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The Portland Thorns faced a pivotal period of transformation:
With the recent sale of the team, there was an immediate need to build out the business operations team. And it all began with the crucial hire of a Director of People and Culture.
Challenge: Establishing an inaugural people & culture leader amidst organizational change
With sights set on being the #1 women’s football franchise in the world, the Portland Thorns needed a pioneering spirit to establish a brand-new Human Resources department.
This HR position was at the forefront of the team’s strategic hires in a revamped business operations division — and essential for fostering the robust culture at the heart of the organization. In addition to being a groundbreaker, the Director of People and Culture would meet big-picture thinking with day-to-day execution, crafting processes and policies from scratch.
It was critical that the engaged search firm brought both deep connections with, and commitment to, the Portland community and a proven track record of helping organizations find their first HR leader.
Process: A tailored search empowered by strong brand name and network leverage
The significance of this role was clear, and Boly:Welch leveraged the strong brand name of the Portland Thorns and an extensive network to build a comprehensive pool of potential leaders ready for the challenge.
This partnership involved co-developing a detailed job description and compelling marketing collateral to attract top-tier candidates. Given Portland’s love of this team, it was vital to find a candidate who not only shared a passion for women’s sports but also possessed the expertise to build a people and culture framework from the ground up.
The search process included tapping into Boly:Welch’s existing networks and forging new connections with candidates from diverse professional backgrounds and varying career stages to find someone whose pioneering spirit could infuse this action-oriented workplace with energy and purpose.
Outcome: The Portland Thorns selected an HR leader with a builder mindset for their first Director of People and Culture
Elise di Sabella has been moving and shaking (and building the Business Operations team) as Director of People and Culture at the Portland Thorns since May 2024.
With over a decade of HR experience, Elise’s ability to step into complex roles and build trust quickly has been a hallmark of her career. She’s committed to driving collaboration, aligning goals, and enhancing the employee experience. Her strategic leadership, honed during her doctoral journey, equipped her well to build bridges at organizations like Travel & Leisure.
As an active volunteer and board member with Forest Grove Junior Baseball (where she recently led a complete revamp of the organization’s front-facing documentation through a DEI lens), we knew Elise’s commitment to sports and community would resonate. And her experience with start-ups and “get-it-done” approach made her an ideal fit for the Thorns’ ambitious goals.
The Portland Thorns were referred to Boly:Welch by the VP of HR at the Portland Timbers: “There’s no other agency in town we’d recommend for a critical Human Resources search.”
Our HR recruiters have a combined 20+ years of HR recruitment experience at Boly:Welch, leveraging their deep network of relationships, industry knowledge, sourcing expertise, and experience to place top tier candidates.
Our approach includes:
Use the chat bubble to connect with us right away, or email us at [email protected]!
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