Since 2007, KMA’s mission is to offer superior HR, recruiting and compensation consulting solutions through a cohesive team of employees who value personal flexibility and the opportunity to contribute their best work. We partner with clients in New England and beyond of virtually any size or industry, offering direct access to a dedicated HR, recruiting or compensation professional – and sometimes all three – who help them navigate everything from the straightforward to the super complex. We offer expertise on compliance issues, policy questions, employee relations and engagement, compensation, recruiting, and retention strategies for all types of positions, and so much more.

KMA works with a variety of businesses, from startups and nonprofits to mid-sized companies and larger, more complex organizations. We’re not a one-size-fits-all consulting firm. Our fractional model means we scale our support to meet you where you are – whether you need strategic guidance, hands-on help, or something in between. While we serve clients across virtually every industry, the core principles of strong HR, compensation, and recruiting practices are universal, and we tailor our approach to fit your unique needs and goals.

KMA has partnered with many of our clients since their earliest stages, acting as their HR team before they had one, and continuing to support them as they grow and evolve. Our consultants are available on a flexible, fractional basis to meet your needs in the moment, whether that means leading a new HR initiative, stepping in during a leave or transition, or serving as your go-to HR resource.
We scale with you, providing just the right level of support at the right time, so you can stay focused on running – and growing – your business with confidence.

Yes – KMA consultants are available to plug into your HR team (or be your HR team if you don’t have one!) as needed. If you require a dedicated consultant to steer a long-term HR project through to completion, you can contract with us for that. If you need someone to fill an HR role on an interim basis – a medical leave, for example – we’re your go-to resource. We can even help recruit, onboard and train a permanent hire for our replacement.

Our consultants are available to come on-site, or support you virtually, during times when you have HR staffing disruptions, or to help you tackle those projects your team just can’t seem to get to. We help ensure all your human resources operations are running smoothly and efficiently, especially during times of growth, employee transition or conflict.

Yes. KMA’s HR consultants are highly experienced in employment compliance and well-versed in federal, state, and local labor laws. We help businesses proactively manage risk by developing compliant policies, procedures, handbooks, and HR practices tailored to their industry and size.
While we bring deep expertise in HR compliance, we always recommend that clients have their legal counsel review all final policies, employment contracts, and other legal documents. Our role is to help you build a strong, compliant HR foundation, and to protect your business before issues arise.

KMA is a certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) through the U.S. Small Business Administration. This designation confirms that our company is at least 51% woman-owned and operated, and it qualifies us to participate in federal contracting opportunities that support diverse suppliers. For our clients, working with a WOSB can align with supplier diversity goals and demonstrate a commitment to supporting inclusive, equitable business practices. We’re proud of the perspective we bring as a woman-owned firm and the value it adds to our partnerships.

At KMA, we take a fundamentally different approach from traditional staffing agencies. Our customizable model is designed to prioritize your business needs, timeline, culture and budget. We offer fractional recruiting support, giving you flexible, on-demand access to experienced recruiters, who operate as an extension of your internal hiring team. Unlike with a staffing agency, you can expect to work with a dedicated recruiter who partners with you throughout the entire hiring process. Your candidates are sourced specifically for your business; we never market applicants to multiple clients. Our goal isn’t just placement – it’s creating a complete, equitable hiring process that results in the right long-term fit.

Traditional staffing agencies charge high placement fees; KMA uses an hourly billing model, offering cost-effective, transparent pricing that aligns with your hiring pace and budget. You pay only for the time and expertise you use, with no hidden fees or long-term contracts.

Headquartered in Falmouth, Maine, KMA serves clients across New England – and well beyond. We’ve partnered with businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada, and our flexible, fractional model allows us to deliver expert HR, recruiting, and compensation consulting remotely, wherever you are. Whether you’re local or located across the country, KMA is ready to support your team.

While KMA serves clients across virtually every industry, the core principles of strong HR, compensation, and recruiting practices are universal, and we tailor our approach to fit your unique needs and goals. We work across many sectors; here’s a look at some of the industries we support.

At KMA, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. When you work with us, you gain a direct line to an experienced HR or Recruiting professional who becomes a true extension of your team. Whether you need support with everyday HR matters, an HR project, or with more complex workforce challenges, we provide practical, expert guidance in areas like policy development, employee relations, compensation, recruiting, and retention. Our flexible, collaborative approach means you get the right support, tailored to your goals, culture, and stage of growth.

It’s very common for new clients to browse through our team page and select the consultant they prefer to work with, but there are a host of considerations we take into account when connecting one of our consultants with a client. We stand confidently behind every KMA consultant to meet our standards of professionalism, expertise and quality of client experience. You can be confident that your KMA consultant we match you with will more than meet your expectations.

We often begin with an assessment to make sure your current procedures are aligned with legal compliance and HR best practices. We identify major risk areas requiring immediate attention, note opportunities for improvement, and help put action plans into place. We can review and update your employee handbook if you already have one, or develop this foundational document if you don’t.

Once we understand the scope of work, we’ll develop a customer service agreement, for you to review and sign. Then we get to work partnering you with your consultant (or consultants, if appropriate), setting up introductions, and starting our discovery process. This begins with clarifying your goals, and how we’ll help you achieve them.

HR consulting involves partnering with experienced human resources professionals to support your organization’s people strategy, policies, and practices. HR consultants provide expert guidance in areas like compliance, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, HR assessments, and more.

For small to mid-sized businesses, HR consulting can be a cost-effective way to:

• Build or strengthen HR policies and procedures
• Improve hiring, onboarding, and employee retention and engagement
• Navigate complex employee relations issues with confidence
• Support strategic planning and workforce development
• Access HR expertise without needing a full-time internal team

At KMA Human Resources Consulting, we work as an extension of your team, providing flexible HR support that fits your organization’s unique needs and goals. Whether you’re a startup building HR infrastructure or an established company navigating change, or a c-suite leader who doesn’t have time to focus on employee issues, HR consulting gives you the tools, expertise and confidence to manage your people effectively.

A company should consider hiring an HR consultant when it needs expert guidance on managing people, navigating compliance, or building HR capabilities without the cost of a full-time HR team.

Common signs it’s time to bring in an HR consultant include:

• You're growing quickly and need HR systems and policies to support scale
• You’re unsure if you're compliant with HR best practices and labor laws
• You’re facing complex employee relations issues or investigations
• You’re experiencing high turnover or low employee engagement
• You need help developing HR strategies aligned with business goals
• Your HR staff is overstretched, on leave, or you don’t have internal HR at all
• You want objective, third-party support for sensitive or high-impact initiatives
• You do not have the time to focus on employee issues

At KMA Human Resources Consulting, we support companies at all stages, from start-ups to established businesses, offering tailored solutions in employee relations, organizational development, change management, compliance and more.

KMA works with a wide range of industries and organizations across New England, and beyond, offering customized HR support that fits the needs of each unique workplace.

We commonly partner with:

• Small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) without internal HR teams
• HR teams within larger organizations who need help with projects they don’t have the capacity to manage
• Non-profits navigating growth, culture shifts and limited resources
• Professional services firms, like insurance, accounting, and tech
• Organizations with sensitive employee dynamics
• Family-owned businesses facing generational transitions

We take a tailored, hands-on approach, offering practical HR solutions that align with your mission, culture, and goals. If you have employees, you have HR needs, and KMA is here to help you manage them with confidence.

At KMA Human Resources Consulting, we help organizations stay compliant, build strong HR foundations, and manage employee relations with confidence. Our experienced consultants work closely with our clients to deliver practical HR solutions tailored to your needs. Here’s how we support companies in key HR areas:

HR Policies

• Create and refine HR policies that reflect your company’s values and comply with legal requirements. Note that we always recommend our clients have an employment law attorney review policies and documents for legal compliance.
• Ensure policies are clearly communicated, consistently applied, and up to date
• Guide implementation of new policies across teams or departments

Employee Relations

• Advise on handling employee concerns, complaints, and investigations
• Coach managers through performance and disciplinary conversations
• Support conflict resolution, mediation, and respectful workplace practices
• Help foster positive workplace culture, engagement and the employee experience

Compliance

• Conduct HR assessments to ensure alignment with HR best practices and identify potential areas of risk.
• Develop employee handbooks and policies
• Provide guidance on wage and hour matters, leave management, workplace safety, and more
• Monitor regulatory changes (such as FMLA, PFML, or pay transparency laws)

KMA acts as a trusted HR partner, helping you build a workplace where employees and leaders can thrive.

Yes! KMA Human Resources Consulting provides expert support in developing and updating employee handbooks, job descriptions, and performance management systems, three essential tools for building clarity, consistency, and compliance across your organization.

Employee Handbooks
We create customized handbooks tailored to your company’s size, location, and industry, and ensure policies are compliant and aligned with your workplace culture.

Job Descriptions

• Develop or update job descriptions that accurately reflect roles and responsibilities
• Align job descriptions with compensation and performance expectations
• Help clarify expectations in the recruiting process as well as ongoing employee management

Performance Management

• Design or improve performance review processes and tools
• Coach managers on giving effective feedback and setting SMART goals
• Support development of performance improvement plans (PIPs) and terminations, when needed
• Align performance systems with organizational values and talent development strategies

Whether you’re starting from scratch or revising existing HR processes, KMA helps you build the infrastructure that supports fair, effective, and smart people practices.

Fractional HR support means having access to experienced human resources professionals on a part-time, flexible basis – without the need to hire a full-time HR employee.

Fractional HR support allows your business to:

• Get expert HR guidance tailored to your size, goals, and budget
• Fill temporary gaps when internal HR staff is unavailable or overstretched
• Scale your HR function as your company grows or changes
• Access a dedicated HR consultant, on-site or remotely, who works as an extension of your team

Fractional support is ideal for:

• Small businesses without in-house HR
• Larger businesses with HR teams that are overstretched
• Growing companies that need HR leadership to support their growth
• Organizations navigating change: mergers, leadership changes, or other transitions

With fractional HR services from KMA, you get the expertise you need, when you need it, so you can manage people more effectively and focus on running your business.

We help our clients align their people strategy with their business goals and optimize performance through workforce planning and organizational design.

Workforce Planning:

• Analyze current workforce structure, capabilities, and skill gaps
• Predict future staffing needs based on growth, turnover, or market changes
• Develop hiring plans and succession strategies
• Align roles and responsibilities with organizational goals

Organizational Design:

• Evaluate your org structure to ensure it's efficient, scalable, and aligned with business objectives
• Review reporting relationships, job functions, and team workflows, and recommend structural efficiencies
• Clarify roles and decision-making authority to reduce confusion and improve collaboration
• Support change management and communication throughout the process

Whether you're restructuring, planning for growth, or simply need to work smarter with the team you have, KMA helps you build a right-sized, future-ready organization. Our HR consultants work alongside you to design structures and strategies that improve performance and employee experience.

Yes. KMA supports businesses in selecting, assisting with implementation, and optimizing HR technology and systems to improve efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.

Our consultants can help with:

• Evaluating and selecting the right HRIS (Human Resources Information System) for your organization’s size and needs
• Assisting with the implementation of new HR platforms
• Streamlining and digitizing manual HR processes to save time and reduce errors

We bring both strategic insight and hands-on support to help your HR systems work better for your business and your team.

While KMA is not a DEI consultancy, we strongly champion equitable and inclusive workplaces and can support organizations in advancing their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Here’s how we can help:

• Review and recommend inclusive HR policies and practices
• Support equitable hiring, compensation, and performance processes
• Guide managers on respectful workplace communication and behavior
• Stay current on evolving DEI best practices and cultural trends
• Make referrals to trusted DEI partners for deeper strategy development or training initiatives

We believe every organization benefits from fostering a workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to succeed. KMA integrates inclusive thinking into our HR support, helping you take meaningful steps toward a stronger, more equitable culture.

KMA’s Harassment-Free & Respectful Workplace Training is designed to help employers comply with workplace harassment prevention requirements in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and demonstrate their commitment to establishing a harassment free and respectful workplace. We can also tailor a customized Harassment Training to comply with any state requirements.

These trainings include a thorough harassment prevention training session facilitated by an experienced/certified KMA trainer for all employees, available on-site or remotely to accommodate your company’s needs and schedule.

Areas covered:

• Definition of sexual harassment under state and federal laws and regulations.
• Illegality of workplace sexual harassment.
• Workplace culture and civility that prevents sexual harassment.
• Description of sexual harassment types, utilizing examples.
• Other types of harassment, including bullying & microaggressions.
• Culture of civility and respect in the workplace.
• Bystander intervention.
• Company policy on harassment.
• Internal complaint process available to employees.
• Legal recourse and complaint process available to employees.
• Protection against retaliation.

Additional focused training module tailored for supervisors and managers, ensuring they understand their specific responsibilities and the nuances of managing harassment prevention within their teams. This includes:

• Management responsibility for leading a culture of respect and civility, free of harassment.
• Specific management responsibilities related to workplace harassment, “Duty to Act.”
• Addressing harassment situations; ensuring immediate and appropriate investigation and corrective action.

Our regular trainings are delivered via Zoom webinar and are posted on our website.

Our recruiting consultants consider themselves part of your internal HR team. We will run a full search on your behalf, taking it off your plate. We are not only representing and guiding you as your consultants, but we’re also handling the job posting process, receiving, and screening your applicants and managing the recruitment cycle entirely for you. We are here to ensure a thorough, fair, and efficient hiring process.

A download call is our dedicated strategy session to fully understand the role and what success looks like. During this conversation, your recruiting consultant will ask detailed questions about the position’s responsibilities, the work environment, and the key requirements. We’ll also walk you through our process and outline what to expect along the way. Whenever possible, it’s best to have the hiring manager for the role join this call.

Once your recruiting consultant completes your download call, they will aim to have a job posting ready for you to review within two business days. After the position is posted, we will monitor applicants and begin networking on our end. We plan to begin phone screens with candidates within a week after the posting is live on job boards. You can expect to see candidates approximately two weeks following the download call. Your recruiting consultant will update you along the way if we anticipate changes in this timeline.

Yes. KMA specializes in placing transformational leaders in senior roles, from EDs and VPs to CEOs, across a variety of industries. Each executive search is led by a dedicated recruiter with relevant experience, providing a personalized, hands-on approach from start to finish.

We combine deep market research with real-time compensation insights to define the ideal candidate profile and position your role competitively. Our proprietary, data-driven tools ensure objective, bias-neutral candidate evaluation, while our discreet outreach connects with both active and passive talent – always representing your employer brand professionally and confidentially.

Our consultative recruitment services are fully customizable. We can tailor our process from an entry level role to an executive role, from manufacturing to healthcare. If you have another position you need support with, just ask!

Your engagement is key to keeping the process moving. In today’s market, candidates move quickly, so timely feedback on resumes and prompt scheduling of interviews helps us maintain their interest. We also network to uncover strong candidates who may not be actively job searching. When speaking with these individuals, we encourage you to put on your “sales hat” and be ready to showcase your company as an exciting opportunity.

Yes, more job boards are requiring salary ranges to be posted, and in some states it’s now a legal requirement. In today’s market, many candidates also expect greater transparency and want more details about a role before applying. Sharing a salary range does not lock you into a specific offer; we will still partner with you to negotiate based on the candidate’s experience and skills when appropriate. If you would prefer to keep salary information confidential, please let us know.

Along with the expertise of our in-house compensation team, we have access to comprehensive nationwide salary data. We can provide a market assessment for your open position tailored to your hiring area, organization type, and size, to help ensure your compensation is competitive.

We wish there were a magic number, but applicant activity depends on many factors, including job location, benefits, required skills, and overall workforce availability. Because these variables are always shifting, it’s important to act quickly when a strong applicant is identified. While our goal is to present 3–5 candidates at a time, we won’t hold back qualified individuals. We’ll send them to you as we find them, since candidates are moving fast.

Once we’ve screened candidates and recommended them for interviews, the rest of the process becomes “a la carte” recruiting. We can schedule interviews, develop interview questions, sit in on interviews, assist with negotiations, draft or review offer letters, and support you through the final steps. If you’d prefer to take it over at any point, we’re happy to step back and let you lead the process. That’s the flexibility of KMA’s recruiting model. We just ask that you keep us updated so we can close the loop with other candidates.

Invoices are issued by the 15th of each month and reflect the work completed during the previous month. This means that when a hire is made, the final invoice will follow in the next billing cycle. Because recruiting involves extensive behind-the-scenes work, particularly in the early stages, we’ll keep you updated along the way so you always know what’s happening.

Our recruiting process runs in cycles. In the first week, we focus on research, posting the job, learning about your company and culture, and evaluating the market. The following days are often quieter as we concentrate on networking and sourcing to build a strong applicant pipeline. By weeks three and four, activity ramps up with candidate screenings, interviews, and scheduling. From there, our goal is to move qualified candidates forward to interview with you.

At KMA, we go beyond matching resumes to job descriptions. We start by taking the time to understand your organization, its values, culture, leadership style, and the qualities and skillsets that make employees successful in your environment. We then tailor our search and screening process to identify candidates who not only bring the right skills and experience but also align with your company’s culture. Through initial screenings, in-depth interviews, careful research and the professional experience of our recruiting team, we ensure that the individuals we present are positioned to thrive in both the role and your particular workplace environment.

KMA uses leading-edge recruiting technology to reach the right candidates efficiently and effectively. Our applicant tracking system helps streamline job postings, organize candidate information, and maintain clear communication throughout the hiring process. We also use advanced sourcing tools and platforms to identify and engage qualified talent beyond traditional job boards. By combining these technologies with our team’s expertise and personalized approach, we ensure a smooth, professional experience for both clients and candidates.

Yes. KMA has the flexibility and resources to support organizations with large-scale hiring initiatives or time-sensitive recruitment projects. Whether you need to staff multiple roles quickly, build out a new team, or manage seasonal or project-based hiring, our recruiters tailor the approach to your timeline and goals. We combine proven processes with personalized attention to ensure you get the right candidates when you need them, without sacrificing quality.

Compensation consulting is the strategic practice of designing, evaluating, and managing an organization’s total employee value proposition (EVP), which includes salaries, bonuses, benefits, and other forms of reward. The goal is to ensure your compensation programs are competitive, equitable, and aligned with business objectives.

Smart compensation planning helps organizations attract and retain top talent, motivate employees, and maintain internal and external pay equity. It also provides leadership, HR teams, and managers with data insights and market benchmarks to make informed decisions. For companies of any size, working with a compensation consultant, especially an objective third-party partner like KMA, ensures a structured approach, reduces administrative burden, and positions your organization to respond to market changes confidently.

By aligning your EVP with organizational goals and workforce expectations, compensation consulting not only supports recruitment and retention but also drives overall employee engagement and business success.

• Base Pay is the fixed salary or hourly wage an employee receives for performing their role. It provides financial stability and forms the foundation of a total compensation package.
• Incentives are performance-based rewards designed to motivate and reward employees for achieving specific goals. Examples include annual bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing programs.
• Variable Compensation encompasses any pay that fluctuates based on performance, business results, or other metrics. It includes both short-term incentives, like bonuses, and long-term incentives, such as stock options or equity awards.

KMA helps organizations design compensation programs that balance base pay with incentives and variable compensation. By aligning pay with performance and business goals, companies can attract and retain top talent, drive engagement, and support overall organizational success.

Yes. KMA provides comprehensive compensation consulting for businesses of all sizes, including for small and mid-sized organizations. We help companies design and manage their employee value proposition (EVP), including salaries, bonuses, benefits, equity, and other rewards, so they can remain competitive in the market.

For smaller or mid-sized businesses that may not have dedicated internal HR resources, KMA serves as an objective, strategic partner. We provide market benchmarking, pay structure design, and ongoing guidance to ensure your compensation programs are equitable, compliant, and aligned with your business goals.

An Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the unique combination of rewards, benefits, culture, and opportunities that an organization offers its employees in exchange for their skills, experience, and contributions. A strong EVP clearly communicates why someone would want to work for your company and why current employees choose to stay.

KMA helps organizations define, refine, and enhance their EVP by evaluating all elements of total compensation along with workplace culture, career development opportunities, and recognition programs. By benchmarking your offerings against the market and tailoring strategies to your organization’s goals and workforce, we ensure your EVP is competitive, compelling, and aligned with your business strategy.

Yes. KMA helps organizations design compensation programs that are closely aligned with their core values, strategic objectives, and overall business goals. Our approach combines market benchmarking, data analysis, and tailored recommendations to create equitable, competitive, and sustainable pay structures for your budget. Aligning compensation with your values and business goals not only drives performance and engagement, but also reinforces your employer brand, helping you attract and retain top talent.

KMA helps organizations create salary structures that are both equitable and competitive, ensuring you attract and retain top talent while maintaining internal fairness. We start by analyzing your current pay practices, job roles, and workforce structure, then benchmark them against market and industry data.
Our compensation experts develop tailored salary ranges, pay grades, and progression frameworks aligned with your business goals, budget, and total employee value proposition (EVP). We help our clients implement transparent, fair, and market-informed compensation structures that support performance, engagement, and long-term organizational success.

Yes. KMA provides comprehensive compensation benchmarking and market analysis to help organizations understand how their pay practices compare to the broader market. By analyzing industry data, geographic trends, and company size, we provide insights that allow you to make informed, competitive, and equitable compensation decisions.

Our approach includes evaluating base salaries, bonuses, benefits, and total rewards to ensure your offerings align with market expectations and your business strategy. Whether you’re updating your salary structures, planning for growth, or attracting top talent, KMA’s data-driven analysis provides the actionable insights needed to stay competitive and retain key employees.

KMA helps organizations design and implement competitive, market-aligned compensation strategies for executive and senior leadership positions. We evaluate base salaries, bonuses, equity, benefits, and other incentives to ensure your executive compensation packages attract and retain top leadership talent while supporting organizational goals.

A total rewards package, often referred to as the employee value proposition (EVP), includes all forms of financial and non-financial incentives an organization offers to attract, retain, and motivate employees. Key components typically include:

• Base Salary: The fixed pay employees receive for performing their role.
• Bonuses and Incentives: Performance-based rewards, including annual bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing.
• Benefits: Health, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, and other standard employee benefits.
• Equity or Long-Term Incentives: Stock options, restricted stock, or other ownership-based incentives, often used for senior or executive roles.
• Perks and Non-Monetary Rewards: Professional development, flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, recognition initiatives, and other offerings that enhance employee experience.

Businesses should review their compensation structures regularly to remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with organizational goals. Many organizations conduct a formal review annually, often in conjunction with performance evaluations or budget planning. However, market conditions, industry trends, workforce changes, and business growth may require more frequent assessments.