatives.
• Conducted readiness assessments, evaluate results, and presented findings in an easy/logical manner to senior management.
• Effective and successful collaboration with business leaders on the implementation of other workforce development strategies

Selected Accomplishments:

• Consistently achieved >=85% candidate-to-employee conversion via efficient communication of employer brand and value proposition.
• Successfully designed and implemented a structured and objectively driven Employee Rewards/Recognition program, resulting in a greater “pay for performance” culture. This resulted in a 7.7% increase in the company-wide average performance score from 79.80% in 2020 to 87.50% in 2021.
• Significantly contributed to the review of exit computations and ex-gratia payments to involuntary exits. This has reduced the number of ex-staff litigations from 26% of total litigations against the company in 2017 to 3% of total litigations in 2021; with a corresponding 60% reduction in litigation costs.
• Member of the organization’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Team responsible for activating the Bank’s Business Continuity Management system and enacting policies and campaigns in line with federal and state regulations to reduce incidences of Covid-19 infections in the Bank; achieved 0% Covid-19 fatalities in the organization.

Keystone Bank Limited                                                                                                                                    Jul 2017 – Nov 2019

Human Resources Business Advisor (Performance Management)

• ­Support the Lead, Human Resource Business Partner to achieve the HR strategic objectives, by acting as the HR lead on a range of different projects in Performance and Career Management, Employee Relations, and HR Policies and Procedures. Also working with other internal and external departments as the HR Business Partner, committed to delivering on the company’s vision.
• HR Change Analyst: Worked with the technical delivery partners in the development of a new HRIS tool. Monitored change evolution and stakeholder engagement via pulse surveys, preliminary, mid, and end-of-project assessments, and lunch & learn sessions. 
• Led the execution of all communication activities for the project. Drafted and edited concisely written communications and managed content channels like FAQs, Job aids, Flyers, Infographics, etc.

Selected Accomplishments:

• Coordinated the design, development, and implementation of the Performance Appraisal Tool for Keystone Bank, saving the bank about ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from purchasing an off-the-shelf appraisal tool. Successfully achieved an 85% adoption rate in line with the project’s expected outcome.
• Contributed to the efficient restructuring of the company’s Health Insurance framework leading to the addition of Three (3) high-quality HMOs in the Bank’s books bringing the total number to Six (6). This has led to an increase in the quality of care to all employees and a 6% increase in average employee satisfaction rating from 85% in 2018 to 89.50%.

Heritage Bank                                                                                                                                                  Nov 2014 – Jun 2017

Human Resources Generalist

• Effectively and satisfactorily performed professional human resources services, including HR Administration and Records Management, Recruitment/Selection, Performance Management, Employee Relations, and Training management.
• Also responsible for capturing, analysing, and reporting on different HR trends including comparative compensation, performance appraisal, and employee engagement/satisfaction analysis.

­Selected Accomplishments:

• Administered the Bank's Behavioural Intervention Program to applicable staff to ensure adherence to the bank's core values. This resulted in a 3% Y-O-Y average reduction (between 2014 and 2017) in incidences of policy infractions and disciplinary cases. 
• Analysed employee feedback to develop team bonding initiatives which reduced staff turnover by 25% between 2015 and 2016.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCES

Caregiver                                                                                                                                                       Dec 2013 – Nov 2014

• Returned from the United Kingdom to my home country to manage a family medical emergency. 
• Provided care and business support to the family member throughout the critical period of illness.

Geoban UK, Stockton, England (Part of the Santander UK group)                                                                Jan 2012 – Dec 2013

Mortgages and Loans Service Advisor,                                                                                                                

• Presented existing and prospective customers with valuable information to aid decision-making.
• Surpassed cross-selling disposition target (30%), achieving a 90% disposition rate.

Achieved an average of 60% cross-selling conversion rate.

University of Exeter                                                                                                                                         

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biotechnology & Enterprise (Distinction)                                                                          Sep 2011

• Evaluated by World Education Services (WES) with a Canada GPA Equivalence of 3.78
• Awards: Beneficiary of the University of Exeter’s International Masters Scholarship Scheme

University of Lagos                                                                                                                                                           Dec 2007

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Cell Biology and Genetics (First Class)

• Evaluated by World Education Services (WES) with a Canada GPA Equivalence of 3.67
• Awards: 2-Time Head-of Department (H.O.D) Prize for Best Academic Student

Alison Courses                                                                                                                                    

Diploma in Human Resources Management