SHARANE SHERMAN
Lake Lure,USA
Summary
Experienced Administrative Specialist with a strong background supporting U.S. Government and international organizations. Skilled in transforming complex information into actionable insights and streamlining administrative policies to enhance operational efficiency.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sr. Management Advisor
USAID/Office Of Transition Initiatives
05.2021 - 03.2025
- Support USAID/OTI field operations and HQ on a variety of operations and management matters.
- Operations Management & Oversight: Review financials and conduct field site visits to evaluate administrative systems during opening and closing operations for OTI programs.
- Administrative Support: Identify, negotiate, and assess service agreements with entities like U.S. Embassies, USAID missions, and implementing partners to ensure effective and cost-efficient support.
- Training, Mentoring & Guidance: Provide orientation to incoming field leadership on key processes and mentor junior staff
- Collaboration & Compliance Monitoring: Work closely with OTI teams to ensure operational compliance with USAID/Embassy policies through mid-program reviews and problem resolution.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Representation: Build and maintain relationships with OTI, USAID, and Embassy officials to provide leadership and coordination on operational issues.
- Remote
International Disaster Response Roster Manager
AMERICAN RED CROSS
01.2020 - 05.2021
- Managed recruitment, training, deployment, engagement, management, and retention of emergency-related short-term staffing for the International Services Division.
- Contribute to emergency personnel strategies; coordinate recruitment efforts to align with organizational needs and technical sectors.
- Oversee systems for roster recruitment, deployment, training, and retention; manage end-to-end deployment processes and maintain relevant SOPs
Housing Coordinator
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - U.S. Embassy, Brasilia, Brazil
01.2017 - 04.2019
- Coordinated the overall operation of Post’s Housing Program for approximately 150 officers and their families during a period of extended personnel gaps.
- Research & Analysis: Provided data-driven insights on real estate trends and mission staffing to support GSO (General Services Office) and management decision-making.
- Client Support & Communication: Served as primary contact for incoming embassy personnel on housing; managed arrival/departure data and drafted housing policies, SOPs, and memos.
- Program & Administrative Management: Supported special projects, housing office restructuring, and property management. Liaison with the Interagency Housing Board
- Instrumental role in reducing the number of officers going into temporary quarters on arrival from 60% to 16% over a two-year period.
Administrative Management Specialist
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC), U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand / CDC (Thai US Cooperation)
01.2014 - 03.2015
- Provided analysis and evaluation of work processes and policies, management practices, and work operations taking into full consideration complex policy, programmatic, and management issues.
- Research, Training & Workforce Planning: Assessed professional development needs for CDC local staff in Thailand and identified training opportunities.
- Process Improvement & Collaboration: Led process mapping efforts and helped develop a communications strategy during the reorganization of the Business Services Office.
- Developed recommendations for CDC Thailand leadership on analyses of the operations and plans for restructuring the Business Services Office.
Executive Officer
USAID
08.2009 - 06.2010
- Provided administrative management guidance/support and regulatory advice to the USAID mission.
- Administrative & Program Management: Led support for USAID program close-out planning with program offices and ensured compliance with regulations across multiple services.
- Operational Oversight & Planning: Directed execution of the operating expense procurement plan and collaborated with the Contracting Office to ensure timely acquisition of resources.
- Budgeting & Interagency Collaboration: Advised on ICASS (interagency) budgeting with the Controller and represented USAID/Bolivia on key interagency management committees.
- Leadership & Supervision: Managed a 46-member Executive Office team, ensuring high-quality service delivery across integrated administrative functions.
- Transition Planning for the potential closeout of operations for individual program offices and the mission
Executive Officer
USAID
05.2005 - 06.2008
- Managed the full range of support services and activities to USAID Skopje as well as coordination with the USAID regional platform and with the US Embassy.
- Strategic Planning & Program Management: Coordinated with the embassy on rightsizing, service duplication analysis, and New Embassy Compound planning; developed an administrative close-out plan and transitional training program for staff.
- Budget & Resource Management: Led development of the operating budget, oversaw budget and procurement staff, and liaised with USAID/Washington to secure additional resources.
- Staff Development & Personnel Oversight: Chaired Staff Development Committee and advised Mission Director on training, ICASS services, and personnel matters during downsizing.
- Team Leadership: Supervised a 12-member team across key administrative support functions.
- As part of the Embassy Management team successfully negotiated extension of operations of USAID Macedonia and therefore worked to include the newly extended programs into space considerations for the New Embassy Compound.
Operations Support Associate
AMERICAN RED CROSS, NHQ
04.2002 - 03.2003
- Provided operations support to the American Red Cross office of International Services on the full range of administrative and operational services.
- Policy Development & Administrative Management: Created and implemented finance policies and procedures manuals for international field offices and response teams.
- Training & Capacity Building: Designed and delivered finance training workshops; briefed and debriefed field staff on financial and administrative procedures.
- Program & Financial Management: Oversaw financial operations for the International Disaster Response Unit and the international portion of the 9/11 Fund.
- Collaboration & Strategic Planning: Led strategy sessions with Operations Support Associates to standardize financial management across NHQ and field operations.
- Developed and implemented global finance and administration policy and procedures manuals and supported operations of the IDRU
Multiple Roles on International Response Teams
AMERICAN RED CROSS
01.2001 - 11.2001
- Participated in multiple international disaster responses for the ARC in a variety of Administrative Management roles to support operations and ensure continuity of operations.
- Team Leader of International Services response to 9/11, NY,NY. Oct-Nov 2001 – Managed international component of American Red Cross response to 9/11 including supervising a team of volunteers, represented International Services department at meetings and media, assisted victims and family members in obtaining services.
- Operations and Administrative Manager, India Earthquake transition response. Bhuj, India. March-May 2001– Initiated transition phase of disaster response including maintenance of daily operations, budget formulation, tracking of expenditures, setting up financial and administrative systems for long-term operations in multiple sectors, supervising local staff in logistics.
- Team Leader/Finance Manager, El Salvador Earthquake response. San Salvador, El Salvador. Jan-March 2001 – Acted as Team Leader during second phase of operation (performed site visits and assessments, liaised with Red Cross partners/international NGOs/ and USAID, reporting).
Regional Finance/Admin Delegate
Nicaragua
06.1999 - 01.2001
- Managed all financial aspects for American Red Cross Hurricane Mitch operations in Nicaragua and El Salvador involving programming approximately $20million in funding in a variety of multiple sectors.
- Finance Protocols & Budget Management: Established field finance procedures, managed operational budgets, and prepared comprehensive financial reporting packages, coordinated with logistics on inventory and warehouse management.
- Training & Capacity Building: Led bi-annual finance training for local staff across four countries to strengthen financial management skills.
- Established field finance protocols and procedures for operations.
Finance Coordinator
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE
09.1997 - 05.1998
- Managed all day-to-day finance/administration matters of office including supervision of 5 local staff.
- Administrative & Financial Management: Oversaw financial reporting, budgeting, and logistical operations including supplies, motor pool, and office maintenance for NDI programs in Angola.
- Security & Representation: Managed security-related matters and represented the organization in regular security debriefings.
Education
Master of International Management/MBA -
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Glendale, AZBA - International Relations
William Jewell College
Liberty, MOSkills
- Analytical thinking
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Written communication
Certification
International Response Team and Relief and logistics trainings for International Response Teams, Basic Training Course for International RC delegates, Field Assessment and Coordination Team training (IFRC) Meritorious Honor Awards Macedonia (2008) and Brazil. (2019), Customer Service Award Brazil (2019)
Languages
English (native), Spanish (intermediate), Portuguese (beginning)
Timeline
Sr. Management Advisor
USAID/Office Of Transition Initiatives
05.2021 - 03.2025
International Disaster Response Roster Manager
AMERICAN RED CROSS
01.2020 - 05.2021
Housing Coordinator
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - U.S. Embassy, Brasilia, Brazil
01.2017 - 04.2019
Administrative Management Specialist
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC), U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand / CDC (Thai US Cooperation)
01.2014 - 03.2015
Executive Officer
USAID
08.2009 - 06.2010
Executive Officer
USAID
05.2005 - 06.2008
Operations Support Associate
AMERICAN RED CROSS, NHQ
04.2002 - 03.2003
Multiple Roles on International Response Teams
AMERICAN RED CROSS
01.2001 - 11.2001
Regional Finance/Admin Delegate
Nicaragua
06.1999 - 01.2001
Finance Coordinator
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE
09.1997 - 05.1998
BA - International Relations
William Jewell College
Master of International Management/MBA -
Thunderbird School of Global Management
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