Kelli Gray

Experience

• 

  CHF International

  Dec 2009 - Apr 2011

  Recruiting Coordinator

  Contributed sourcing and on-boarding support to all proposal, headquarters, and field recruitment activities, as a member of the Global Staffing Team- Coordinated the on-boarding of all new employees with internal departments- Screened applicants to ensure all potential candidates against required qualifications- Managed and expanded the personnel database through networking and outreach activities

• 

  ACDI/VOCA

  Apr 2011 - Nov 2014

  International Recruiter; International Recruitment Coordinator

  Delivered high-level personnel recruitment team and secured top talent for projects worldwide.- Maintained a requisition load of up to 50 positions simultaneously: met ambitious deadlines and collaborated with technical teams to develop long and short-term talent strategies- Identified internal candidates using a skills database and internal consultations

• 

  Engility Corporation

  Nov 2014 - Jun 2016

  Recruitment Associate Manager; Senior Recuitment Specialist

  Developed and fulfilled staffing strategies in coordination with technical teams. Mentored and managed junior team members and served as a representative of the organization.- Supervised Recruitment Associates, providing daily guidance, oversight, and time management- Designed and adapted recruitment team procedures and strategies in coordination with colleagues- Provided full life cycle recruitment leadership for USAID contracts valued up to $64 million, consistently sourcing, identifying, vetting, negotiating, and finalizing full project teams in a short timeframe. Show less

• 

  Crown Agents

  Jun 2016 - Apr 2018

  Recruiting Manager

  Directed the recruitment and talent department for a US and UK-based international development organization. Developed and institutionalized organizational processes and practices for talent acquisition. Drove workforce strategies including talent development and inter-division skills sharing initiatives. - Finalized a job leveling and harmonization process including updating job descriptions and establishing market-based compensation ranges- Advised CEO and senior managers on talent utilization and management strategies including succession planning and stretch assignments high potential employees- Working with other senior leaders, planned major workforce changes including a reduction in force- Determined equitable salary offers, prepared offer letters and employment agreements- Finalized the data migration and roll-out of Taleo as the new Applicant Tracking System (ATS)- Managed, mentored, and trained recruiters, ensuring each was supported and challenged- Determined competency profiles for current and new jobs ensuring consistency across departments- Designed and delivered trainings for the organization - Managed vendor relationships with staffing firms, advertising sites, and HR systems service providers Show less

• 

  Self-employed

  May 2018 - Feb 2019

  International Development and Recruitment Consultant
• 

  DAI

  Jun 2018 - May 2023

  Led the global recruitment and talent management function for the Global Health Division of a multi-national development company. Advised division leadership on workforce planning and led talent development initiatives for a globally dispersed team. - Oversaw senior and mid-level recruiters, supporting their individual performance and growth and training them on talent management strategies- Served as a member of the leadership team leading talent strategy - Initiated and championed learning and development initiatives that built essential skills on the team- Developed an on-boarding process and resources, oriented managers to their responsibilities Show less Led recruitment and personnel management efforts based on Global Health’s talent needs. - Supported an array of talent management activities to build and strengthen the Global Heath team including recruitment for corporate and proposal positions, strategic outreach to identify and attract future talent to DAI, team engagement, and talent development.- Identified and secured executive-level candidates for new multi-million dollar global programs.- Oversaw, managed and coached two recruiters and coordinated with other Recruitment Managers within the company. Show less Led full-cycle talent acquisition for corporate positions up to the VP level, filling approximately 50% of roles with internal candidates. Partnered with divisions on talent management, succession planning, learning and development, and workforce management initiatives across the organization.- Built an internal talent marketplace and associated process to enable stretch assignments for staff across the organization and fill short-term staffing needs- Developed, implemented, and evaluated talent management and staff engagement initiatives including High Potential development programs, and a Field Talent Management initiative Show less

  • Principal Manager, Talent Acquisition and Management

    Mar 2023 - May 2023

  • Senior Manager, Recruitment and Talent

    Aug 2021 - Mar 2023

  • Principal Recruiter

    Feb 2019 - Aug 2021

  • Acting Project HR Manager

    Jan 2021 - Jul 2021

  • Corporate Recruiter (Part-time)

    Jun 2018 - Feb 2019
• 

  International Republican Institute

  May 2023 - Apr 2025

  Deputy Director, Recruitment and Talent

  Leads talent strategy and operations for a global non-partisan, non-profit with projects in over 40 countries. Oversees and motivates a team of 6 talent professionals and drives organizational excellence as part of the HR leadership team. Builds and maintains talent management initiatives for the 800-person organization.- Defines and drives talent strategy, advising division leadership teams on talent utilization, recruitment strategies, and internal talent mobility- Redesigned and executed an improved orientation and onboarding process within 8 months of my start- Led an organization-wide initiative to improve management development and support through stretch assignments for high-potential employees, improved performance management, and increased professional development for supervisors- Recommended and wrote revisions to internal policies that improved opportunities for internal mobility- Oversees talent development strategies and programs including e-learning and in-person trainings- Designed, created, and finalized and e-learning for supervisors on employment law and workforce practices to reduce employee relations issues and organizational risk- Developed an internal Training Catalog to organize and manage all offered and mandated trainings - Leads projects to fulfill talent and HR goals within the organization’s Strategic Plan Show less

• 

  Stand Together

  Apr 2025 - now

  Talent Acquisition Leader

  Leads and supports a team of experienced recruiters, providing prioritization, guidance, and professional development to drive results and grow their contribution. Builds trusted partnerships with business leaders to ensure alignment between talent acquisition strategies and business unit goals. Own full-cycle recruitment for a portfolio of positions, working directly with hiring leaders to understand job requirements and vision, build recruitment strategies, screen candidates, and manage the recruitment lifecycle. Partners with Talent Development counterparts to share insights on business trends and employee performance, creating a feedback loop to inform recruitment. Serves as the subject matter expert and escalation on the recruitment process and best practices, applying knowledge while also mentoring and coaching through challenging scenarios. Show less