Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Professional Development
Timeline
background-images
Jessica Leary

Jessica Leary

Ipswich,MA

Summary

Dedicated and mission-driven professional with over 20 years of experience driving growth, transformation, and equity-centered impact across diverse sectors, including nonprofit, corporate learning, higher education, and public education. A comprehensive perspective on integrating people, strategy, and infrastructure enhances performance and achieves sustainable outcomes. Proven expertise in program design and execution, cross-sector collaboration, and operational transformation complements a successful track record in managing multimillion-dollar budgets, securing funding partnerships, and scaling inclusive initiatives. Recognized for building trust and fostering partnerships, with a strong ability to translate strategic objectives into operational results while leveraging systems thinking, data-driven insights, and emotional intelligence to strengthen organizational culture and improve outcomes.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Associate Director, Temporary Specialist

Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment, Werth Institute, University of Connecticut
12.2024 - 06.2025
  • Acted as a strategic partner to executive leadership, facilitating the execution of organizational priorities and ensuring alignment with company vision and operational goals.
  • Led strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing access to inclusive employment for neurodivergent job seekers, driving impactful change across diverse sectors.
  • Managed financial planning and internal operations for a $5M budget, improving fiscal transparency and supporting data-driven decision-making through multi-year strategic forecasting.
  • Developed and implemented planning systems that increased initiative completion rates by 20%, enabling effective prioritization and alignment across various programs.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and execute employer education programs and workforce partnerships, resulting in a twofold increase in partner engagement and collaboration.
  • Created scalable internal processes and documentation practices that reduced administrative workload by 30%, enhancing operational efficiency and consistency.
  • Led team operations and professional development initiatives, fostering an inclusive culture that strengthened team cohesion and enhanced performance outcomes.
  • Translated complex data and insights into actionable recommendations, equipping senior leaders with the information needed for informed strategic decisions.
  • Identified and analyzed key business issues, developing structured solutions that drove long-term impact and support the organization's growth trajectory.
  • Led teams of up to 5 personnel, supervising daily performance as well as training and improvement plans.

Project Manager

Charles River Laboratories International Inc.
07.2022 - 09.2024
  • Spearheaded digital compliance strategy that garnered support from C-suite executives, significantly mitigating legal risks by 80% and ensuring organizational alignment with regulatory standards.
  • Played key role in development of innovative neurodiverse workforce initiative, enhancing organizational diversity and cultivating nclusive company culture that reflected CRL commitment to equity.
  • Partnered with cross-functional teams to design and launch scalable leadership development curriculum, facilitating professional growth of over 500 leaders and aligning with strategic organizational objectives.
  • Utilized data-driven insights to refine learning content and delivery methods, achieving 20% increase in knowledge retention and application of skills among participants, thereby enhancing overall team performance.
  • Successfully transformed neurodiversity program from conceptual initiative into fundamental business practice, earning recognition as top inclusive employer by DisabilityIN and reinforcing company's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Educator

Boston Public School System
09.2006 - 07.2022
  • Provided strategic guidance to Boston Public Schools' City Science Department on district-wide curriculum design and policy implementation, positively impacting over 50,000 students through high-level planning and executive collaboration.
  • Designed and implemented inclusive, data-driven curricula that resulted in a 25-30% increase in academic performance across both general and special education populations, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing learning outcomes.
  • Fostered cross-functional partnerships among teachers, administrators, universities, and families to strengthen student support systems, leading to improved educational experiences and outcomes.
  • Developed and scaled after-school academic intervention programs that achieved significant gains in MCAS proficiency and AP exam performance, showcasing a data-informed approach to educational excellence.

Education

M.Ed. -

Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Bachelor of Arts -

University of Massachusetts, Boston
Boston, MA

Skills

  • Program & Project Management
  • Strategic Planning & Equity-Centered Systems Change
  • Cross-Sector Partnership Building
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Advisory Boards & Event Management
  • Budget Oversight
  • Donor Engagement & Fund Development
  • Content & Curriculum Development
  • Leadership
  • Continuous Process Improvement

Professional Development

  • Successful Nonprofit Fundraising for Board Members & Staff, Udemy, 06/01/25
  • Financial Modeling & Fundamental Analysis, Udemy, 04/01/25
  • Business Execution: From Strategy to People & Operation, Udemy, 04/01/25
  • Driving Organizational Accountability for DEIB, LinkedIn Learning, 05/01/24
  • Business Ethics, LinkedIn Learning, 12/01/23
  • ProSci Change Management Certification, 11/01/22

Timeline

Associate Director, Temporary Specialist

Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment, Werth Institute, University of Connecticut
12.2024 - 06.2025

Project Manager

Charles River Laboratories International Inc.
07.2022 - 09.2024

Educator

Boston Public School System
09.2006 - 07.2022

M.Ed. -

Lesley University

Bachelor of Arts -

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Similar Profiles

  • Darae Kang

    Darae KangDarae Kang

    Researcher at Werth Lab- Perelman School of Medicine/Penn Institute for Immunology/ VA Medical CenterResearcher at Werth Lab- Perelman School of Medicine/Penn Institute for Immunology/ VA Medical Center

  • Ian Bender

    Ian BenderIan Bender

    NetWerx Program Coordinator at Werth Institute For Entrepreneurship & InnovationNetWerx Program Coordinator at Werth Institute For Entrepreneurship & Innovation

  • Paul Bangura, PhD. EPt, CAPM®

    Paul Bangura, PhD. EPt, CAPM®Paul Bangura, PhD. EPt, CAPM®

    Community Outreach Coordinator at Lead Disability Inclusive Society (Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program)Community Outreach Coordinator at Lead Disability Inclusive Society (Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program)

  • Rob Warren

    Rob WarrenRob Warren

    Co - Owner at Northride Group, LLCCo - Owner at Northride Group, LLC

  • Jackson Curry

    Jackson CurryJackson Curry

    Dishwasher at Ipswich Ale BreweryDishwasher at Ipswich Ale Brewery

CREATE PROFILE