Richard Wertin

About Richard Wertin

Professional Profile SummaryA highly change-agile and results-driven People Operations professional with a focus on delivering exceptional employee experience (EX) and driving operational efficiency. I operate with high autonomy, adept at leading complex cross-functional initiatives to ensure timely and impactful outcomes. Possessing expert skills in stakeholder communication and executive facilitation, I build trust-based relationships across all organizational levels to ensure strategic alignment and widespread team participation. I maintain a growth mindset, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness in adapting to evolving business priorities while upholding a commitment to operational excellence.Strategic Core Competencies (Human Resources Generalist)• Talent Lifecycle Management: Extensive background across the entire People Operations spectrum, including strategic Talent Acquisition & Retention, developing robust Learning & Development (L&D) programs, managing complex Employee Relations (ER) and conflict resolution, and overseeing Total Rewards (Compensation & Benefits) strategy.• HRIS & Governance: Proficient in HR Tech Stack Administration and maintaining rigorous data integrity. Expertise includes comprehensive HR policy governance, ensuring meticulous HR records management, and complete adherence to labor law compliance.• Global Mobility & Compliance: Experienced in managing international talent, specifically handling J-1 visa sponsorship, end-to-end immigration compliance, and facilitating a seamless global onboarding experience for incoming employees.• Organizational Enablement: Demonstrated success in facilitating win-win negotiations, designing Organizational Development (OD) initiatives, and creating critical governance documentation, including clear job architecture, personnel manuals, and executive-level HR analytics reporting.HR SKILLS • Staff Recruitment & Retention• Employee Relations• HR Program/Project Management• Orientation & On-Boarding• HRIS Technologies• Training & Development• Performance Management• Organizational Development

Experience

1. People Operations Senior Manager

   Merlin Entertainments

   Oct 2025 — Present · US

   Purpose: Lead the Shared Services People Operations team across North America, ensuring seamless HR service delivery, strategic alignment, and continuous improvement.Key Focus Areas:People Operations: Drive service excellence through scheduling, analytics, and process optimization via ServiceNow.Employee Relations (ER): Oversee ER case triage, documentation, compliance, and escalation in partnership with Legal and site teams.Projects & Improvement: Lead cross-functional initiatives to enhance systems, processes, and employee experience.Leadership: Coach and develop the People Ops Lead and Advisors, set strategic goals, and foster a culture of collaboration, data-driven decisions, and service excellence.

Education

• Eastern Shore Community College

  Associate's degree, Early Childhood Education and Teaching

• Barton College

  Associate's degree, Education

  2000 — 2004

• Eastern Shore Community College

  Associate's degree, Elementary Education and Teaching

• New Bern Sr. High

  High School Diploma, General

  1987 — 1989

• Western Governors University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Managment - Human Resources

  2014 — 2016

Skills

• Aquatics
• Outdoor Education
• Strategic Planning
• Customer Service
• Youth Development
• Human Resources Information Systems (Hris)
• Accreditation
• Budgets
• HR Policies
• Community Outreach
• Program Management
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Outdoor Recreation
• Microsoft Office
• Event Management
• Hiring Personnel
• Event Planning
• Recruiting
• Staff Development
• Operations Management
• Social Media
• Leadership
• Human Resources
• Organizational Development
• Public Relations
• Fundraising
• Public Speaking
• Logistics Management
• Leadership Development
• Management
• Team Building
• Program Development
• Nonprofits
• Marketing