LAURA N. DOW

actf1p@r.postjobfree.com (***) *** – *518

*** ****** ***, *** *, Jersey City, NJ 07302

OBJECTIVE

Results-driven program manager seeking career at for-profit company with a strong social mission.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Fostering teamwork and collaboration Strategic thinking

Managing and adapting to change Persuasive, clear communication

Juggling priorities Mandarin Chinese

Innovative and results-oriented Research and analysis

Thriving in foreign cultures/environments Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RESEARCHER 9/2015 to present

NYU Law, Bernstein Institute for Human Rights New York, NY

PROGRAM MANAGER 9/2012 to present

Human Rights in China New York, NY

Enhanced office efficiency by effectively managing processes and workflow of all media projects, including direct supervision of three employees and multiple interns.

Developed capacity of mainland rights defenders by co-facilitating organizational strategy trainings.

Created cohesive short- and long-term organizational strategy with program leads to ensure optimization of limited resources while adding the most value.

Improved office environment by building trust and strong relationships with all coworkers; mediating disagreements between employees; and interpreting between Chinese and English speaking staff in an accurate, professional, and respectful manner.

Procured over $80,000 of web development work at half cost by carefully soliciting proposals, aggressively negotiating contracts with IT vendors, and maintaining existing relationships.

Drastically reduced costs for IT, translation, and media services by analyzing expenditures; financial modeling to evaluate new options; and moving to sleeker, more affordable platforms.

Increased diversity, amount, and quality of online media resources by focusing on target users’ needs and interests; identifying innovative ways to display and disseminate content; and analyzing and tracking new products’ success to feed long-term media strategy.

INTERN 6/2011 to 9/2011

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Portsmouth, NH

Contributed to mitigation of national security threats through researching origins of cyber attacks, terrorism, human trafficking, and organized crime, along with passport, visa, and identity fraud.

BUSINESS ANALYST 9/2008 to 9/2010

Orbis, Inc. Portsmouth, NH

Ensured efficient execution of commitments by developing responsive resource management strategies, and conducting complex data analysis utilizing interrelated databases and spreadsheets.

Enabled more accurate workforce sizing estimates by independently creating new tracking tools.

Improved workflow and process of strategic planning meetings through competent management of meeting agenda, objectives, and outcomes.

UNIVERSITY ENGLISH TEACHER 6/2006 to 6/2008

Peace Corps Sichuan, China

Taught English, Western Culture, and Writing to 2000 students over four semesters.

Enabled better communication with locals by learning Mandarin at an advanced-high level.

Provided children at local orphanage with educational and emotional support through weekly visits.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER 6/2005 to 6/2006

Marriott International, Inc. Newcastle, NH

Increased staff performance by independently designing and implementing new employee appreciation and incentive programs.

Recruited new personnel; processed hires, terminations, and workers compensation.

Processed payroll and handled employee benefit packages and insurance for 350 employees.

Trained over 100 staff on policies and procedures by conducting monthly staff orientations.

Ensured compliance with and implementation of policies by supporting department managers.

EDUCATION

MASTER OF ARTS from the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University, Center for Chinese and American Studies; Nanjing, China (2012). Specialization: International Relations; Chinese

Thesis: China’s Soft Power Strategies in Africa, The Influence of Confucius Institutes and Project Hope (中国在非洲软实力倡议的教育战略 孔子学院的影响); Field Research conducted in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya

BACHELOR OF ARTS from the University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA (2004). Specialization: Economics; Legal Studies

INTERESTS

Dance fitness; weight training; nutrition; yoga; outdoor and ocean activities: biking, running, hiking, sailing; non-fiction reading; film; all forms of challenge: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional

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