Sarah Allen
Potomac
Summary
Dynamic Senior Program Manager with the U.S. Department of Education, skilled in strategic planning and project leadership. Achieved significant program improvements through data analysis and effective change management. Renowned for mentoring teams and fostering collaboration, driving initiatives that enhanced educational outcomes and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
2010
2010
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Manager
United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
- Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement special education programs.
- Optimized project management workflows to drive program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Mentored junior staff in best practices for program execution and compliance monitoring.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to align program initiatives with federal regulations and standards.
- Analyzed data trends to inform strategic decisions on resource allocation and program improvements.
- Facilitated training sessions for educators on inclusive practices and support strategies for diverse learners.
- Evaluated program outcomes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and educational objectives.
- Developed comprehensive reports to communicate progress and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Facilitated stakeholder communication, leading to improved alignment between business objectives and program goals.
- Established clear performance metrics for tracking program success, enabling informed decision-making processes throughout each project''s duration.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners, ensuring effective collaboration on joint projects and initiatives.
- Led process improvement initiatives by conducting thorough analyses of existing workflows, identifying bottlenecks and redundancies that hindered progress toward established targets.
- Delivered engaging presentations to stakeholders at all levels, effectively communicating complex information in a clear and concise manner.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, resulting in successful on-time delivery of multiple programs.
- Mentored and supported Number Type department employees to create strong workplace culture.
- Tracked and reported program results to customers and stakeholders to facilitate change management activities.
- Enhanced team collaboration by implementing agile methodologies for better project execution and adaptability.
- Mentored junior staff members, contributing to their professional growth and fostering a positive work environment.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives within the organization, driving efficiency gains across all projects.
- Spearheaded change management efforts during organizational transitions, minimizing disruption while maintaining focus on key objectives.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and organizational policies throughout the program lifecycle, mitigating potential risks or liabilities for the company.
- Engaged with customers, partners and constituent groups to create positive, trusting and professional relationships.
- Coordinated large-scale events such as conferences or product launches, securing valuable brand exposure and generating significant leads for sales teams.
- Led cross-functional teams to facilitate collaborative efforts, resulting in successful launch of key initiatives.
- Established performance metrics to evaluate project success, guiding future strategy adjustments.
- Conducted thorough market research to inform strategic decision-making for project direction.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions to upskill team members, boosting project performance.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging team feedback and implementing best practices.
- Achieved milestones ahead of schedule, applying rigorous project management disciplines.
- Optimized resource allocation, ensuring projects were delivered within budget and scope.
- Improved stakeholder satisfaction with regular, transparent communication and updates on project progress.
- Implemented customer feedback loops to refine project outputs, increasing user satisfaction.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
Educational Program Specialist
United States Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Scool
2007.10 - 2010.01
- Developed educational materials promoting safe and drug-free schools initiatives.
- Coordinated training sessions for educators on substance abuse prevention strategies.
- Analyzed program data to assess effectiveness of safety initiatives implemented in schools.
- Provided technical assistance to school districts in implementing federal guidelines on drug-free policies.
- Facilitated workshops addressing mental health resources available for students and staff.
- Evaluated grant proposals to ensure alignment with departmental objectives and funding criteria.
- Mentored junior staff in program management best practices and compliance requirements.
- Improved overall program effectiveness through comprehensive data analysis and evaluation of key performance indicators.
- Evaluated program operations, successes and deficiencies to identify concerns and recommend strategies to enhance processes and elevate results.
- Developed, coordinated and administered Type programs.
- Ensured compliance with relevant regulations throughout all stages of program implementation by closely monitoring adherence to established guidelines.
- Built strong relationships with external partners to secure resources and support necessary for program success.
- Established a robust system for tracking and reporting on key performance indicators, allowing for a data-driven approach to program enhancements.
- Led a cohesive team of specialists in executing tasks according to established timelines and milestones, resulting in timely completion of deliverables.
- Facilitated cross-functional team collaborations, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and innovation.
- Established goals and created action plans to achieve goals.
- Designed and implemented monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress towards desired outcomes.
- Achieved successful outcomes for multiple projects through effective project management and collaboration with stakeholders.
- Planned and executed meetings to connect organizational representatives, community members and clients.
- Spearheaded the creation of detailed reports, showcasing program successes and areas for improvement to senior leadership.
- Increased stakeholder engagement by developing targeted communication materials and conducting regular meetings.
- Designed program implementation and maintenance plan.
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
- Cultivated positive relationships with vendors to deliver timely and cost-effective supply of services and materials.
Associate Professor
University of Cincinnati
1994.01 - 2006.09
- Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement special education programs.
- Optimized project management workflows to drive program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Mentored junior staff in best practices for program execution and compliance monitoring.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to align program initiatives with federal regulations and standards.
- Analyzed data trends to inform strategic decisions on resource allocation and program improvements.
- Facilitated training sessions for educators on inclusive practices and support strategies for diverse learners.
- Evaluated program outcomes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and educational objectives.
- Developed comprehensive reports to communicate progress and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Facilitated stakeholder communication, leading to improved alignment between business objectives and program goals.
- Established clear performance metrics for tracking program success, enabling informed decision-making processes throughout each project''s duration.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners, ensuring effective collaboration on joint projects and initiatives.
- Led process improvement initiatives by conducting thorough analyses of existing workflows, identifying bottlenecks and redundancies that hindered progress toward established targets.
- Delivered engaging presentations to stakeholders at all levels, effectively communicating complex information in a clear and concise manner.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, resulting in successful on-time delivery of multiple programs.
- Mentored and supported Number Type department employees to create strong workplace culture.
- Tracked and reported program results to customers and stakeholders to facilitate change management activities.
- Enhanced team collaboration by implementing agile methodologies for better project execution and adaptability.
- Mentored junior staff members, contributing to their professional growth and fostering a positive work environment.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives within the organization, driving efficiency gains across all projects.
- Spearheaded change management efforts during organizational transitions, minimizing disruption while maintaining focus on key objectives.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and organizational policies throughout the program lifecycle, mitigating potential risks or liabilities for the company.
- Engaged with customers, partners and constituent groups to create positive, trusting and professional relationships.
- Coordinated large-scale events such as conferences or product launches, securing valuable brand exposure and generating significant leads for sales teams.
- Led cross-functional teams to facilitate collaborative efforts, resulting in successful launch of key initiatives.
- Established performance metrics to evaluate project success, guiding future strategy adjustments.
- Conducted thorough market research to inform strategic decision-making for project direction.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions to upskill team members, boosting project performance.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging team feedback and implementing best practices.
- Achieved milestones ahead of schedule, applying rigorous project management disciplines.
- Optimized resource allocation, ensuring projects were delivered within budget and scope.
- Improved stakeholder satisfaction with regular, transparent communication and updates on project progress.
- Implemented customer feedback loops to refine project outputs, increasing user satisfaction.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Doane University
Crete, NEPh.D. - Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NEMaster of Arts - Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Lincoln, NESkills
- Scope management
- Problem-solving skills
- Strategic planning
- Project leadership
- Complex Problem-solving
- Training and mentoring
- Strong analytical skills
- Change management
- Personnel management
- Best practices implementation
- Implementation planning
- Strategic goal development
- Policy writing
- Trends analysis
- Status updates
- Project coordination
- Staff leadership
- Policy interpretation
- Analytical skills
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Program review
- Technical leadership
- Innovation management
- Project integration activities
- Team leadership
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Process improvement
- Decision-making
- Staff development
- Goal setting
- Employee development
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Effective leader
- Relationship building
- Team building
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal communication
- Strategic partnerships
Accomplishments
Consistently met performance outcomes and improved performance on annual program measures aligned with agencies goals and objectives.
Built the capacity of staff, students, and grantees to enhance program implementation and achieve program goals.
Timeline
Educational Program Specialist
United States Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Scool
2007.10 - 2010.01
Associate Professor
University of Cincinnati
1994.01 - 2006.09
Senior Program Manager
United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Doane University
Ph.D. - Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Master of Arts - Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska, Lincoln