Open to opportunities

Sara Florkey

@saraflorkey

Message

I am an HR strategist and culture architect driving organizational change and DEIB outcomes.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek a senior HR role designing scalable people programs, leading DEIB and change initiatives in mission-driven, inclusive organizations that value data-informed decisions and employee belonging.

I am a high-impact HR strategist and culture architect with 7+ years in organizational development and two decades of cross-functional experience in compliance-driven environments. I align people strategy with business outcomes to drive workforce readiness, retention, and culture cohesion.

I have led enterprise DEIB maturity assessments and designed three-year strategies that increased engagement survey participation by 12% and delivered phased roadmaps with measurable ownership and milestones. I directed Prosci-based change programs for a multi-platform Workforce Management upgrade across eight states, coordinated readiness for 1,200+ end users, and improved post-training self-efficacy by 22% while reducing time-to-proficiency by 17%. I also managed a 3,200-employee culture rollout ahead of schedule and chaired an LGBTQ+ ERG that helped raise an HRC Corporate Equality Index score to 100.

I hold an MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and certifications including SHRM-CP and Prosci, and I design scalable learning, DEIB, and change programs grounded in behavioral science. I seek to partner with mission-driven leaders to build people systems that deliver results and belonging.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Graduate Studies

Florida Southern College

Oct 2023 - May 2025 (1 year 7 months)

Completed an MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (May 2025), conducting applied research and selective consulting to refine expertise in organizational effectiveness, inclusive leadership, and scalable change.

Organizational Development Change Management Research Leadership Development

Change Management Delivery Lead

NiSource

Mar 2022 - Oct 2023 (1 year 7 months)

Directed enterprise change strategy for a multi-platform Workforce Management upgrade, achieving readiness alignment across eight state footprints and coordinating resources for 1,200+ end users pre-launch. Led communications and field coaching that increased end-user engagement with change initiatives by 15%.

Change Management Stakeholder Engagement Strategic Communications Union Relations Workforce Management Program Management

Talent Specialist

Battelle Memorial Institute

Jan 2021 - Mar 2022 (1 year 2 months)

Reimagined onboarding and capability-building programs, embedding DEIB and reducing new hire time-to-proficiency by 17% while maintaining a 95% on-time delivery rate for enterprise learning initiatives. Advised leaders on career pathways and performance tools aligned to engagement drivers.

Onboarding Performance Management LMS Employee Engagement Data Analysis

Change Management Analyst

Battelle Memorial Institute

Jan 2020 - Mar 2022 (2 years 2 months)

Supported enterprise change enablement as SuccessFactors LMS Super User during an ERP implementation, developing system training and readiness strategies that improved post-training self-efficacy scores by 22%.

Change Management SuccessFactors LMS Learning Development ERP Implementation Stakeholder Engagement

Behavioral Change PM

Battelle Memorial Institute

Feb 2019 - Jan 2020 (11 months)

Led an enterprise culture rollout reaching 3,200+ employees in under 10 months—completed 2 months ahead of schedule with 98% session attendance—and drove a 30% increase in leader-reported team trust through values-based facilitation and facilitator enablement.

Facilitation Program Management ERG Leadership

Security & Surety Manager

Battelle Memorial Institute

Dec 2004 - Feb 2019 (14 years 2 months)

Directed security, audit readiness, and risk mitigation for a classified research facility, coordinating 50+ federal audits, safeguarding $15M+ in research assets, and contributing to the site achieving OSHA VPP STAR status.

Compliance Risk Mitigation Physical Security Crisis Management Stakeholder Management

DEIB Consultant

QinetiQ US

Designed and executed a DEIB maturity assessment and delivered a phased three-year DEIB roadmap tied to executive ownership and success metrics, increasing employee engagement survey participation by 12%.

Change Management Cultural Assessment Strategic Communications Data Analysis Stakeholder Engagement Roadmapping Behavioral Science

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Florida Southern College

Master of Science, Industrial & Organizational Psychology

2023 - 2025

Activities and societies: International Honor Society of Psychology; RADM Fred Lewis I/ITSEC Postgraduate Scholarship

Completed Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, focusing on organizational effectiveness, inclusive leadership, and scalable change. Balanced academic work with consulting, research, and leadership facilitation projects.