Jillian Warner

Leading Through Change

From the very beginning of Jillian Warner’s career, change has been a constant and a catalyst. She began her human resources (HR) journey as an HR Assistant with the City of Virginia Beach Health Department while completing her bachelor’s degree in business and human resource management, quickly stepping into a supervisory role when her leader had a permanent change of location (PCS). Managing everything from onboarding and payroll to employee relations and recruiting, she discovered early on how impactful HR duties could be. Along the way, she earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and built a strong foundation rooted in service, leadership, and growth.

Being a military spouse has introduced a lot of change, pivots, and adaptation for Warner. She shared, “Military life has played a big role in shaping my career. Frequent PCS moves every few years, my spouse’s military demands, and family responsibilities have directed me toward HR roles where I have been able to use my transferable and high-impact skills to stay closely connected to the organizations I support.” Relocations to Hawaii and Maryland led her into roles supporting organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Amazon, and XPO, Inc. “Within these roles, I focused on strengthening organizational culture, mitigating employee relations risk, enhancing leadership performance and development, and executing strategic initiatives that drove individual and organizational growth,” she said. Constant transitions taught Warner the importance of clear communication and trust-building. “Over time, this naturally led me into the HR Business Partner space, partnering with leaders to execute business objectives, manage employee relations, and drive change in fast-paced environments. These experiences have made me comfortable leading through change and supporting both leaders and employees.’

Her path to Leidos QTC Health Services came during an unexpected PCS to Missouri. While searching for a role that would allow her to continue growing professionally, she came across a remote HR Business Partner position while scrolling through LinkedIn. Warner said, “The remote aspect was perfect for my move, but what really drew me in was the company’s commitment to supporting the military and Veteran community. As a military spouse, being able to contribute to a mission that positively impacts people and families I am closest to is extremely meaningful.”

In her role at Leidos QTC for over a year and a half, Warner said no two days are the same and explained, “I work closely with our corporate functional leaders to help them achieve strategic goals while building strong partnerships across the organization. Collaboration with key stakeholders is a critical element of my role.” In addition to providing solutions to keep HR strategies aligned with business priorities, she reflected on the critical component of her role: “At the heart of it, my role is to serve as a trusted advisor, helping leaders drive results, create positive change, and support employees while fostering long-term growth.”

Warner felt the company’s supportive environment from the recruitment process to her day-to-day work. From career flexibility to a work culture that values military families, she has the encouragement and tools to continue to advance within her role. “The support I’ve had since starting at Leidos QTC has been incredible and has really helped me stay connected to my career. I don’t feel lost or that it’s just another position for me.” She credits both formal development resources and an encouraging network of leaders and colleagues for helping her hit the ground running with professional development. “I’ve taken advantage of training in Kaizen, HRBP-focused development, and emerging areas like AI in business and HR, which has been exciting and really helpful for building skills for the future,” she shared. 

Balancing work and life as a military spouse isn’t always predictable, but Warner has learned to stay grounded and flexible through it all. She noted, “Even on busy days, I make intentional time to connect with my spouse, celebrate each other’s achievements, and attend work related events whenever possible to show support. I have learned that the best way to balance it all is to stay grounded and carve out intentional time for myself, whether through a workout, drawing, or watching a favorite show, as it helps me reset and reduce stress.”

At Leidos QTC, Warner found more than a role—she found community, opportunities, and a future she’s excited to continue building. And as the famous poet Robert Frost stated that “two roads diverged in a wood”, Warner did not have to choose one path over the other. “I would tell any military spouse that a long-term career is absolutely possible, even with the relocations, unexpected changes, and uncertainty that comes with military life. Most importantly, you don’t have to choose between supporting your spouse’s service and pursuing a career you’re proud of. With patience, resilience, and adaptability, both are possible.”