Sawsan Salameh
********@*****.*** • 305-***-****
www.linkedin.com/in/sawsansalameh • Fairfax, Virginia
Program Manager and Public Health professional with 14+ years of experience in program management,strategic planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), organizational leadership, event planning and management and training/development in pursuit of attaining a Policy Analyst or Program Management role at a well-established company. Proficient in Smartsheet, SPSS, Microsoft Office, Prezi, QuickBooks, Adaptive, and data management software. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluent in Arabic. Passionate about program & event planning and management as well as research, evaluation and policy analysis in different fields.
Areas of Expertise
Program & Project Management
Policy Development
M&E Analysis
Fundraising & Marketing
Technical Writing
Grant Proposals & Reports
Needs Assessment/Market Research
Budget Management
Event planning and Management
Public Outreach & Education
Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis
Staff Training & Mentorship
Professional Experience
WorldStrides, Virginia (2022-Present)
Programs Manager
Planning and execution of three educational programs: Business Innovation, Intensive Law and Trial and Law and Crime Scene Investigation programs (previous programs managed include Global Youth Leadership Conference and National Security) that host more than 1000 scholars per program, 260 per session at different locations nationwide. Programs run at and in partnerships with renowned universities like Stanford, Yale and George Mason Universities. Manage and Supervise a team of 45 employees for each program ( 140+). Ensure proper effective and efficient implementation of programs, curriculum, and academic activities planned. Ensure that educational, program and business goals are achieved. Monitor and ensure health, safety of all scholars and staff during programs.
●Direct management of internal staff, communication with clients, vendors, a close attention to detail and an ability to make business decisions confidently
●Lead, train, and develop a team of support staff to accomplish performance expectations.
●Maintain a system of quality control. Review and update processes to enhance efficiencies and bolster collaboration.
●Analyze program performance and provide constructive direction to team members.
●Evaluate program delivery and implementation and analyze findings to improve and update and strategically plan programs in the coming years.
●Develop programs’ budgets and review contracts with universities and other venues and vendors.
●Evaluate and update programs’ curriculum and facilitation modules.
United Palestinian Appeal (UPA), Washington, DC (2021 – 2022)
MEAL & Compliance Manager
Direct a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) system for UPA programs and projects. Advise project managers and partner organizations in developing M&E systems. Interview, hire, and train new UPA staff and/or consultants. Enforce regulatory compliance and SOPs in collaboration with legal, HR, and finance departments, and senior directors’ teams. Write assessments, surveys, and reports on program and project progress. Review quality of project proposals, including logic, Logframe, reporting/participatory approaches, project/proposal planning, research, and M&E components.
●Designed and implemented monitoring frameworks and evaluation processes, including Theory of Change, Logframe and Results Frameworks, for programs, projects, and new proposals.
●Built a training/coaching/networking capacity for monitoring, evaluation, and project performance.
●Led the evaluation of UPA’s main programs as part of UPA’s 3-year strategic plan.
●Established UPA’s Complaint & Feedback Mechanism for communities/beneficiaries.
●Aided in the development and improvement of offices’ M&E plans, systems, and human capacity.
United Palestinian Appeal (UPA), Washington, DC (2019 – 2021)
Operations Manager
Supervised program and project operations for 4 field offices in West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Jordan and headquarters in Washington DC. Recruited and trained staff in platforms, programs, and software. Acted as IT intermediary for equipment acquisition and maintenance. Monitored grant and procurement payments. Coordinated with Donor Relations on fundraising and accounting. Organized travel, staff meetings and company events. Enforced Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and compliance of standardized stakeholder vetting and standard procedures.
●Consulted staff in personnel policies and SOPs, including recruitment, performance, and operations.
●Coordinated annual operational planning, budgeting, and progress reviews of UPA programs in all locations.
●Spearheaded the development and review of UPA’s Covid-19 plans, policies, and targets for 2020 and 2021.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), Virginia (2017 – 2018)
Substitute Teacher
Facilitated classwork and supervised and supported students learning in different classroom settings including special needs classrooms. Monitored and controlled classroom behavior.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), Virginia (2016 – 2017)
School Health Advisory Committee Member
Evaluated school health, health education, environment, and health services of schools in Fairfax County. Developed, assessed, and reviewed and/or revised FCPS health policies.
Fairfax County Medical Reserve Corps, Virginia (2008 – 2014)
Program Assistant
Coordinated execution of public health initiatives, including H1N1 vaccination, maternity, and child services. Assisted with paperwork, medical interpretation, logistics, and data entry.
●Served as Onsite Coordinator and Language Interpreter between medical staff and Arabic-speaking patients.
Additional Experience
Research Associate, Environmental department, American University of Beirut, Lebanon (6 months) Drafted improvement plans, proposals, reports, policy briefs and memoranda regarding the health, safety, and welfare of students in 200 Lebanese schools. Organized and led the “Healthy Schools Workshop,” attended by all 200 schools.
Executive & Administrative Member / Public Relations (PR) Coordinator, Lebanese Red Cross (3 years) Directed planning, logistics, and training of 50+ members of the Marjeyoun Chapter. Promoted community and public health awareness. Organized fundraising events and campaigns. Prepared budgets, reconciled expense reports, and allocated grants. Mitigated PR exposure of campaigns and projects on social media.
Education
M.S. in Health & Medical Policy, George Mason University, VA (2014)
Post-Graduate Coursework in Public Health, American University of Beirut, Lebanon (2008)
B.S. in Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Lebanon (2007)
Licenses & Certifications
●Introduction to Incident Command System & National Incident Management System, FEMA & Emergency Management
●Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning for Development Professionals and NGOs, Humentum USA & American University of Beirut, Lebanon
●Public Health Ethics Certificate, National Cancer Institute
●Adult/Child CPR & AED