Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Mercedes Rooks

Laveen,AZ

Summary

US Air Force Veteran and Senior Project & Contract Manager with 15+ years of experience in state and federal contract lifecycles, and ensuring compliance and performance of contracts or agreements valued at over $18B collectively. Holds an active Tier 2 (Moderate Risk) Public Trust clearance and eligible to obtain a top secret clearance. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, directing four industry experts in monitoring contractor activities, conducting monthly accounts payable, and performing recovery audits to strengthen financial accountability. Served on a negotiations team for a $36M enterprise contract. Experienced in participating in numerous proposal evaluation teams and recommending contractor-provided solutions/proposals for federal contracts. Proven success collaborating with contracting teams at the Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to oversee contracts and award decisions. Experienced in managing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based contracts, Simplified Acquisitions, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, and Cooperative Agreements. Knowledgeable in DFARS, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO compliance. Adept in bridging technical, legal, and financial disciplines to deliver mission-critical outcomes under high-stakes conditions.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Project & Contract Manager (Program Analyst/Project Officer)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
01.2018 - Current
  • Lead a cross-functional team of industry and government subject-matter experts (SMEs) in overseeing completion of capacity expansion and capability building projects valued at $100M+ (within a $700M+ initiative) at multiple locations owned by a Fortune 500 company
  • Team consists of SMEs in Pharma Manufacturing, Quality/Commissioning, Qualifications and Validation (CQV), Supply Chain and Pharma Licensing, Schedule Management, Data Management, and Contracts & Agreements Compliance Management
  • Applied Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to track progress, identify cost & schedule variances, & recommend recovery planning measures
  • Reconciled contractor invoices using Systems Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP) data in Microsoft Excel; approved accurate payments or resolved discrepancies
  • Supported baseline development, cost/schedule integration, and risk analysis to ensure alignment with program objectives and customer expectations
  • Led audit readiness and compliance assurance activities, including mock audits, documentation reviews, and corrective action planning
  • Guided contractors in implementing recommended steps or corrective actions during Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) reviews, fostering collaboration to keep critical aligned with project timelines
  • High-Impact Outcome: Collaborated across contracting, legal, financial, logistics, and scientific teams to ensure delivery of products and all contractual obligations met on schedule and in budget.

Enterprise Risk Manager/Business Continuity Expert (Emergency Management Specialist)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HQ
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • Showcased emergency management expertise by effectively collaborating across emergency support functions while working in the National Response Coordination Center to ensure timely delivery of lifesaving goods to disaster survivors
  • Deployed to disaster areas and conducted intake from disaster survivors for federal assistance; assisted a Governor’s Authorized Representative in shelter planning
  • Mission Critical Outcome: Point-person in resource delivery coordination/liaised with disaster experts to deliver over $100M+ of mission-critical supplies after hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria by barge, plane and/or tractor-trailer.

Senior Business Continuity & Disaster Planner (Planner IV)

Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Office Preparedness—Delaware
01.2006 - 01.2017
  • Managed Delaware’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Program with planning assumptions for 800K+ people and collaboration across state departments for a federal-level assessments for statewide emergency readiness
  • Developed and delivered numerous presentations and trainings in emergency management and business continuity at meetings and symposiums to diverse public and private stakeholders
  • Directed DPH’s Continuity of Operations (COOP) Program; oversaw COOP Plan development for 16 sections with approximately 700 people
  • Finalized COOP Plan that covered 140 Mission Essential Functions (including 40 mission critical functions), and 20 alternate site (including 4 hot sites)
  • Key Achievements: Developed and delivered trainings to over 300 personnel annually across state and local jurisdictions and ensured critical benchmarks were identified and met during subsequent exercises. Additionally, achieved certifications in Emergency Management and Business Continuity during tenure with DPH.

Education

Master of Science - Public Administration (MPA)

Wilmington College Delaware

Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies

Wesley College Delaware

Skills

  • Leadership and Mentorship
  • Problem Solving
  • Contracting Team Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Strategic Communication
  • Budgetary Oversight
  • Risk Identification & Mitigation
  • Project Integration
  • Invoice and Payment Approval
  • Complex Contract Administration
  • Change Management
  • Digital Project Management Tools & Data-Driven Decision Making
  • SAP
  • PRISM
  • Advanced SCRUM
  • Six Sigma Yellow Belt
  • Proprietary/Confidentiality/Non-Disclosures Agreements
  • On Site Contractor Performance Audits
  • Agile & Waterfall

Websites

Certification

  • Contracting Officer’s Representative III (COR III) Certification, Federal Acquisition Institute
  • Project and Program Management, II (P/PM II), Certification, Federal Acquisition Institute - Comparable in scope and rigor to the PMP certification, reflecting advanced expertise in project planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Kennesaw State University/Defense Acquisition University
  • Acquisition Black Belt Certificate, HHS Learning Management System

Timeline

Senior Project & Contract Manager (Program Analyst/Project Officer)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
01.2018 - Current

Enterprise Risk Manager/Business Continuity Expert (Emergency Management Specialist)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HQ
01.2017 - 01.2018

Senior Business Continuity & Disaster Planner (Planner IV)

Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Office Preparedness—Delaware
01.2006 - 01.2017

Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies

Wesley College Delaware

Master of Science - Public Administration (MPA)

Wilmington College Delaware

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Mercedes Rooks