Esther Salami
Summary
PMP-certified Healthcare Project Manager with 7+ years of experience leading large-scale health programs, cross-sector partnerships, and clinical process improvement initiatives across community, governmental, and international settings. Demonstrated record of managing multi-site programs reaching 30,000+ beneficiaries, driving measurable quality improvement, and ensuring regulatory compliance in both U.S. healthcare facilities and global program environments. Expert in applying PMBOK, PDSA, and Agile methodologies to deliver complex initiatives on scope, schedule, and budget. Adept at stakeholder engagement, grant-funded program oversight, and translating data into strategic decisions with a unique combination of public health expertise, nonprofit governance, and intergovernmental project experience.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director & Program Lead
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
04.2019 - Current
- Founded and scaled a health-focused nonprofit now reaching 30,000+ individuals through healthcare access, food security, clean water, and education programs across the U.S. and Nigeria.
- Awarded 47+ scholarships and launched a vocational training institute (Learnity/Learn to Earn Initiative) targeting 30,000 beneficiaries by 2030.
- Secured UN NGO Branch accreditation and represented FEF at United Nations convenings, elevating organizational credibility and international programmatic reach.
- Oversaw capital infrastructure projects including borehole installations providing clean water access to underserved rural communities in Nigeria.
- Built sustainable partnerships with government agencies, health institutions, corporate sponsors, and international bodies to diversify funding and expand mission impact.
Project Manager (Contract)
African Union 6th Region (AU6RG)
12.2025 - 06.2026
- Served as Project Manager for the African Renaissance Month 2026 initiative a pan-Canadian, multi-city program co-convened across four cities in partnership with the Government of Ghana and diaspora institutions.
- Developed and managed full project lifecycle including scope definition, stakeholder coordination, scheduling, risk management, and post-event reporting.
- Oversaw production of partnership decks, government correspondence, and cross-institutional communications supporting high-level intergovernmental engagement.
- Managed relationships with government officials, community leaders, and international partners across Canada, Nigeria, and the United States to ensure seamless program delivery.
- Directed social media strategy and public communications, coordinating content across all program phases.
Lead Healthcare Project Manager
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
11.2019 - 03.2026
- Directed end-to-end delivery of multi-site health programs serving 15,000+ individuals across New York and Lagos, Nigeria overseeing scope, timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Applied PMBOK frameworks and PDSA improvement cycles to optimize outcomes across community health, preventive care, and clean water access initiatives, integrating SDG 2, 4, and 6 objectives simultaneously.
- Built, led, and coordinated cross-functional teams of 500+ volunteers, clinical staff, and community health partners across multiple concurrent project sites.
- Developed project charters, work breakdown structures, and milestone tracking tools to sustain accountability and performance across a portfolio of simultaneous initiatives.
- Led grant proposal development, donor stewardship, and compliance reporting securing critical and recurring funding for healthcare and education programming.
- Monitored program KPIs and produced data-driven impact reports informing continuous quality improvement and strategic planning at the Board level.
Project Specialist, Community Health Programs
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
09.2022 - 06.2024
- Designed and executed detailed project plans for 20+ health outreach campaigns, managing scope, scheduling, resource allocation, and logistics for events impacting 5,000+ beneficiaries.
- Coordinated volunteer onboarding, medical screening operations, and multi-stakeholder communications for large-scale health education and outreach events.
- Achieved a 30% increase in program reach and community engagement through structured project execution and optimized workflow coordination.
- Delivered project status reports and impact analyses to senior leadership, funders, and community partners.
Infection Control Practitioner
Healthcare Facility
Brooklyn
03.2021 - 12.2022
- Led infection prevention and control projects across healthcare facilities, achieving a 15% reduction in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) through evidence-based protocol implementation.
- Trained clinical and support staff on CMS and Joint Commission compliance standards, safety protocols, and infection control best practices, enhancing overall facility readiness.
- Managed outbreak response initiatives, coordinating rapid communication and resource deployment under time-sensitive conditions to mitigate infection spread.
- Conducted risk assessments, root cause analyses, and facility audits to ensure continuous regulatory compliance and improve infection control measures.
- Partnered with clinical, administrative, and quality assurance teams to implement and embed new safety protocols organization-wide.
Education
Master of Public Health - Health Policy & Management
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
NYBachelor of Science - Public Health
CUNY York College
QueensAssociate of Science - Public Health
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)
New YorkSkills
- Healthcare Program Management
- Clinical Process Improvement
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk Identification & Mitigation
- Stakeholder & Partner Engagement
- Fundraising Strategy
- Outcome Measurement
- Budget & Resource Allocation
- PMBOK
- PDSA Cycles
- Agile Methodology
- Team leadership
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Health outreach
- Policy Advocacy
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute
- Nonprofit Essentials Certificate, NonprofitReady
- Generative AI for Business Leaders, LinkedIn Learning
Key Highlights
- 30,000+ individuals impacted through direct program leadership across two countries
- 500+ person cross-functional teams led across concurrent healthcare initiatives
- 15% HAI reduction achieved through evidence-based infection control project leadership
- UN NGO Branch accreditation secured and international convenings represented
- Multi-city international program delivered as PM for the African Union 6th Region
Timeline
Project Manager (Contract)
African Union 6th Region (AU6RG)
12.2025 - 06.2026
Project Specialist, Community Health Programs
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
09.2022 - 06.2024
Infection Control Practitioner
Healthcare Facility
03.2021 - 12.2022
Lead Healthcare Project Manager
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
11.2019 - 03.2026
Executive Director & Program Lead
Funmike Empowerment Foundation
04.2019 - Current
Master of Public Health - Health Policy & Management
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Bachelor of Science - Public Health
CUNY York College
Associate of Science - Public Health
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)