Tiffin Ross-Shepard
Miramar,FL
Summary
Experienced program manager with 20 years of expertise in coordinating complex projects, managing stakeholders, and planning events. Proven track record in overseeing multi-million-dollar programs, organizing high-stakes meetings, and developing strategic partnerships. Proficient in building executive-level relationships and handling confidential information with discretion.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Program Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs
Miramar, FL
01.2020 - Current
- Direct comprehensive program operations with oversight of an annual budget exceeding $100 million, along with responsibilities for strategic planning.
- Developed and maintained logistics workflows, procedures and reports.
- Coordinate prominent scientific review panels featuring over 100 experts from both domestic and international backgrounds each year.
- Analyzes the needs, plans, long and short-range strategic goals of HSR and makes recommendations for new directions, initiatives, policies, and procedures. These reflect careful research and sensitivity to the scientific environment, consideration of priorities, resources, organizational requirements, and realistic/effective implementation.
- Conduct thorough fact gathering and research to ensure that accurate guidance is provided to customers and complies with appropriate legislation, regulations, and agency policies.
- Functions as an analyst and advisor to senior staff on the evaluation of the effectiveness, organizational efficiency, and productivity of scientific grant peer review within the Office of Research and Development and provides input on the distribution of work regarding staffing levels and skill mix needed to maintain the Program and meet timelines.
- Design and implement professional development workshops for more than 200 early-career scientists, overseeing all elements from planning to post-event evaluation.
- Develops and oversees all program work plans including personnel utilization, employee training and development, recurring and non-recurring reports, policies and procedures, budget reviews, and inter-service relations and impact.
- Execute process improvement initiatives that have yielded a 30% reduction in review cycle time and enhanced stakeholder satisfaction.
- Manage intricate cross-functional relationships with senior executives, research institutions, and government agencies.
- Recommends necessary grant peer review process changes to leadership documenting trends of research proposal submissions based on regular status reports and statistical data. Prepares written reports, articles, and briefing materials related to the scientific grant peer review program.
- Successfully transitioned all operations to a virtual platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring 100% program continuity.
- Office of Research and Development (ORD) Health Systems Research (HSR)
- Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets.
Management Analyst
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Rockville, MD
03.2016 - 01.2020
- Orchestrated complex grant review programs with an annual portfolio exceeding $750 million, coordinating the activities of over 300 scientific reviewers.
- Served as the primary liaison between SAMHSA leadership and external stakeholders, managing sensitive communications and relationships.
- Streamlined review processes, achieving a 25% reduction in processing time while upholding quality standards.
- Developed and implemented a new reviewer training program, enhancing reviewer retention by 40%.
- Led an interagency working group with HHS agencies to standardize and improve grant review processes.
- Improved decision-making processes, introducing advanced data analytics techniques.
- Planned and executed over 50 annual scientific review meetings, managing all logistics, schedules, and participant coordination.
- Created comprehensive standard operating procedures that were adopted agency-wide.
Associate/Consultant
LCB Consulting, LLC
Washington, DC
05.2008 - 12.2016
- Conducted professional workshops and board development training.
- Delivered high-quality presentations showcasing key findings and recommendations to both internal stakeholders and clients.
- Planned and carried out focus group sessions.
- Oversaw marketing outreach and resource development.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail, organization, and adherence to deadlines.
- Created and executed comprehensive surveys and assessments.
- Acted as a liaison between stakeholders ensuring open lines of communication throughout project life cycle.
Senior Scientist, Deputy Project Manager
NASA Research & Education Support Services
Washington, DC
06.1998 - 03.2016
- Led operations for a $149M federal contract supporting NASA's Human Research Program, managing individual projects of up to $750K.
- Orchestrated high-profile scientific review panels and conferences with international participants, coordinating complex logistics and travel arrangements.
- Served as the primary liaison between the NASA Chief Scientist, Program Executives, and the research community across various NASA centers.
- Developed and implemented standardized review procedures adopted across NASA's grant programs.
- Managed sensitive relationships with senior scientists from academia, industry, and government agencies.
- Supervised a diverse team of meeting planners and IT professionals, ensuring compliance with Federal Travel Regulations.
- Created and maintained comprehensive project tracking systems, ensuring 100% on-time delivery of contract deliverables.
- Successfully coordinated with NASA's legal and procurement departments to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Established new processes for research solicitation announcements that became the agency standard.
Education
Master of Science Coursework Completed - Forensic Toxicology
George Washington University
Washington, DC 08.1996 - 05.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Chemistry
The College of Wooster
Wooster, OH 08.1992 - 05.1996
Skills
- Program planning and execution
- Event planning
- Project management and coordination
- Stakeholder and partnership management
- Budget management
- Team leadership
- Executive-level communication
Timeline
Program Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs
01.2020 - Current
Management Analyst
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
03.2016 - 01.2020
Associate/Consultant
LCB Consulting, LLC
05.2008 - 12.2016
Senior Scientist, Deputy Project Manager
NASA Research & Education Support Services
06.1998 - 03.2016
Master of Science Coursework Completed - Forensic Toxicology
George Washington University
08.1996 - 05.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Chemistry
The College of Wooster
08.1992 - 05.1996
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