ZAINA REEM PATEL
Temple Hills,MD
Summary
Highly seasoned Program and Project Support Specialist with 11+ years of experience delivering high-level administrative, project coordination, and human resources support across government contracting, public healthcare, and pharmaceutical environments. Proven ability to manage complex calendars, coordinate executive-level meetings, oversee travel logistics, and produce high-quality reports and presentations while consistently meeting aggressive deadlines. Recognized for driving process improvements, workflow efficiency, and accurate tracking through tools such as SharePoint and automated reporting systems, contributing to improved operational performance and team productivity. A trusted partner to leadership with strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and team-support capabilities, bringing a results-driven, detail-oriented approach to mission-critical programs.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Action Officer
(HHS) ARPA-H, Health Science Futures
Washington, D.C.
03.2024 - Current
- Served as principal Action Officer supporting the Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director of Program Management, overseeing executive-level operations, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders (Program Managers, Technical SETAs, reviewers), and ensuring timely execution of proposal reviews, taskers, and leadership deliverables in a high-visibility federal environment.
- Directed enterprise-level tracking and reporting initiatives, including annual updates and editorial management of the FY24 OKR Tracker Report for DIRO, HSR/AU tasker coordination, and engagement trackers, improving leadership visibility, accountability, and on-time completion of strategic objectives across multiple programs.
- Managed sensitive compliance-driven workflows, including end-to-end tracking of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, program budget and project expense spreadsheets, and onboarding processes, ensuring audit readiness, data accuracy, and adherence to federal policies and timelines.
- Analyzed complex program and project data to develop executive-ready briefings and presentations, translating technical and operational information into clear insights for senior leadership, supporting informed decision-making and long-term program planning.
- Led administrative and operational process improvements, coordinating executive travel and expense reimbursements, collaborating with IT on system access and onboarding, and evaluating the HSF intranet for content and usability enhancements, strengthening internal communication, operational efficiency, and stakeholder experience.
Executive Administrative Assistant
(HHS) NIH, All of Us Program
Bethesda, MD
08.2022 - 03.2024
- Provided high-level executive administrative support to C-suite and senior leadership, coordinating global HR operations across Shared Services, HRIS (Workday), Payroll, Benefits, and Executive Compensation, driving a 20% increase in operational efficiency through process optimization, documentation, and cross-regional coordination while ensuring full regulatory compliance.
- Served as a strategic partner to executive leadership, supporting enterprise-wide operational initiatives by organizing governance workflows, executive reporting, and stakeholder communications for newly established Centers of Excellence, contributing to a 25% reduction in process redundancy and improved cross-functional alignment.
- Led executive-level change management and communications during a global Workday implementation, managing timelines, training logistics, leadership briefings, and employee engagement initiatives that resulted in a 15% increase in employee satisfaction and improved organizational consistency across regions.
- Managed complex, confidential administrative functions related to benefits redesign, vendor RFP coordination, GDPR compliance tracking, and Affirmative Action programs, enabling $2.5M in cost savings, mitigating audit exposure, and strengthening enterprise governance and risk management.
Junior Project Manager
US Pharmacopoeia
Rockville, MD
09.2021 - 07.2022
- Led cross-functional project execution for the consolidation of five regional HR offices into a centralized Shared Services Center, managing timelines, scope, risks, and stakeholder communications while implementing Workday HCM, resulting in a 25% improvement in operational efficiency, data accuracy, and service delivery KPIs through process automation and workflow optimization.
- Partnering with executive leadership and senior stakeholders to design and deploy enterprise-wide HR lifecycle workflows and executive compensation initiatives, applying project governance, change management, and strategic planning methodologies to improve leadership retention, align organizational culture with business objectives, and ensure seamless adoption across multiple business units.
- Directed multi-state compliance, policy implementation, and benefits administration projects, leveraging HRIS platforms, regulatory frameworks, and audit-readiness protocols to ensure legal compliance, mitigate operational risk, and reduce administrative and compliance-related costs by 15% through continuous process improvement and vendor optimization.
- Drove workforce performance and engagement initiatives by coordinating structured annual review cycles, performance management systems, and leadership development programs, embedding company values into core competencies and increasing employee satisfaction scores by 20% while strengthening talent development, communication, and organizational effectiveness.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Communications
University of Phoenix
Sacramento, CA01.2011
Skills
Adaptability
Collaboration
Problem-solving
Data interpretation
Analytical thinking
Time management
Verbal communication
Written communication
User support and guidance
Change management support
Confidentiality and discretion
Cross-functional communication
Attention to detail
Data confidentiality
Privacy compliance
Professional judgment
Stakeholder engagement
Certification
- Public Trust Clearance
- HIPPA Certified
- BLS Certified
Timeline
Action Officer
(HHS) ARPA-H, Health Science Futures
03.2024 - Current
Executive Administrative Assistant
(HHS) NIH, All of Us Program
08.2022 - 03.2024
Junior Project Manager
US Pharmacopoeia
09.2021 - 07.2022
Bachelor of Science - Business Communications
University of Phoenix