Office Assistant

Karina Duran

Executive Management Professional

************@*****.***•202-***-****

www.linkedin.com/in/karina-a-duran• Miami, Florida 33193

Summary

Qualifications Summary

Goal-oriented and highly analytical professional with substantial experience in developing and directing strategies to promote organization objectives.

Demonstrated history of overseeing day-to-day business activities and conducting reviews to meet desired outcomes.

Proficient in preparing comprehensive budgets and reporting on revenue and expenditure.

Skilled at supervising key developmental, employment, and financial decisions of organization to accomplish set goals.

Adept at ensuring compliance with stipulated policies and procedures to optimize productivity.

Career Experience

United States Agency for International Development, Kabul, Afghanistan 2014 – 2019

Management Specialist

Reported to Office Director and demonstrated self-reliance via meeting and surpassing Program Office's administrative workflow needs efficiently. Gathered and monitored project documents through all phases via employing a well-organized and easily accessible system proficiently. Delivered budget oversight of operating expenses and program funds and ensured compilation of Operational Expenses (OE) budget requirements with Mission policies to perform office functions to support programs.

Processed on-boarding of over 350 new staff assigned to USAID/Afghanistan Office of Program and Project Development (OPPD) in almost 5 years and covered every single detail such as security, logistics coordination, and all the administrative matters after recruitment to optimize performance.

Directed organization and HR portion to on-board new local staff and provided support via leading day-to-day administration for 40 employees requesting a wide range of tasks.

Coordinated logistics and delegated tasks to organize all aspects of High-level Government and Private sector officials (embassies, Ministries, UN, EU) encompassing a mission-wide impact.

Arranged nine high-profile events such as Mission Portfolio Review sessions with eight technical meetings per event to a total of 72 sessions over four years and developed agendas and communication materials for more than 60 participants per session via executing best practices.

Engaged USAID contracting partners and presented other Agencies USAID work in Afghanistan via heading and organizing 12 Show and Tell events every two months and built in-depth knowledge of Mission operations and programs adeptly.

Directed two locally employed staff via developing administrative strategies.

Set up of proper and adequate oversight on all administrative areas across offices and discovered creative solutions to optimize customer services through facilitating Executive Office (EXO) in mentoring about 20 Agency's employees.

Created and executed different task trackers such as a hiring tracker including average of 15 actions per week and monitored new employees on-boarding status, time and attendance, and employees programmed leave requests for about 40 employees to manage project data and keep leadership informed about progress effectively.

United States Agency for International Development, Baghdad, Iraq / Kabul, Afghanistan 2014 - 2014

Administrative Assistant/Secretary

Presented reports to Economic Growth (EG) Office Director and Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) Office Director. Supported staff including 60 employees and two technical offices with all administrative matters to enhance work efficiency. Organized office technical meetings and events to accomplish set objectives. Functioned as Point of Contact (POC) or Sponsor of all office staff arriving to and departing from post and assisted with check-in and check-out processes to optimize overall performance. Maintained supplies inventory via checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipated needed supplies, and verified receipt of supplies adequately.

Acted as Record Management Custodian for office files with over 100 running activities such as preparing Vital Records and Inventory files reports and ensuring adherence of filing structure to Agency Policies to enhance productivity.

Reviewed funds availability and assisted with procurements actions including contract extensions for 14 Third Country National employees via collaborating with Office of Financial Management.

Checked position descriptions and other personnel requirements via associating with Human Resources office.

Re-organized electronic and physical files to prepare Economic Growth Office for forthcoming closeout of several activities.

Drafted vital records and inventory files report and designed a new filing structure following the U.S. Government filing regulations by implementing effective strategies.

United States Agency for International Development, Quito, Ecuador 2001 – 2014

Project Management Assistant

Generated a well-organized electronic tracker system to monitor office requirements, complete tasks against deadlines, and supervise project needs adroitly. Performed administrative tasks such as preparing invoices and scheduling meetings to meet desired results. Monitored and reported project progress via executing best practices. Monitored largest Development Credit Authority (DCA) in USAID/Ecuador to enhance productivity. Coordinated with Presidents and Vice-Presidents of financial institutions and built relationships.

Led approval from institutions involved and relocated remaining amount of $1.5 million of guarantee funding before DCA reached final state resulted in 98% utilization rate and disbursed nearly 260 additional loans to small producers.

Supported Economic Development, Growth, and Environment Office (EDGE) in reviewing, pre-clearing, and monitoring field visits and Special Development Assistance Activities (SDAA) to assure appropriate investment of resources per small grant of US$5000 ea. and link to overall project objectives.

Collaborated with Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) team to deliver emergency equipment to people living around constantly active and erupting Tungurahua Volcano.

Additional Experience

Interpreter (Temporary Services), Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), 2019

Administrative Assistant (Temporary Services), U.S. Mil Group, U.S. Cultural Affairs and U.S. Agency for International Development

Personnel and Travel Assistant, United States Agency for International Development

Education

Master’s in Business Administration (Bilingual), Online Business School (OBS), University of Barcelona, 2019

Recognitions

Distinguished Honor Award, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2019

Demonstrated an exceptional willingness to serve, grow professionally, and above all, carry out duties that USAID required for more than twenty years in USAID to advance U.S. government goals abroad and in some of most challenging circumstances including USAID/Ecuador, USAID/Iraq, and USAID/Afghanistan.

Meritorious Honor Award, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2017

For Excellence in Customer Service, and Commitment to Colleagues as Administrative Secretary for Office of Program.

Meritorious Honor Award, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2015

In recognition of exceptional office management, staff development, customer service, and logistical support for USAID's 60-person Office of Program and Project Development.

Eagle Award, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2014

For significant achievement in teamwork and customer service on USAID's environment and economic growth teams.

Affiliations

USAID (Supervision Certification Course) - USAID (GLAAS 101-refresher) - U.S. Department of State (OT611 Foreign Affairs Counter Threat Course) - U.S. Department of State (RS415 Afghanistan Familiarization) - USAID/University (A&A Primer online training) - USAID (Reg. 216 Training) - USAID (DCA Workshop) - USAID (English Writing Course) - USAID (Value Chain Seminar) - USAID (Phoenix - Accruals Online Training) - U.S. Department of State (Press/Media Training (PAS)) - USAID (Leadership LED) - USAID (Acquisition & Assistance) - USAID (Financial Management Overview (FMO)) - USAID (Planning, Achieving and Learning (PAL)) - EL AL Israel Airlines (Security and Travel Reservation)

Volunteering

COVID-19 Fund-raining / Donations, 2020 to Present

Worked intensively and independently on a voluntary fund-raising to make Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for medics working in Hospitals and/or in any Medical Emergency Unit in Ecuador since COVID-19 Pandemic started.

Delivered a total of 1000 kits including robe, pants, two masks, 800 overalls, and shoes, 8000 facemasks, and 3000 pairs of gloves to different Health Institutions for informal vendors working around Medical Institutions.

Traveled with OFDA team to few Provinces in a Ecuador to visit Venezuelan refugees and check condition of families and support program of USAID/OFDA and The World Food Program assisting these people.

Achievements

Received trainings within US Government during entire career.

Accepted as a student in OBS/University of Barcelona to obtain Master's degree, after case was analyzed and approved by a committee of Universidad de Barcelona, given years of experience.

Languages

Spanish - Native language, English - Proficiency

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