Ken A. Seifert
Littleton
Summary
Executive HR Director and Chief Management Officer with 15+ years of leadership across global U.S. Embassies, managing budgets up to $200 million and overseeing end-to-end recruitment, HRIS implementation, workforce planning, and extensive performance management. Expertise in talent management, crisis response, employee relations, and local labor law compliance. Proven leader in change management, team empowerment, strategic HR policy development, staff training and development, and EEO programs, consistently driving efficiency, engagement, and diversity in the workplace.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Supervisory Regional Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Embassy, U.S. Department of State
01.2022 - Current
- Managed a multimillion-dollar operational expense budget and directed HR operations across nine countries
- Led end-to-end recruitment efforts, boosting global hiring by 10% and improving recruitment processes for efficiency
- Spearheaded change management strategies, restructuring 30% of staff roles to align with mission objectives and improve workflow
- Developed employee engagement programs, increasing participation and morale by 20%
- Supervised payroll, benefits, training, and compliance, ensuring adherence to local and U.S
- Labor laws
- Served as sole EEO Counselor for all U.S
- Government operations in country, supporting workplace investigatory processes and advising leadership on compliance, conflict resolution, and anti-discrimination policies
- Designed and implemented team-building and empowerment initiatives, strengthening communication and collaboration
- Advised the Ambassador on crisis response, including major disaster relief operations within and outside of country
- Developed enhanced performance management metrics to better define workplace expectations, resulting in a 20% increase in staff satisfaction of the performance review process
- Supported multimillion dollar U.S. Government foreign assistance portfolio and project management
Supervisory Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Managed millions in operating expenses and built a fully functional HR and Executive Office team
- Led end-to-end recruitment, driving record-high hiring rates despite a 30% staff turnover
- Implemented HRIS enhancements, streamlining employee data tracking, payroll, and performance evaluation systems
- Created and led an Employee Relations & Talent Management Initiatives, collecting and analyzing workforce data to guide policy improvements
- Conducted workforce planning for embassy expansion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, ensuring the right talent was in place for growth
- Designed and executed change management initiatives, facilitating smooth transitions during organizational restructuring
- Ensured compliance with Vietnam’s labor laws, maintaining fair and legal employment practices
- Directed HR operations during U.S Vice President’s 2021 visit, overseeing staffing and logistics
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Interviewed, recruited and trained new onboarding candidates.
- Located bottlenecks to streamline existing processes.
Regional Supervisory Executive HR Director / Acting Deputy Mission Director
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Managed a $30 million operating expenses budget, supporting 200+ employees and leading HR across four countries
- Piloted a new Cost of Living Adjustment tool, reducing payroll errors and increasing accuracy by 90%, later adopted by 80+ U.S
- Embassies
- Led end-to-end recruitment and workforce restructuring, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
- Served as EEO Counselor, conducting sensitive workplace investigations and advising leadership on discrimination claims
- Spearheaded change management strategies, supporting staff transitions and organizational restructuring
- Led hurricane disaster relief efforts including managing staffing and logistics, coordinating U.S
- Government response efforts
- Created comprehensive mentoring and training development programs, increasing collaborative engagement by staff and morale
Supervisory Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Managed HR for a $200 million annual operating expenses budget, supporting 200 employees and 16 direct reports
- Led end-to-end recruitment, modernizing hiring, onboarding, and training processes
- Developed talent and performance management frameworks, ensuring strategic succession planning and professional development opportunities
- Enhanced HRIS capabilities, improving personnel data management, benefits processing, and performance evaluation tracking
- Ensured compliance with Ethiopian labor laws, implementing best practices in HR policy
- Served as EEO Counselor, handling investigations, employee grievances, and leadership advisement
- Implemented change management initiatives, aligning HR operations with evolving organizational needs
- Directly coordinated strategic team building exercises to improve communication flow between management and teams and on individual levels, utilizing extensive conflict resolution and mediation expertise
Supervisory HR Director
U.S. Embassy
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Led HR and budget oversight for a $55 million dollar program portfolio and all aspects of the HR platform, ensuring local labor law compliance
Desk Officer
Department of State
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Supported U.S. Foreign Assistance foreign assistance programs for Honduras, Guatemala, West Bank, and Gaza, advising on foreign assistance workforce strategy with $600 million Program Budget.
Program Analyst
Department of Justice (DEA)
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Investigative research, budget analysis, and policy development for $30 million Central American program portfolio.
Education
M.A. - International Affairs & Conflict Resolution
The George Washington University
Washington DC05.2005
B.A. - International Affairs & Latin American Studies (Magna Cum Laude)
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana05.2003
Conflict Resolution
Erasmus University
The Hague, Netherlands08.2004
Skills
- Conflict Resolution/Mediation
- Full-Cycle Talent Acquisition
- Change Management
- Strategic Business Transformation
- EEO Expertise
- Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
- Performance Metrics and Management
- Executive Coaching
- Operations Management
- Crisis Management
Awards Recognition
- Global Equal Employment Opportunity Distinguished Award (2022)
- Multiple Performance, Meritorious, and Honor Awards from U.S. Embassies
- Published Author: The Complete Guide to Airport Exercise (2017), The Rising Storm (2007)
- 2005 Presidential Management Fellow
- National Horatio Alger Association Alumnus
Certification
Warranted Contracting Officer
TS/SCI Clearance
Timeline
Supervisory Regional Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Embassy, U.S. Department of State
01.2022 - Current
Supervisory Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2018 - 01.2022
Regional Supervisory Executive HR Director / Acting Deputy Mission Director
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2014 - 01.2018
Supervisory Executive HR Director / Chief Management Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
01.2012 - 01.2014
Supervisory HR Director
U.S. Embassy
01.2010 - 01.2012
Desk Officer
Department of State
01.2006 - 01.2010
Program Analyst
Department of Justice (DEA)
01.2005 - 01.2006
M.A. - International Affairs & Conflict Resolution
The George Washington University
B.A. - International Affairs & Latin American Studies (Magna Cum Laude)
University of Notre Dame
Conflict Resolution
Erasmus University
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