Timesoft, Singroll
SARALA SUNDARRAJ
+65 9009 4967
Websites
Summary
Innovative and strong HR Leader who is known for problem-solving and dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Demonstrates talent for turning around flagging operations and spearheading growth through proactive leadership. Experienced and knowledgeable in Labour Laws and data-driven approaches to people management, benefits administration and organizational development. Record of success in improving recruitment and retention.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Director, Human Resource and Administration
My Scent Pte Ltd
09.2022 - Current
- Embarked on a very challenging start-up environment with recruitment issues and lack of HR policies, procedures, whilst creating a disciplined environment and instilled HR as a pillar of the organization
- Created a simple cost-free HRMS to ensure accuracy in payroll processing and leave records befitting a small scale start up.
- Assessment exercise for all existing employment contracts and amended to adhere to updated labour laws
- Rolled out fair employment practices in line with TAFEP, TADM and SNEF through creation of policies and procedures adhering to labour laws and best practices
- Partnered closely with CEO and key stakeholders to identify and understand recruitment needs with identification and remodeling of strategic roles
- Handled recruitment solely and hired key stakeholder roles such as Head of Production & Logistics, Head of Operations, Marketing Director, and Retail Director
- Initiated a proper Employee benefit structure in line with market practices while adhering to budget
- Decreased payroll costs by 20% and miscellaneous costs by >50%
- Created a clear payroll forecasting and budgeting framework for 2024 in line with P&L forecasting and OPEX
- Undertook entire start-end process of office relocation.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Prepared, reviewed and performed input human resources documents and data.
- Advised on organizational structure and human resource management to promote efficient business operations.
- Conferred with supervisors to review, determine and recommend actions relative to human resource matters.
Senior Human Resource Manager
Iconic Locations Singapore Pte Ltd (Ce La Vi)
12.2021 - 09.2022
- HR Business Partner for one of the most renowned destination restaurants in Singapore
- Part of an all-manager HR team
- Single-handedly took over a stagnant recruitment and brought down vacancies to 50% within my first two months
- Created a covid-19 record of all staff who were affected to create proper tracking to identify and prevent mis-use
- Created a proper recruitment report to track and analyse "Time to Hire" vs "Time to Fill" data.
- Created employee brand awareness on top job portals such as LinkedIn, Job Street as well as the brand's website to attract talents.
- Re-wrote job postings to make it more attractive to job seekers
- Reduced time to hire by almost 70% and brought it key roles to fulfill operational needs single-handedly.
- Towards my final months, was a sole contributor for the department as everyone in the department had resigned or had been terminated.
Precinct Development Manager
Little India Shopkeepers And Heritage Association
06.2021 - 12.2021
- Consultant to national precinct development supporting by Government funding bodies mainly Singapore Tourism Board
- My role was to be involved in the betterment and improvement of precinct development, however due to lack of manpower; I was heavily involved and responsible for executing the 3 major festivals celebrated for Indians in Singapore by the association (Deepavali, Pongal and Tamil New Year)
- Managed the light up of Deepavali Festival 2021 for Singapore in Little India precinct
- Involved in Parliamentarian engagements for light up festivals and coordinated accordingly with their respective offices
- Coordinated with law enforcement to ensure regulations were met and followed through
- Curated events and engaged Marketing agencies to spearhead higher engagement with public, which resulted in a 200% increase of social media engagements
- Collaborated with MediaCorp on fringe events for the festival
- Project leader for major Tamil festival in 2022 (Pongal Festival)
- Curated events, applied for funding for such to Singapore Tourism Board and other agencies (TOTE Board etc.), and handled all necessary paperwork and legal applications to ensure a successful event for the public to celebrate
- Initiated a fund-raising project in collaboration with NDP Global School, which was channeled by MediaCorp
- All proceeds from the project were given to Sri Narayana Mission
- Spokesperson for merchants in Little India for their grievances and challenges to keep up their business to respective Government bodies to ensure heritage and culture is maintained and thrives for the future generation of Singaporeans.
Human Resource Manager
Wine Trade Asia Pte Ltd
02.2019 - 03.2020
- A big career challenge for me as an HR Practitioner was with Wine Trade Asia as I had moved from a headcount of 30 staff to more than 300 staff
- The entire HR Team had left when I took over, so I had to build a team from scratch and learn a new system (Time soft) and solve a manpower crunch as the company had 90 vacancies and a minus 7 foreign worker quota
- Hired my own team consisting of recruitment executive, payroll executive and HR admin
- Turned around the negative quota to a positive quota within a period of 2 months as approximately 50-part timers were not contributing to CPF
- Changed their contracts immediately, which brought up the local headcount and eased the negative quota situation
- Hired more locals to spearhead a local workforce especially in HQ
- Achieved lower vacancies through successful recruitment strategy which brought down 90 vacancies to 26 within 3 months
- Managed 2 outlet openings and ensured they had sufficient staff to open successfully
- Changed the operational rosters so they were more user friendly
- Created strict policies for abusing medical certificates which not only led to a drastic reduction in such but also reduced the medical expenses borne by the company within a period of 3 months
- Became more engaged with staff to ensure a more holistic approach towards people management
- Identified trainings organization-wide and conducted such with in-house trainer.
Human Resource Manager
McGettigans Singapore Pte Ltd
12.2014 - 03.2019
- The beginning of what would be a permanent career move for me as I was returning from Dubai to Singapore for good
- I was headhunted during my last 2 days in Dubai by the Group Director of HR for Mcgettigans for a new venture into Asia starting with Singapore as a HR Manager
- Set up all necessary paperwork and legal documentations to ensure we could obtain an NEA license to operate in Singapore, as I was the only local staff
- Created all necessary accounts with MOM and CPF to start recruitment
- Managed a mass recruitment drive lasting 3 days
- Managed expectation of foreign stakeholders who could not understand difficulty in hiring foreigners
- Heavily involved in recruitment for a massive 2-storey restaurant with over 200 seating capacity
- Created all matters pertaining to a setup of HR function (uniforms, attendance device, employment contracts, payroll, admin etc.) Business partner to General Manger advising him on employment related matters and staffing
- Involved in key events such as St Patrick’s days, F1, Super bowl, ONE FC Championships, Christmas, New Year, and other ad-hoc events involving artistes
- Liaising with Capitamall landlords pertaining to insurances and outdoor activity legal applications.
Quality and Administration Manager
One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
08.2011 - 11.2014
- An amazing opportunity in the Middle East, which widened my horizons from a professional perspective
- I started as an Executive Assistant to the Hotel Manager and the Managing Director
- The double rank promotion to Quality and Admin Manager was a combined role of the former and a need for someone to spearhead the quality aspects of operations within the five-star resort
- As it was a created position, I had to find my own work and created the following: Assessing and revisiting all current Standard Operating Procedures to ensure they adhere to the current times
- Make changes to redundant and non-existent practices so that they will not resurface in the future
- Created a summer audit through my own initiative to ensure SOPs were truly being practiced and adhered to
- The audit lasted from 3 days to 5 days in which a report will be presented to the Managing Director copying all Head of Departments
- Spearheaded single-handedly the greatest accomplishment in my professional career, The Green Globe
- A sustainable initiative, which was pursued by the Managing Director for 15 years for a certification of sustainable tourism
- Upon taking on the project, I had to initiate a plan for recycling efforts, which were non-existent and cultivate a strong workplace culture towards it through constant training and presentations to drive a strong message and pull factor to ensure such practices were imbibed on
- Achieved The Green Globe Certification within 4 months of taking on the project
- Converted a cost center into profit through recycling efforts, which earned AED14, 000
- Managed all guest comment cards and feedback and generated reports, which were presented during a monthly meeting to all HODs and Directors.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Business
Northumbria University Newcastle
SingaporeDiploma - Hospitality Management
Temasek Polytechnic
SingaporeG.C.E O' Levels -
Convent of The Holy Infant Jesus
SingaporeCertification
IHRP - Certified Professional
Skills
- HR Policies and Procedures
- HR Strategies
- Benefits and Compensation
- Payroll
- Communication
- Leadership and Management
- Recruitment and Talent Management
- Staff Development & Training
- Performance Management
- Culture Management
- Change Management
- Business Analytics
Software
Timeline
Director, Human Resource and Administration
My Scent Pte Ltd
09.2022 - Current
Senior Human Resource Manager
Iconic Locations Singapore Pte Ltd (Ce La Vi)
12.2021 - 09.2022
Precinct Development Manager
Little India Shopkeepers And Heritage Association
06.2021 - 12.2021
Human Resource Manager
Wine Trade Asia Pte Ltd
02.2019 - 03.2020
Human Resource Manager
McGettigans Singapore Pte Ltd
12.2014 - 03.2019
Quality and Administration Manager
One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
08.2011 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Arts - International Business
Northumbria University Newcastle
Diploma - Hospitality Management
Temasek Polytechnic
G.C.E O' Levels -
Convent of The Holy Infant Jesus
IHRP - Certified Professional
Other Experiences
- James Cook University, Singapore Campus - Marketing Executive
- The Regent Hotel Singapore - Assistant Chef Concierge
- Fitness First Group Singapore - Membership Relations Manager
- The Scarlet Hotel Singapore - Human Resource & Quality Manager
- The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore - Spa Therapist (ESPA Trained)
- Swissotel The Stamford Singapore - Assistant Housekeeping Manager
Other Experiences
- James Cook University, Singapore Campus - Marketing Executive
- The Regent Hotel Singapore - Assistant Chef Concierge
- Fitness First Group Singapore - Membership Relations Manager
- The Scarlet Hotel Singapore - Human Resource & Quality Manager
- The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore - Spa Therapist (ESPA Trained)
- Swissotel The Stamford Singapore - Assistant Housekeeping Manager
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