Hi, I’m
LARISSA A. POPP
Charlottesville,VA
Summary
Program management and operations professional with 10+ years’ experience supporting and leading complex international development projects. Known for strong work ethic, adapting to evolving priorities, and being efficiency and results-focused. Valued team collaborator focused on achieving results and adapting to changing needs, with strong communication skills. Demonstrates consistently positive attitude and commitment to producing high-quality work.
Overview
14
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
FHI 360
Senior Program Officer, MOSAIC Program
07.2022 - 02.2025
Job overview
- Company Overview: Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
- Responsible for providing program management, technical and administrative support for a global research project, Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC), to ensure completion of workplan activities and achievement of project objectives
- Develop workplans and track performance against project timelines, budget, objectives, and deliverables
- Troubleshoot, prioritize, and address programmatic, financial, administrative, and logistics needs and other project requirements
- Develop project budgets and budget modifications, and monitor project expenditures to ensure activities are implemented within budgetary guidelines
- Serve as primary point of contact/ program backstop for selected countries and interact independently with field-based colleagues
- Monitor implementation progress and address issues in a timely manner, keeping senior staff apprised of activity progress and challenges
- Prepare and submit progress reports, presentations, and other project materials
- Support the development of subawards and subcontracts by drafting, reviewing and approving scopes of work and budgets
- Ensure compliance with donor requirements and FHI 360 policies and procedures
- Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
Critical Needs Support Foundation (CNSF)
NGO Program Manager
01.2019 - 12.2020
Job overview
- Company Overview: Local NGO providing humanitarian assistance and support in crisis situations
- Provided coordination, oversight and technical support for the design and management of all CNSF projects, including shelter, livelihood, social cohesion and emergency response initiatives
- Contributed to the overall management of projects implemented by CNSF (a local NGO), in partnership with international organizations (including Malteser International, Mission East, UN Habitat, and Cesvi Organization) to ensure completion of activities and achievement of project objectives, while adhering to scope, budget and schedule requirements
- Facilitated staff and organizational capacity building and updated policy and operation manuals
- Developed and managed project implementation plans, budgets, program reporting and documentation, donor and partner relations, compliance, programmatic monitoring and project close-out
- Assisted the director in representing CNSFs programs to external stakeholders, humanitarian partners, donors and civil society
- Assisted in the planning and authorization of expenditures and provided support in budget forecasting and budget revisions
- Contributed to creating a work environment that encouraged collaboration and professional growth
- Local NGO providing humanitarian assistance and support in crisis situations
University of Human Development
Adjunct Instructor
10.2017 - 12.2018
Job overview
- Taught advanced communication skills and business English courses within the Department of Diplomacy and Public Relations
FHI 360
Senior Program Officer, Tasawi Program
04.2014 - 03.2018
Job overview
- Company Overview: Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
- Provided program management and technical support for implementation of the State Department-funded Tasawi Program, with the aim of improving employment opportunities for 2,500+ Iraqi minority women through training in business and general English, Microsoft Office programs, soft skills and job search support
- Alongside support of the training course, managed the Tasawi Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) to improve the organizational capacity of 13 local NGO partners
- Managed the design, planning, and implementation of the Tasawi Capacity Development Initiative (CDI), providing training and individual coaching to improve the organizational capacity of local NGO partners
- Managed the English Training portion of the Tasawi Program including: curriculum development and improvements; the recruitment, selection, training, and mentoring of 20+ Iraqi English teachers; daily monitoring, and guidance
- Managed the development and monitoring of an online M&E dashboard and database, and analyzed data to inform reporting, learning and program improvements
- Supported the overall design and implementation of the Tasawi Program by developing program protocols, assisting with development and facilitation of in-country trainings for local staff, partners and teachers; and assisted with program budgeting, subcontracts, consultant agreements and reporting
- Collaborated with other FHI 360 departments to maximize use of technical expertise within the organization to apply a cross-sectorial approach to program implementation
- Managed the planning and implementation of a Program Best Practices Conference and Program Sustainability Conference and assisted with planning and implementation of an alumni workshop
- Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
FHI 360
Program Officer, Iraqi University Linkages Program
09.2011 - 09.2012
Job overview
- Company Overview: Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
- Supported bilateral partnerships between 4 U.S
- And 4 Iraqi institutions of higher education and assisted in establishing career centers at each Iraqi institution
- Supported development of university career centers (CC) through work plan monitoring, regular communication with Iraqi CC managers, material development, and training
- Conducted program monitoring and evaluation, including development of surveys, monitoring tools, and planning of best practices conference
- Liaised with Iraq-based consultant regarding program initiatives
- Provided support for program logistics for partner institution engagement and travel
- Global development organization that addresses the world's most pressing challenges
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Senior Program Associate, KAUST Gifted Student Program
03.2011 - 08.2011
Job overview
- Provided programmatic and administrative support to program manager and program officers on all aspects of program implementation
- Assisted with planning of 4 orientation programs (fall 2010) and 2 student conferences (2011), in the U.S
- And U.K
- Co-facilitated sessions on U.S
- Culture and integration, time management and other topics as 3 orientations
- Tasked with creating program evaluation tools, as needed; created four evaluations to-date
- Developed new information management tools for the program, using Microsoft Excel and Access
- Made significant improvements to the design of 2 Microsoft Access databases for the program; regularly revised and created new forms, queries and reports to provide essential student information to project staff in a clear format
- Communicated regularly with students and assisted with problem solving
- Supported finance associate with financial reports, check requests and wires, and other finance tasks
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Senior Program Assistant, KAUST Gifted Student Program
09.2010 - 03.2011
Education
The George Washington UniversityWashington, DC
M.A. from International Education and Human Development
12.2009
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA
B.S. from Biological Sciences
04.2005
Skills
- Program management
- Budget oversight
- Monitoring and reporting
- Training program design
- Training and support facilitation
- Subaward management
- Meeting and event coordination
- Advanced Excel Skills
- Project execution
- Stakeholder engagement
- Excellent communication
- Attention to detail
Training
- Functional Nutrition Counselor Certification, Full Body Systems, Functional Nutrition Alliance, 02/01/20, 02/01/22
- Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Practitioner Training Program, Kendra Perry, Inc, 12/01/21, 02/01/22
- Project Management for Development Professionals (PMDPro) Level 1 certification, 02/01/18
- Transformational Coaching Method Certification, Health Coach Institute, 02/01/15, 06/01/15
- Holistic Health Coach Certification, Institute for Integrative Nutrition, 09/01/13, 07/01/14
Personal Information
Nationality: American
Certification
- Project Management for Development Professionals (PMDPro), Level 1 Certification, Feb. 2018
2024 Noticing Outstanding Work (NOW) Award, FHI 360
Recognized for going above and beyond in my work.
Timeline
Senior Program Officer, MOSAIC Program
FHI 360
07.2022 - 02.2025
NGO Program Manager
Critical Needs Support Foundation (CNSF)
01.2019 - 12.2020
Adjunct Instructor
University of Human Development
10.2017 - 12.2018
Senior Program Officer, Tasawi Program
FHI 360
04.2014 - 03.2018
Program Officer, Iraqi University Linkages Program
FHI 360
09.2011 - 09.2012
Senior Program Associate, KAUST Gifted Student Program
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
03.2011 - 08.2011
Senior Program Assistant, KAUST Gifted Student Program
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
09.2010 - 03.2011
University of Pittsburgh
B.S. from Biological Sciences
- Project Management for Development Professionals (PMDPro), Level 1 Certification, Feb. 2018
The George Washington University
M.A. from International Education and Human Development
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