Jessica Carlson

About Jessica Carlson

Executive HR leader with 15+ years of experience shaping people strategy, advising leadership, and building inclusive, high-performing workplaces across nonprofit, healthcare, and corporate environments. I specialize in translating complex workforce challenges into practical, data-informed solutions that support engagement, performance, and organizational health.Known for leading with empathy and clarity, I partner closely with leaders and teams to strengthen trust, improve systems, and align people practices with business goals. My work spans the full employee lifecycle, including compensation and total rewards, compliance, employee relations, performance management, and leadership development. I’m passionate about creating cultures where people feel supported, heard, and empowered to do their best work.Selected Accomplishments Cultivated Engagement and Trust: Partnered with three diverse teams of 225+ employees, strengthening trust, engagement, and collaboration across functions and geographies Strengthened Performance Management: Led the design and implementation of performance management frameworks that improved transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals. Enterprise Leadership Across Organizations: Served in senior leadership roles across corporate and nonprofit environments, driving strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and effective decision-making. Built Scalable Training Programs: Designed and launched targeted training initiatives to address skill gaps, improving productivity, manager effectiveness, and employee satisfaction. Advanced Policy and Governance Leadership: Developed and implemented comprehensive HR policies and governance practices aligned with compliance requirements and organizational values. Executive Operational Leadership: Led organizational and people strategy as Executive Director at KinderCare, fostering a high-performance culture while overseeing end-to-end business operations

Experience

1. Vice President, Human Resources & Administration

   LeadingAge

   Apr 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   In this role, I lead enterprise-wide HR strategy and operations for a multi-state workforce, partnering with executive leadership to strengthen organizational performance, engagement, and culture. My focus includes aligning people strategy with business priorities, advancing equitable and competitive compensation practices, navigating complex employee relations matters, and ensuring compliance across jurisdictions. I’m particularly focused on building scalable systems, using people data to inform decisions, and fostering a culture grounded in trust, accountability, and inclusion.

Education

• Jamestown Community College

  Associate's degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

• State University of New York at Fredonia

  Bachelor's degree, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General