Rebecca Obrock
Naperville,IL
Summary
Versatile Executive Director focused on promoting the mission and enhancing the effectiveness of key programs. Passionate about managing and overseeing daily operations. Excel in navigating complex situations with quick and firm decision-making abilities. First-rate communication and organizational skills enable effective collaboration with management in developing work plans, financials, and strategies. Recognized for successful track record in driving collaborative efforts to achieve organizational goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Heartland Alliance International
01.2025 - Current
- Aligned department vision, goals, and objectives with company strategy to achieve consistently high results.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
- Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.
- Advocated for organization and company mission to raise awareness and support.
- Communicated business performance, forecasts and strategies to investors and shareholders.
- Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimize business performance.
- Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.
- Monitored key business risks and established risk management procedures.
Chief Operating Officer
Heartland Alliance International
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Managed procurement activities to secure resource acquisitions at best possible cost.
- Negotiated contracts and agreements to secure favorable terms and maximize profits.
- Identified and pursued business development opportunities to grow organization and increase revenue.
- Oversaw day-to-day operations to keep organization running smoothly while meeting business goals.
- Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and capabilities.
- Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.
- Oversaw business-wide changes to modernize procedures and organization.
- Directed technological improvements, reducing waste and business bottlenecks.
- Devised and presented business plans and forecasts to board of directors.
- Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimize business performance.
- Monitored key business risks and established risk management procedures.
Director of Business Development & Policy Advocacy
Heartland Alliance International
03.2020 - 01.2023
- Negotiated, prepared, and signed contracts with clients.
- Led change and transformation across business areas to deliver benefits and align company resources.
- Established, initiated and optimized business development strategies based on company targets, product specifications, market data, and budget factors.
- Communicated directly with customers and partners to build strong business networks and relationships.
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
- Facilitated business by implementing practical networking techniques.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits.
Program Analyst
United States Agency for International Development, USAID
09.2013 - 03.2020
- Served as the US Global Development Lab’s (“the Lab”) Team Lead for the Lab’s priority Uganda and Zambia Missions to support the design and implementation of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnership (STIP) processes by integrating STIP strategically, programmatically and organizationally to promote innovative initiatives to tackle the most pressing development challenges
- Served as the STIP Assessment Coordinator, overseeing and managing all core teams leading an assessment of a USAID Mission’s capacity for STIP integration, with duties that include but are not limited to, ensuring overall quality and coherence of the team’s communications within and external to USAID, writing statements of work, interviews with USAID staff and external organizations, literature research, writing of the assessment, and writing of a Standard Operating Procedure for assessment management
- Developed workplans, scopes of work and manages activities, as the relationship manager between USAID Missions and the Lab, for the Uganda and Zambia Missions, by providing strategic and technical support to guide conversations around how the Lab can best serve the Mission through strategy realignment and monitoring of current Lab activities
- Led a co-creation team for one of the top ranked concept notes under the STIP Annual Program Statement (APS) addendum on Accelerating Local Scientific Potential managing weekly meetings, creating and reviewing answers to questions on the concept, and collaborating with the team to create the most effective project for the greatest development impact
- Led the facilitation of the review panel for ten concept notes under the Long-Term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER) Request for Assistance (RFA) including independent reviews of the concept notes, answering questions from the panel prior and during the review, conducting a consensus meeting with the review panel, and document the proceedings of the meeting including consensus ratings on all concept notes
- Led the planning team for the 2016 South Africa STIP Conference with responsibilities that included, but not limited to, leading a weekly meeting between the Lab, Africa Bureau, and Southern Africa Mission colleagues, creating the action memo for the Deputy Administrator and communications for Mission and Deputy Mission Directors, communications strategy and outreach plan for the event, management of an internal website, overall logistics and run of show that served over 100 participants with representation from all regions and leadership from USAID as well as external partners and stakeholders from government, academia, foundations and more
- Served as co-coordinator for the worldwide week-long 2015 STIP Conference in Lima, Peru that had over 65 representatives from 20 Missions and DC (including Mission Directors, Deputy Mission Directors and senior staff) with the Mission and Bureaus to plan all logistics and communications including plenary and breakout sessions that spanned topics such as co-creation, open innovation, budgeting and strategic planning, adaptive management, private sector partnerships and investments, etc.
- Performed a variety of duties as necessary which include, but are not limited to, creating knowledge management resources such as fact sheets, portfolio reviews, presentations, desk research, talking points, literature reviews, reviewing spending data, evaluating applications/proposals, decision and action memos, budget determination exercises, monitoring and evaluation exercises, etc.
- Used extensive knowledge of USAID’s project design, strategy, and monitoring and evaluation through ongoing learning from trainings which include Project Design and Management, Evaluation for Performance Managers, and Performance Management Workshop to help the team’s program review, design, and implementation in the field
- Gathered, documented, and modeled data to assess business trends.
- Evaluated diverse organizational systems to identify workflow, communication, and resource utilization issues.
- Compiled research data and gave professional presentations highlighting finds and recommended optimizations.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Analyzed unstructured information to derive key insights.
- Helped solve diverse program problems with in-depth analysis.
- Reviewed program implementation plans to assess risk and feasibility.
- Produced detailed and relevant reports for use in making business decisions.
International Cooperation Specialist
United States Agency for International Development, USAID
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Organized weekly calls with the Mission Program Officers for Rwanda and CAR to highlight urgent issues and priorities for the week as well as weekly calls with Department of State counterparts ensuring consistent messaging and knowledge of current events
- Managed the clearance process for both Missions’ Country Bureau Narratives through coordinated efforts with the Mission and offices in the Africa Bureau
- Hosted a quarterly Country Team Meeting for Rwanda and CAR with stakeholders from across the Agency
- Worked on high-level briefers for the Agency Administrator to meet with Heads of State including those in advance of the Green Revolution for Africa Forum and the United Nations General Assembly
Research Associate
National Academy of Sciences
08.2012 - 09.2013
- Analyzed large financial datasets comprised of available, obligated and outlay data from ten agencies (i.e. USAID, DoD, DoL, HHS, etc) regarding PEPFAR programs that encompass 8 fiscal years of information
- Provided complex quantitative and qualitative analyses involving topics such as PMTCT, HIV/AIDS, TB, mortality impact, education, etc. to add to the comprehensive three-year review of PEPFAR to influence future policy decisions of the program
- Assessed the accuracy of the datasets using data quality management and validation to compile written evidence stating inaccuracies and recommendations regarding OGAC’s ability to improve financial data collection in the future
- Coordinated with statistical consultants to ensure accurate and timely developments of tables and research pertaining to over 4,000 data points
- Validated incoming data to check information accuracy and integrity while independently locating and correcting concerns.
Education
Master of Public Health - Global Health policy concentration
The George Washington University, The Milken Institute School of Public Health
Washington, DC08.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Biological Basis of Behavior, minors in African Studies and Psychology
University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts & Sciences
Philadelphia, PA05.2007
Skills
- Board relations
- Growth management
- Fundraising
- Talent management and staffing
- Program leadership
- Business development
- Crisis management
- Grant writing
- Operations management
- Budgeting and financial management
Timeline
Executive Director
Heartland Alliance International
01.2025 - Current
Chief Operating Officer
Heartland Alliance International
01.2023 - 01.2025
Director of Business Development & Policy Advocacy
Heartland Alliance International
03.2020 - 01.2023
International Cooperation Specialist
United States Agency for International Development, USAID
06.2016 - 08.2016
Program Analyst
United States Agency for International Development, USAID
09.2013 - 03.2020
Research Associate
National Academy of Sciences
08.2012 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Biological Basis of Behavior, minors in African Studies and Psychology
University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts & Sciences
Master of Public Health - Global Health policy concentration
The George Washington University, The Milken Institute School of Public Health
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