Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Scheduleaconsideration
Security Clearance
Timeline
Generic

Lora Kelly

Fort Knox,KY

Summary

Results-driven Senior Human Resources Manager focused on standardizing and consolidating policies for lean and effective HR department. Dedicated to strong employee relations and high job satisfaction for workers at all levels. Promoting 24-year record of success cultivating positive and growth-focused work cultures to foster employee satisfaction and retention.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Human Resources Manager (Sergeant Major)

HRC
09.2022 - Current
  • Served as the Special Management Division Sergeant Major responsible for human resource management for over 7,000 active component officer and enlisted members assigned to geographically separated Special Mission Units and other Sensitive Units and Programs
  • Provided oversight for lifecycle career management to include assignments, schools, promotions, separations, and retirements for specially managed enlisted personnel
  • Coordinated with branches in HRC and unit G1/J1 Senior Enlisted Leaders to identify personnel requirements, capability concerns, and solve readiness topics
  • Conducted strength analysis to man the Nation’s premier fighting force IAW Army Manning Guidance
  • Used comprehensive knowledge of the Army’s enlisted manning requirements to advise higher-level authorities on manning policy and procedures, and critical manning shortages
  • Drove change in the recruiting and management procedures within Special Mission Units
  • Collaborated with leaders within HRC and SMUs to redefine processes that allowed SMUs to fill critical manning shortages while allowing HRC to man priority assignments with little impact to Army strengths across the enterprise
  • Routinely resolved complaints and concerns at the lowest level
  • Used problem solving skills to understand and analyze each problem set and create multiple viable solutions
  • Understood when a problem warranted higher-level management or outside resources
  • Engaged with Army senior leadership and stakeholders across sensitive activities to cultivate a positive mindset to change and build consensus for the modernization of Army human resources and military pay
  • Prepared and presented oral briefs to General Officers, Army Senior Leaders, Human Resources Professionals, and Army Civilians on program planning and execution, operational issues, and metrics to ensure understanding
  • Leveraged the expertise of Soldiers and Civilians during internal and external reviews to ensure concurrence in the development of new policies and procedures
  • Convened working groups to develop, publish, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and develop new documents as appropriate
  • Provided human resources professionals with instructions and expert guidance on all aspects of staff operations and captured all standard procedures, templates, and working knowledge into a central repository to ensure continuity of actions; produced updated documents to capture the intricacies of executing complex human resources operations in a classified environment
  • Through review of regular battle rhythm events, ensured workload was distributed and balanced, ensuring accurate and timely completion of required tasks
  • Reinforced and updated human resources workflow processes to keep pace with changes to law, policy, regulation, and doctrine
  • Incorporated training programs designed to establish standards and evaluate work of human resources professionals
  • Ensured subordinates were properly counseled on their performance, conduct, and worked to resolve any disciplinary concerns
  • Provided training on career progression, Individual Development Plans, and online resources available for self-development
  • Handled the Nation’s most protected programs and personnel in a controlled setting
  • Ensured classified documents, the facility and storage containers always remained secured
  • Maintained accountability of all supplies by conducting monthly inspections to ensure all documents were accounted for, validated documents and office equipment remained serviceable, up-to-date, and properly secured
  • Worked with each employee to ensure they understood the steps required in the event of a possible breach of information.

Senior Enlisted Advisor E8 First Sergeant

12th BN
07.2020 - 01.2022
  • Served as the Battalion Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) for 6 geographically dispersed Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) in a joint environment
  • Principal advisor to the Battalion Commander and 5 MEPS Commanders and SEAs on all military and DA Civilian matters
  • Coordinated with joint service centers to ensure service members are properly paid, promoted, and assigned within service regulations
  • Managed the Command Programs, personnel actions and awards program
  • Oversaw meals, lodging, and transportation contracts worth over $4.2 million dollars
  • Responsible for the professional development, morale, welfare, readiness, and training for over 50 joint military personnel and 230 DA Civilians
  • Supported 8 Inter-service Recruiting Commands and 17 Inter-service Liaisons to process over 10,000 applicants annually
  • Secondary to the BN ED with the processing of civilian and military hiring/backfill requests to assist MEPS in sustaining optimal personnel strength
  • Acts as liaison for the civilian personnel advisory center (CPAC) and ensures subordinate units are provided timely and accurate guidance on actions necessary in regard to their civilian positions or personnel
  • These include submission of hiring, reassignments, terminations, training, disciplining, and rewarding employees
  • Verifies access and facilitates MEPS user training for CHRA information systems (IS) such as DCPDS, CPOL Manager and AutoNOA w/in 90 days of arrival or appointment to a strength management position, i.e
  • Approving Official, Hiring/Selecting Official and Admin Support Tech
  • Advises BN/MEPS Commanders or ED, as needed or requested, on the civilian hiring process and available strategies or resources to overcome hiring challenges and manning shortfalls
  • Functions as 12th BN Liaison with HQs, Eastern Sector, and service liaisons in regard to Personnel Strength Management for the 12th BN and subordinate MEPS
  • Routinely prepares reports and provides feedback of BN/MEPS military strength and status of key vacancies; briefs the BN Commander and ED as scheduled or requested to include, upon identification, of potential mission impacts (underlap, gaps, etc), maintains constant communication with HQs, Sector by providing weekly updates of key vacancies, and identification of backfills, and timely submission of manning reports
  • Tracks all outbound personnel, establishing suspense for all awards and evaluations ensuring every service member is recognized for their service to each MEPS prior to their departure
  • Routinely sought out by the USMEPCOM Command Sergeant Major and peers for counsel and input on human resources issues
  • Selected to serve as the Eastern Sector Mentor for 2 New Commander and Senior Enlisted Advisor courses
  • Leveraged relationships with Joint Senior Enlisted Advisors, routinely collaborated on projects to ensure USMEPCOM leadership understood sister service policies and all Enlisted Service Members remained on track with their service requirements for education, evaluations, and promotions
  • Worked directly with Naval Support Activities Bethesda to develop the first hybrid Navy Enlisted Advancement Exam Prep Course, allowing over 45 Sailors the opportunity to complete the 2-week course from anywhere in the world
  • Initiative increased Sailors’ Advancement Exam scores by 50%, resulted in 2 Navy Meritorious Advancement Program recipients, and reduced TDY cost for USMEPCOM by 75%
  • Aids subordinate MEPS Commanders and Staff by coordinating and disseminating USMEPCOM, Sector and the 12th BN’s policies and procedures to the subordinate MEPS
  • Performs a wide variety of management and administrative services for the BN Commander essential to the operations of a geographically dispersed battalion
  • Maintains contact on a regular basis with the MEPS Commanders, BN Staff to provide guidance and support on various issues
  • Served as the responsible official for controlling total military evaluation reporting program management (for all Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and US Coast Guard), to include currency of rating schemes, processing of reports, and advising subordinate Commanders on technical matters and correct procedures
  • Provides oversight and management for all aspects of BN and MEPS employee performance evaluation, and workforce management
  • Conducts periodic evaluations of administrative programs, systems and methods to identify ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the MEPS
  • Reviews Command and Administrative Programs using the USMEPCOM Organizational Inspection Program Guide
  • Performs a variety of administrative functions, to include preparation of periodic personnel reports, review of awards, creation, and oversight of personnel actions and analysis of data using military human resource systems and regulations
  • Advises deciding officials on available courses of action for resolving issues and makes recommendations for the best available option
  • Establishes suspense dates on all incoming and outgoing actions and initiates follow-up to ensure timely reply
  • Maintains communication, collects, reviews and analyzes all data received by each MEPS and develops ways to improve the accuracy, adequacy, timeliness, and validity of data for disseminating information and command directives
  • Knowledgeable and skilled in applying analytical techniques and evaluative methods for issues concerning administrative and related management matters to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of daily operations
  • Evaluates and recommends ways to improve the utilization of available resources and improve administrative management services.

Senior Human Resources Manager E8 Brigade Staff NCOIC

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
02.2018 - 07.2020
  • Served as the senior enlisted Human Resources manager for an organization consisting of over 4700 officer and enlisted members
  • Principal adviser to the Brigade Commander and Command Sergeant Major on all matters pertaining to enlisted members and their families
  • Responsible for every aspect of human resources operation, to include strength management, personnel accountability, finance, evaluations, awards, promotions, personnel actions, casualty operations, and Soldier Readiness Programs
  • Coached, trained, and mentored seven subordinate battalion human resources teams and 41 Company level Commanders and First Sergeants
  • Reviewed all administrative actions for accuracy and compliance with standards and doctrine
  • Received and prepared correspondence to respond to tasks assigned from higher-level organizations
  • Reviewed updated human resources regulations and messages provided from higher headquarters
  • Ensured staff were professionally trained and understood updated guidance prior to implementing updated requirements
  • Effectively communicate updates to clients and encouraged them to seek additional support or guidance as needed
  • Handpicked to serve as the primary Senior Leader and Advisor during a no-notice deployment of over 4800 joint military members
  • Exercised a high degree of judgement and pose during the initial rapid deployment of over 573 service members in under 4 hours
  • Coordinated with military and civilian aircraft to rapidly deploy over 4200 service members over a 5-day period, prioritizing the Brigade Commander’s requirements while maintaining accountability of personnel during transport
  • Guided 82nd Division policy on Outload Procedures during Immediate Response Force operations
  • Provided recurring reports including weekly briefs, written point papers, and summaries to the General Officer leadership of the 82nd Airborne Division to enhance situational awareness and oversight of logistical requirements.

Senior Human Resources Manager

United States Army Special Operations Command
08.2010 - 01.2018
  • Assessed and selected to serve in a Specially Managed Nominative Unit and served in progressively higher human resources leadership positions
  • Provided full-spectrum human resources leadership support to critical strategic-level operations while maintaining a Personnel Services Branch, Personnel Readiness Branch, and Administrative Services Branch
  • Guided and advised command teams on all technical administrative and human resources issues to achieve strategic goals, while highlighting potential full range of issues and solutions, to meet mission accomplishment
  • Provided updates to commanders and senior enlisted leaders for their understanding on all military personnel action to ensure the unit maintained a high state of readiness and manning
  • In turn, responded to questions regarding administrative and human resources programs and how regulation and policies impact the force: provided technical written guidance on all procedural matters on often complex and difficult administrative problems
  • Executed staff actions across the unit and two 3-star headquarters commands through precise coordination and management of administrative correspondence
  • Provided review of administrative and personnel actions for completeness and accuracy to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Established priorities of work and functional team responsibilities to ensure all procedural and administrative tasks were accomplished in a timely manner to provide accurate reporting and tracking of staff actions to meet organizational suspense dates
  • Selected to serve as Recruiter and placement manager for Career Management Field 42A
  • Utilized previous Army Recruiter experience to develop recruiting methods and strategies
  • Worked directly with Talent Acquisition Team to create job analysis, generate job opportunity announcements, and screen hiring packets for viable candidates to assess, interview, and hire
  • Developed manning tracker able to forecast all projected and non-projected vacancies, utilized projected strengths to target recruiting efforts and advise leaders on retention requirements
  • Handpicked to serve as the single Human Resources Liaison within the United States Embassy in Amman, Jordan
  • Engaged with Embassy staff to coordinate travel requests, country clearances, and logistical support for 75 personnel geographically separated across 7 countries
  • Utilized inter-personal skills to development relationships with foreign embassies; worked directly with the Iraq Embassy to develop business rules for unit personnel requesting Iraq Visas
  • Streamlined the application process; shorting wait time from no less than 90 days to 5 working days
  • Developed relationships resulted in the first Iraq Visa being approved since the United States Military departed Iraq.

Education

Skills

  • Payroll Management
  • Internal Communications
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Onboarding and Orientation
  • Organizational Development
  • Policy Development
  • Employee Relations
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Workforce Planning
  • Building morale
  • Leadership Development
  • Workforce improvements
  • Human Resources Operations
  • Talent management

Scheduleaconsideration

True

Security Clearance

Top Secret/SCI exp. 20280223

Timeline

Senior Human Resources Manager (Sergeant Major)

HRC
09.2022 - Current

Senior Enlisted Advisor E8 First Sergeant

12th BN
07.2020 - 01.2022

Senior Human Resources Manager E8 Brigade Staff NCOIC

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
02.2018 - 07.2020

Senior Human Resources Manager

United States Army Special Operations Command
08.2010 - 01.2018

Lora Kelly