Kelly Kirkland

About Kelly Kirkland

My passion is helping mission-driven organizations achieve their goals by building high performing teams and programs. My approach to work is informed in equal parts by my parents, a teacher and an engineer; I have an eye towards capacity-building and I love a good problem to solve.(I also ask a LOT of questions, but I can\'t blame my parents for everything). I bring a curious, consultative approach wherever I go. In my daily work I find myself synthesizing diverse perspectives and complex information, and communicating a path forward—creating clarity out of confusion. I find the most satisfying efforts are those that start with a challenging goal, provide the opportunity to work with smart people, and allow me to contribute to meaningful work.

Experience

1. Director of Operations - Engineering

   McKinstry

   Jun 2021 — Present

   McKinstry is a full-service DBOM company with a vision to, together, build a thriving planet. Our clients value our engineering and project management expertise, our talented tradespeople, and the way we deliver innovative, integrated, efficient buildings.As the operations leader for the Engineering and Design department, I establish and maintain effective systems that enable our team of over 100 MEPS engineers, architects, and other design professionals to shine. I manage a business operations team to keep things moving smoothly, from resource management to onboarding. I drive risk out of the business by tracking project health, and managing a team of project managers who help our integrated teams plan and deliver to our customer\'s changing needs. I monitor project- and department-level financials, helping the team make sound decisions that will drive us towards our strategic business goals. The best part of my job is being on team of passionate, clever professionals who are driving waste and carbon out of our built environment.

Education

• Imperial College London

  Master's Degree (expected), Science Communication

  2025 — 2026

• University of Washington

  BS, Biology; BA, Communications