Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
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Hris
Hr Skills
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FRANCESCA KALEND

Clarksburg

Summary

Dynamic HR leader with extensive global experience at Abt Global, driving strategic initiatives that enhanced employee engagement and optimized talent acquisition. Proven expertise in HRIS technologies and conflict resolution, successfully scaling workforce from 20 to over 100 in under a year while implementing comprehensive benefits and compensation strategies. Bilingual in French and English.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Global HR Business Partner Director

Abt Global
Rockville
05.2024 - Current
  • Responsible for leading and driving the people agenda for USGI business unit (1400 employees in more than 50 countries).

HR Director/ Head of HR

Amador Bioscience, Inc.
Germantown
08.2021 - 04.2024
  • Responsible for the overall HR strategies and Managing the HR Operations for Amador Bioscience in US (MD, MI & CA) & EU and works closely with HR China.
  • Provide a generalist service spanning all aspects of Amador Bioscience’s human capital lifecycle, from employee onboarding, driving initiatives to optimize the employee experience in line with the organization.
  • Responsible for both transactional and strategic tasks in the US and EU.
  • Work closely with HR China.
  • Developed and implemented recruiting architecture, strategies and best practices.
  • Grew the company headcount from less than 20 employees to over to 100 staffs (over 300 globally) in less than a year and recruited most employees without assistance from external recruiting firms.
  • Implemented the organization’s training program for leadership and employees.
  • Developed and implemented the company’s total rewards’ strategies, including, the creation of a compensation structure from the scratch (Radford & Payfactors) and managing incentive plans.
  • Responsible for designing and managing programs such as health & wellness benefits, retirement plans, recognition program, and leave policies.
  • Implemented ADP HRIS Systems (ATS, Performance Review System, Benefits Enrollment System, Self-Service & Learning Module).
  • Revamped and implemented diversity of HR related programs and best practices in the US, China and EU: Bonus program, Recognition Program, Wellness Program, Onboarding Program, etc.
  • Led two successful HR due diligence during acquisition process and integration post-acquisition.

HR Director

ARCELLX, Inc.
Gaithersburg
06.2020 - 08.2021
  • Provided HR leadership related to human resources programs and policies, including organizational development, employee relations, recruiting, compensation, benefits, performance management, training, and safety.
  • Wrote the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct from the scratch.
  • Implemented the organization’s talent development and engagement strategies.
  • Implemented a competitive benefit package to attract and retain employees.
  • Created a competitive compensation structure for the organization.
  • Implemented the HRIS Systems.

HR Director

ADVANCED BIOSCIENCE LABORATORIES, INC. (ABL, INC.)
Rockville
02.2015 - 05.2020
  • Company Overview: Biotech and Fondation Mérieux USA (Global non-for-profit organization)
  • Responsible for the management and administration of human resources Department for ABL, Inc.
  • Engaged in a variety of Human Resources activities to include regulatory compliance, recruitment, retention, employee engagement, employee relations, total rewards management and training.
  • Managed employee relations issues at all levels, by counseling employees, mediating issues and coordinating investigations of complaints.
  • Responsible for all phases of compensations programs, including: Executing annual merit, incentive based plans, market based research and equity administration.
  • Accountable for employee development, including conducting talent reviews, creating succession plans; proactively managing talent process: hires, promotions, development of key talent, mentoring, development/execution of training needs, etc.
  • Responsible for managing the full-cycle recruiting process for technical, scientific and administrative positions, including: sourcing, screening, interviewing and making recommendations for hires.
  • Responsible for the implementation of recruiting strategies to attract qualified candidates through multi-media advertising, social media, job fairs, college fairs, networking, business and employee referrals, and/or third-party assistance.
  • Managed the firm’s benefits, including but not limited to health and wellness, life, disability, voluntary benefits, supplemental income protection, EAP and FSA.
  • Responsible for the Benefits strategy, cost management, communication and compliance.
  • Serve as the primary representative and point of contact for all phases of the global mobility activities.
  • Responsible for creating HR metrics reports, developing and maintaining affirmative action program; filing EEO-1 annually and other records to conform to EEO regulations.
  • Responsible for the organization HRIS Systems and relating processes (Deltek). Developed, implemented and modified HR technology platforms in support of the business needs.
  • Biotech and Fondation Mérieux USA (Global non-for-profit organization)

Senior Regional HR Business Partner/HR Manager

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY
Arlington
01.2014 - 10.2014
  • Provided human resource and organizational expertise to three campuses (Arlington, Nashville and Dallas) including but not limited to Employee Relations, Benefits, Compensation, Training, talent acquisition, and Performance Management.

International Benefits & Expatriate Officer

ELIZABETH GLASER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION
Washington
03.2013 - 12.2013
  • Managed the Foundation benefit function in a domestic and international environment.
  • Plans include health, life, AD&D, disability, workers compensation, pension plans [403(b) and 401(a)], 'offshore pension plans', Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), FMLA, COBRA and other ancillary benefits.
  • Responsible for managing procedures related to HRIS support including system design modification, implementation, diagnose and troubleshooting errors/problems relating to software packages, security and training of end users.
  • Responsible for managing the Expatriate and TCN programs, which include allowances benefits management, relocation and repatriation process management and employee relation resolution.
  • Ensured HCN Manuals, employment agreements and other HR documents and policies are in place prior to proposal submissions/office start-up.

Compensation Analyst

Abt Associates
Bethesda
11.2011 - 03.2013
  • Administration of compensation programs for expatriates, LCN, TCN, and US employees including SCA employees.

HR Representative

BAE SYSTEMS
Rockville
11.2008 - 11.2011
  • Provided support to employees concerning general benefits, compensation and other inquiries regarding HR policies, procedures, and programs.

HR Administrator/HR Business Partner

ANALYTICAL SERVICE (ANSER)/HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE
Arlington
06.2007 - 04.2008
  • Provided support for two business units for 236 employees on HR related activities including Employee Relations, Benefits, Compensation, Training, Affirmative Action, and Performance Management.

Senior Benefits Assistant

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE
Washington
01.2005 - 01.2006
  • Responsible for daily administration activities related to benefit programs which include medical, prescription, dental, vision, Defined Contribution (401A and 403B), life, AD&D, short term and long term disabilities, employee assistance, and flexible spending accounts for employees in the Washington, DC, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Education

Master of Business Administration -

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Adelphi, MD
01.2012

Bachelor of Science - Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management

GEORGE MASON UNIVERISTY
Fairfax, VA
01.2004

Skills

  • Start-up environment
  • High growth global Experience
  • Employment Law
  • FMLA
  • ADA
  • EEO
  • AAP
  • VET100
  • Global HR Generalist
  • HRIS Technologies
  • Staff Recruitment & Retention
  • Employee Relations
  • USAID experience
  • DFID experience
  • NGOs experience
  • Benefits and Compensation Administration
  • HR Policies & Procedures
  • CA HR Experience
  • EU HR Experience
  • Orientation & On-Boarding
  • Bilingual: French & English
  • Performance Management
  • International Government Contracting experience
  • DOD Government Contracting experience
  • Employee relations
  • Compensation management
  • Conflict resolution

Affiliations

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

More

  • Studying for the Senior Professional Human Resource Management Certification (SPHR)-expected December 2025
  • The Service Contract Act Training, FMLA Administration Training, SHRM Essentials of HR Management Program (SHRM), Time Management Training

HRIS:

MS Office, PeopleSoft, Lawson, NetSuite, Workday,  Costpoint, OpenHire, Ultipro, PeopleAmerica, Oracle, ADP, Crystal and Deltek

Other: Experience with Payfactor, Mercer and Radford

Affiliations:

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Hris

  • MS Office
  • PeopleSoft
  • Lawson
  • NetSuite
  • Workday
  • Costpoint
  • OpenHire
  • Ultipro
  • PeopleAmerica
  • Oracle
  • ADP
  • Crystal
  • Deltek

Hr Skills

  • Start-up environment and high growth global Experience
  • Employment Law FMLA/ADA/EEO/AAP/VET100
  • Global HR Generalist HRIS Technologies
  • Staff Recruitment & Retention
  • Employee Relations
  • USAID, DFID & NGOs experience
  • Benefits and Compensation Administration
  • HR Policies & Procedures
  • CA and EU HR Experience
  • Orientation & On-Boarding
  • Bilingual: French & English
  • Performance Management
  • International and DOD Government Contracting experience

Other

  • Experience with Payfactor
  • Mercer
  • Radford

Timeline

Global HR Business Partner Director

Abt Global
05.2024 - Current

HR Director/ Head of HR

Amador Bioscience, Inc.
08.2021 - 04.2024

HR Director

ARCELLX, Inc.
06.2020 - 08.2021

HR Director

ADVANCED BIOSCIENCE LABORATORIES, INC. (ABL, INC.)
02.2015 - 05.2020

Senior Regional HR Business Partner/HR Manager

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY
01.2014 - 10.2014

International Benefits & Expatriate Officer

ELIZABETH GLASER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION
03.2013 - 12.2013

Compensation Analyst

Abt Associates
11.2011 - 03.2013

HR Representative

BAE SYSTEMS
11.2008 - 11.2011

HR Administrator/HR Business Partner

ANALYTICAL SERVICE (ANSER)/HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE
06.2007 - 04.2008

Senior Benefits Assistant

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE
01.2005 - 01.2006

Master of Business Administration -

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Bachelor of Science - Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management

GEORGE MASON UNIVERISTY

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FRANCESCA KALEND