Karen Simpson

 Profile Summary Strategic and results-oriented leader with 27+ years of extensive experience in program management, education adoption, and workforce development. Drives large-scale initiatives by overseeing strategic planning, managing cross-functional teams, and executing impactful programs to enhance organizational effectiveness. Builds sustainable partnerships, designs scalable learning ecosystems, and integrates technology-driven systems to optimize training delivery and performance metrics. Aligns organizational vision with workforce strategies through advanced data analytics, policy development, and financial oversight to deliver measurable outcomes and long-term growth. CORE COMPETENCIES Strategic Planning Program Management Workforce Development Education Adoption Policy Development Financial Management Stakeholder Management Vendor Management Solutions Development PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Branch Chief | US Dept. of Agriculture, Office of CIO | Washington, DCAug. 2022 – Present Agriculture Learning (AgLearn) enables talent development through a robust Learning Management System, delivering online and instructor-led training to 145,000 agency employees nationwide. It supports external customers and customizes two million training sessions annually to optimize workforce engagement and performance. Oversees technology enabling AgLearn’s advanced LMS capabilities, managing SaaS solutions like Totara Learning, Skillsoft, and LinkedIn Learning to deliver comprehensive e-learning. Drives strategic planning and expansion efforts, exceeding initial operational scope while reporting to the division director. Spearheaded the development and presentation of the inaugural AgLearn strategic plan, outlining mission, vision, and goals focused on enhancing customer experience, expanding service offerings, and driving growth within the federal market space. Earned 4 monthly USDA performance awards for stellar leadership and direction of the AgLearn program. Achieved key federal plan goals by successfully onboarding HHS as a client, enhancing LMS functionality with expanded catalogs and tags, and increasing course completion rates through targeted content promotion and marketing. Expanded LMS usage by forming a cross-functional work group, increasing system visibility, and driving broader adoption to transform it into a widely successful and versatile training platform. Re-established the quarterly newsletter by launching a professional development resource series, enhancing visibility through Departmental SharePoint sites, and effectively driving lead generation among 3,000 administrators. Expanded team capacity by hiring and training three new members, securing federal resources through effective negotiation, and aligning workforce growth with the program's continued success and LMS advancements. Key Responsibilities: LMS Management: Manages LMS platforms, including Totara Learning, Skillsoft, and LinkedIn Learning, to support compliance tracking and professional development for federal employees. Prioritizes security, records management, and accessibility to ensure effective e-learning aligned with USDA-specific requirements. Client Onboarding: Facilitates client onboarding by showcasing system benefits through demonstrations to federal leadership, streamlining inter-agency agreements for Totara contracts to maximize cost efficiency. Supports diverse federal agencies with tailored solutions to meet unique operational and training needs. Vendor Management: Manages vendor partnerships with Totara, LinkedIn, and Skillsoft to deliver curated courses and resources enhancing skill development. Oversees contract obligations to ensure compliance and alignment with organizational objectives in LMS delivery. Team Leadership: Directs a team of 24 IT professionals, including a help desk team utilizing ServiceNow, and a learning development specialist, to deliver efficient IT services. Adopts a servant leadership approach that fosters trust, empowerment, and high-performance outcomes. Financial Management: Manages a $15M budget generated through interagency agreements, encompassing salaries, contracts, servers, licenses, and operational overhead. Oversees capital planning, investment control, and risk management to ensure strategic and sustainable financial growth across programs and projects. Communication Leadership: Leads communications efforts to integrate AgLearn updates into departmental communications and quarterly newsletters. Drives adoption initiatives that generate program engagement and interest among agencies, clients, and stakeholders, ensuring widespread awareness and participation. Customer and Stakeholder Management: Ensures effective stakeholder management by conducting monthly meetings with USDA points and customers of contact to gather critical information. Coordinates team efforts to set agendas covering training assignments, LMS updates, eLearning releases, and AgLearn functionality training sessions. Program Manager | US Dept. of Agriculture | Washington, DCNov. 2014 – July 2022 Spearheaded significant enhancements to the AgLearn LMS by driving platform leadership, overseeing training initiatives, and managing robust vendor partnerships with LinkedIn and Skillsoft. Delivered impactful operational improvements to elevate system functionality and user engagement across the board. Redesigned competency assessments in AgLearn by establishing a collaborative team, defining milestone-driven plans, and delivering a scalable solution that enhanced assessment capabilities across multiple organizational partnerships. Conducted comprehensive market research to identify a cost-effective LMS vendor, emphasizing multi-tenancy, compliance, and organizational needs, resulting in the successful selection and long-term utilization of Totara. Achieved 4 USDA awards for substantially improving the scope and use cases of the AgLearn LMS. Delivered engaging virtual instructor-led training sessions attended by 300 participants, developed instructional content, and achieved highly favorable post-session evaluations reflecting exceptional learner engagement and session effectiveness. Spearheaded the comprehensive revision of AgLearn's Departmental Regulation standards and policies by defining scope, establishing updated guidelines, and ensuring alignment with regulatory compliance requirements. Key Responsibilities: Program Leadership: Directed comprehensive program leadership for AgLearn by establishing mandates, defining strategic objectives, and developing actionable roadmaps. Applied advanced data-driven planning techniques to drive program scalability and ensure sustained growth and operational success. Vendor Management: Oversaw vendor management activities by administering $2M annually in contractor operations as the Contracting Officer Representative. Led RFP submissions and ensured effective execution of eLearning contracts, including a course development tool, to support organizational goals. Instructional Design: Developed and delivered impactful virtual instructor-led training sessions by designing instructional content and coordinating session logistics. Collaborated with contractors to create comprehensive courses, including topics such as submitting an Individual Development Plan, to enhance learner engagement and outcomes. Policy Development: Spearheaded policy and mandate development by leveraging HR expertise to define organizational roles and responsibilities. Optimized role clarity and compliance processes to align with strategic objectives and enhance workforce management. ADDITIONAL NOTEWORTHY EXPERIENCE Training Policy and Outreach Program Manger | U.S. Office of Personnel Management | Washington, DCAug. 2012 – Nov. 2014 Human Resources Specialist – Training | U.S. Office of Personnel Management | Washington DC, DCJune 2007 – July 2012 Management & Program Analyst, USAID | U.S Agency for International Development | Washington DC, DCMay 2005 – June 2007 EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Master’s, Public Administration | New York University Bachelor’s, Political Science | University of Pittsburgh Federal Acquisition Certification - Program/Project Management Senior Level Certification Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting Officer Representative Level 3 Certification