Kelsey Thayer

About Kelsey Thayer

As an HR leader with 10+ years of experience, I specialize in building people strategies that scale with organizational growth and change. My career has spanned high-growth consulting firms, digital agencies, and tech-enabled services organizations—many of which have undergone complex transformations, including private equity transactions, mergers, and re-orgs.I thrive at the intersection of strategic HR, change management, and organizational development—especially when navigating ambiguity. Whether supporting leaders through cultural integration post-acquisition or building scalable systems that help companies grow without losing their people focus, I bring curiosity, clarity, and compassion to every challenge.Key Areas of Focus:Organizational Change & Private Equity Integration: Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and carve-outs, ensuring talent continuity, cultural alignment, and change readiness during transition periods.Strategic People Operations: Led cross-functional efforts to align people strategies with business objectives, covering performance management, compensation, and DEI initiatives.Leadership Coaching & Manager Enablement: Designed and facilitated programs for first-time and senior managers to build confidence, alignment, and accountability across teams.Culture & Engagement: Created feedback loops that go beyond surveys, helping organizations listen, respond, and continuously improve culture at scale.Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations: Developed and modernized people policies to reflect both regulatory requirements and evolving workforce expectations.I hold a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Richmond (\'17). I served as the 2024 President of Richmond SHRM (a SHRM Super Mega Chapter recognized nationally for excellence) and currently serve as Past President on the Executive Committee through 2025, continuing to support board strategy, governance, and chapter growth.

Experience

1. Human Resources Director

   Concord

   Jan 2023 — Present

   As the HR Director leading a global people team, I drive initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. My role spans strategic leadership and day-to-day HR management.Key Responsibilities and Achievements- Partnering with firm leadership to develop and implement HR strategies that support business goals and drive organizational success- Consolidating performance management and compensation processes, including annual reviews, benchmarking, and creating pay bands- Implementing a new performance management tool globally, standardizing levels, job descriptions, and salary bands- Developing clear career pathways for employees, enhancing growth opportunities and supporting long-term career development- Improving internal communications to boost employee engagement and satisfaction. Leading annual global engagement surveys and creating actionable plans based on feedback- Building an intranet and global hub for all employees, providing a centralized resource for information and communication- Ensuring the global standardization of tools, procedures, and policies, fostering a unified and efficient work environment- Overseeing benefits programs to ensure they meet the needs of employees and align with company objectives- Designing and delivering training programs to enhance employee skills and career development- Overseeing all aspects of employee relations, including conflict resolution and performance management, to maintain a harmonious workplace- Managing compliance with local, state, and federal laws, including payroll, onboarding/offboarding, and workplace investigations.In this role, I leverage my extensive experience in human resources to drive strategic initiatives that align with our company\'s goals and foster a positive and productive work environment. I am passionate about creating a supportive culture where employees can thrive and contribute to the company\'s success.

Education

• University of Richmond

  Master's degree, Human Resources Management and Services

  2015 — 2017

• UMass Boston

  BA, Political Science, Communications

  1999 — 2003

Skills

• Management
• Data Entry
• Health Insurance
• Adp Payroll
• Microsoft Word
• Stakeholder Management
• Human Resources
• Access
• Employee Engagement
• Microsoft Publisher
• Benefits Administration
• Customer Service
• Employee Benefits Design
• Employee Assistance Programs (Eap)
• U.s. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Eeoc)
• Ada Compliance
• Engaging People
• Human Resources Information Systems (Hris)
• Social Networking
• Office Management
• Editing
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Development
• Internal Communications
• Proofreading
• Project Management
• Social Media Marketing
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Analysis
• Microsoft Outlook
• Research
• Staff Retention
• Strategic Initiatives
• Public Speaking
• Microsoft Office
• File Management
• Conflict Management
• HR Policies
• Employee Relations