Mirela Buciu

Key Contributions

• Optimized HR operations by streamlining processes, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency to drive productivity.
• Designed strategic recruitment and retention frameworks to attract top talent, strengthen workforce capabilities, and align with business objectives.
• Steered the strategic direction for Marine People East Europe, collaborating across global locations to ensure seamless integration and goal alignment.
• Navigated external market trends to enhance talent acquisition, benchmarking, and workforce development—positioning the company as a leader in the seafarer employment sector.
• Acted as a key critical partner, influencing organizational planning with fresh perspectives and innovative workforce solutions.
• Equipped teams with robust policies and frameworks to ensure compliance with domestic and international employment regulations.
• Led a diverse, multinational HR team, overseeing talent management, development, and operations for 1,200+ seafarers across eight nationalities in Europe.
• Managed and optimized budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to maximize impact and sustainability.

Milestone

• Oversaw a large-scale effort with senior management focused on 1,000+ Ukrainian seafarers and their families. This required setting up HUBs in Poland and Romania, ensuring safe movement from their homes to the HUBs and final destinations without incident.
• Focus on COVID: Oversaw communications and concerns for the whole fleet, ensuring understanding and coherence across all nationalities.
• Seafarers' Cultural Transformation: Led campaigns for better inclusion and diversity in the EEU maritime community. Successfully increased the number of female seafarers through targeted recruitment techniques while fostering a positive onboard environment.

General Contributions

• Demonstrated resilience under pressure by consistently performing at a high level despite challenging conditions.
• Managed the annual budgeting process for the human resources department, ensuring sufficient allocation of resources toward creative approaches.
• Negotiated competitive compensation packages, improving market competitiveness and employee satisfaction.
• Reduced turnover rates by cultivating a positive work culture and proactively addressing employee concerns.
• Collaborated with legal counsel on employment law matters, mitigating risks related to compliance and litigation.
• Championed diversity and inclusion efforts, fostering a more inclusive workplace.
• Developed a comprehensive onboarding process, optimizing new hire productivity and retention.
• Utilized compliance tools and corrective actions to mitigate audit risks.
• Created and implemented employee engagement initiatives to enhance workplace morale.
• Supervised employees while improving processes to achieve optimal productivity.

Established the Save Our Future NGO to help those impacted by disasters and conflicts, offering assistance for self-sufficiency, recovery, and survival.

• Increased donor engagement by developing and implementing targeted fundraising campaigns.
• Managed donor database, ensuring accurate record-keeping and timely acknowledgment of donations received.
• Established partnerships with local businesses and organizations to increase resource availability and expand collaborative opportunities for future projects.
• Managed event logistics, ensuring smooth execution of charity events and fundraisers.
• Designed impactful marketing materials that clearly communicated the charity’s mission, values, and accomplishments to donors, volunteers, and community members.
• Facilitated productive team meetings that fostered collaboration, communication, and accountability among staff members.

Co-founded and shaped the vision of WISTA Romania, a key branch of the global WISTA network, dedicated to championing diversity and empowering women in the maritime, trading, and logistics sectors.

• Pioneered strategic initiatives, fostering professional growth, mentorship, and a robust leadership pipeline for women in the industry.
• Built a thriving network, connecting industry professionals, driving policy discussions, and creating opportunities for women to lead and excel in traditionally male-dominated fields.
• Mentored junior team members to foster their professional development and career progression.
• Fostered a culture of innovation within the organization by encouraging experimentation with new ideas and technologies.

Key Contributions
• Developed tailored position descriptions and interview processes to effectively communicate and embody the company's vision and core values.
• Identified, vetted, and recruited candidates using a range of efficient sourcing strategies and recruiting tools.
• Developed and implemented streamlined onboarding procedures to enhance new employee engagement and foster long-term success.
• Designed, placed into action, and oversaw HR and operational policies, tools, and initiatives for a maritime workforce of +400 Seafarers' from Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, and Slovakia, ensuring alignment with business requirements.
• Engaged in industrial relations issues, including P&I cases and adherence to local regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Transport.
• Led and cultivated a unified team equipped with the skills necessary to optimize existing procedures.

Milestone
• Established a branch location, overseeing daily activities and developing a comprehensive grasp of various business management aspects.

General Contributions
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
• Cross-trained employees to maximize team agility and performance.
• Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profitability.

Key Contributions

• Managed Maersk Line Romanian team, within Maersk Tankers Romania Company.
• Managed all HR procedures and policies to ensure compliance with country legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Compiled information for routine reporting and analysis for management's review.
• Prepared human resources budget and overhead budget, identifying budgetary needs and recommending cost reduction strategies.
• Executed performance management overview, including but not limited to disciplinary meetings and promotion process.
• Implemented local marketing strategies to optimize the recruitment process via local sources and social media, in accordance with the annual advertising budget. Took end-to-end responsibility for advertising initiatives, reviewed contracts, and negotiated terms & conditions.
• Initiated and organized welfare activities, such as annual gifts, anniversary gifts, summer parties, Christmas parties, and children's parties.
• Developed insightful progress charts and comprehensive reports, tracking key activities across Maersk Line, Maersk Tankers, and Maersk Supply Services, while delivering strategic solutions to boost operational performance.
  Designed and facilitated engaging, hands-on workshops for Romanian Cadets, equipping them with essential knowledge and practical skills for a seamless transition into their roles.

General Contributions

• Collaborated with senior crew members on special projects, resulting in additional revenue streams or cost savings.
• Provided training to new crew members, fostering a supportive learning environment and promoting professional growth.
• Enhanced team efficiency by streamlining workflows and establishing clear communication channels.

Key Contributions

• Orchestrated travel, logistics, and operations, ensuring seamless hiring formalities and compliance with documentation requirements.
• Designed and executed HR strategies to drive both immediate impact and long-term growth, enhancing operational efficiency.
• Sourced, evaluated, and matched top talent, conducting behavioral-based interviews to ensure alignment with company culture and goals.
• Provided candidates with a transparent hiring experience, clearly outlining responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and work conditions.
• Built strong partnerships with managers and employees, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Managed the annual advertising budget, optimized vendor collaboration, and streamlined invoicing processes.
• Spearheaded progress reviews, procedural enhancements, and project execution, driving continuous improvement.

Milestones

• Was promoted within the first year to Team Leader of the Maersk Line local team for exceeding key performance indicators and recruitment targets.

General Contributions

• Maintained strict adherence to industry standards and regulations, ensuring all crew members were properly trained and certified.
• Established a robust candidate pipeline by attending job fairs and networking events, increasing the pool of qualified applicants.
• Managed conflict resolution among seafarers effectively, maintaining a cohesive working environment.
• Achieved long-term sustainability for the organization through responsible decision-making processes grounded in ethics.
• Operated various types of machinery, demonstrating versatility and adaptability in diverse work environments.

General Contributions

• Maintained accurate records of all activities, enabling better decision-making regarding future operational improvements.
• Enhanced seafarers' efficiency by streamlining daily tasks and implementing time-saving strategies.
• Consistently met performance goals, contributing to the success of the entire operation.
• Supported management in achieving production targets through diligent oversight of assigned tasks.
• Enhanced the productivity of every seafarer through open communication and guidance.
• Contributed to the creation of new policies and procedures, resulting in increased departmental efficiency.
• Manned 30+ Shipowners' vessels with qualified crew irrespective of rank, vessel flag, or vessel type.