Ani Avanessian

About Ani Avanessian

Experienced HR leader with a passion for cultivating organizational culture through…

Experience

1. Executive Director, Human Resources, Employee Experience & Innovation Co-lead Dei Council

   Panda Restaurant Group

   Jul 2006 — Present

   Nations largest Asian restaurant company with over 2500 stores; 5 billion in annual sales-Lead SCHR team – set vision, strategy and execution of SC staffing and development initiatives. Team provides generalist support encompassing recruiting, employee relations, performance management and leadership development- Lead the Employee Experience and Communication teams responsible for the overall employee communication strategy impacting EVP, shaping Panda culture and advancing the mission and vision of the organization through the employee life cycle- Co-lead of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and member of Enterprise Risk Committee- Consult with company leaders on performance, organizational and leadership issues; conduct needs assessments to enhance company and associate performance. Facilitate communication between leadership and associates to resolve problems, ensure regulatory compliance and litigation avoidance-Lead the People Planning process; involving associate development and coaching; evaluation of internal candidates for vacant/new positions, and high potential identification. Facilitate annual review cycles inclusive of merit, bonus, promotions-Develop and enhance the company’s culture, including recommendations for improvements i.e. associate opinion survey, exit interviews, team building, performance management, IDPs, and learning and development programs- Provide a broad range of consultative services to company leadership concerning policies and procedures, strategy development and execution/facilitation of employee relations efforts. Assist leadership with planning and implementation of employee relations, EEO, Diversity, and related programs. Provide guidance on complex AR issues, EEOC/DOL claims and conflict resolution-Provide leadership in organization development – design/structure, change management, team development- Facilitate training classes. Certified in Seven Habits and Crucial Conversations.

Skills

• Employee Relations
• Talent Acquisition
• Hris
• Employee Engagement
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Employee Benefits
• Talent Management
• HR Policies
• Recruiting
• Deferred Compensation
• Onboarding
• Interviews
• Coaching
• Succession Planning
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Temporary Placement
• Organizational Development
• Team Building
• Employee Training
• New Hire Orientations
• Management
• Personnel Management
• Sourcing
• Leadership Development
• Training
• Human Resources
• Hiring
• Performance Management
• Project Management
• Leadership