Derya Kazak

About

Strategic HR leader with experience managing global teams (India/Brazil/Canada) and partnering on immigration and multi-country regulatory considerations. Has driven major org changes including implementing an attendance policy across 14 logistics locations and restructuring an HR department to align with growth, using a data-driven approach (turnover, time-to-hire, performance, exit interviews). Target compensation is around $150K, flexible based on total package.

Experience

Education

Key Strengths

• Managed globally distributed teams (India, Brazil, Canada) and navigated language/time-zone challenges
• Led multi-site change rollout across 14 locations by building buy-in with operations leaders and frontline employees
• Data-driven approach to scaling/restructuring using labor market insights and HR metrics (time-to-hire, turnover, performance)
• Strong cross-functional partnership with senior leaders and hiring managers to build teams and align on growth plans
• Experience restructuring HR functions to better support business growth

Reference Highlights

• impeccable EQ
• expert at thinking through tough situations
• strong at planning next steps
• fantastic at anticipating union issues
• effective at smoothing over tough issues and preventing escalation
• effective guiding senior leaders through complex change
• managed smooth transitions during difficult situations
• one of the best leadership coaches the reference has seen
• thoughtful and supportive advisor
• steady and dynamic partner in employee relations situations
• even personality
• strong command of coaching principles
• helps build better leaders
• phenomenal strategic thinker for the entire organization
• stays calm under pressure
• logical decision-making balanced with human impact
• considers multiple outcomes and plans proactively
• navigates complex, differing stakeholder perspectives seamlessly
• holds her ground on key factors while adapting to the audience
• highly influential with senior leaders
• ensures alignment and comfort with next steps before proceeding
• extremely effective coach and thought partner
• cares about team members and understands their personal/professional drivers
• intentional with time
• models the behaviors and skills she coaches
• builds respect through follow-through (does what she says)
• thrives in challenging employee relations and conflict situations
• intentional approach to finding common baseline and resolution
• very smart
• thinks about employees and business impact
• open to others' opinions
• proactive and timely communication
• anticipates and mitigates organizational fallout
• effective in sensitive termination communications
• high availability and responsiveness during change
• validates others' concerns during change
• strong thought partner and leadership coach
• highly professional and composed under difficult leadership
• respected leader; reference would work for her again
• great knowledge
• thinks through complex issues
• resolves issues in a timely manner
• forward-thinking
• puts best possible solutions in place for company and employees
• effective leadership coach
• stays with the facts and removes emotion
• excellent listener
• one of the best at handling challenging employee relations