CAROL ALEJANDRA RIVERA-SOTO

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Results-oriented program support specialist with a proven track record in implementing federal programs related to emergency management, recovery, and mitigation. Skilled in research, writing, and translation, with a focus on culturally aware projects targeting at-risk populations, human services, and behavioral health. Adept at fostering stakeholder relationships and executing successful collaboratives and multisectoral efforts to strengthen communities impacted by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Possess extensive knowledge of federal and local governmental policies and operational processes. 787-***-****

adxsc4@r.postjobfree.com

San Juan, P.R.

EDUCATION

MA, Humanities, Comparative

Literature - University of Puerto Rico

14, 2534 Av. Universidad Ste. 1401, San

Juan, 00925

BA, Humanities, Comparative

Literature - University of Puerto Rico

14, 2534 Av. Universidad Ste. 1401, San

Juan, 00925

FURTHER EDUCATION

Climate Change and Health Program

- Yale School of Public Health

New Haven, Connecticut

Publishing and Editorial Arts

Certificate Program - University of

Puerto Rico

Río Piedras, Puerto Rico

Grants Writing and Management

Certificate Program - University of

Puerto Rico

Río Piedras, Puerto Rico

Department of Health and

Human Services/Assistant

Secretary for Preparedness

and Response, Division of

Recovery and Community

Resilience, DR-4339

Hurricane Maria

- Guaynabo P.R

•Provided support and led efforts associated with executing conferences, meetings, and special events for the Division of Community Mitigation and Recovery (DCMR) in Puerto Rico, including all internal, external, public,private, and other stakeholder engagements as associated management and administration.

•Served as a lead event coordinator for a wide range of organizational events such as high-profile meetings with leadership and key stakeholders, listening sessions, events with field organizations, internal and external business meetings, receptions, workshops, conferences, and ceremonies.

•Managed, planned, oversaw, executed, and facilitated all management aspects of special events.

•Led the coordination of events from concept through execution, ensuring all timelines were met.

•Developed all required materials supporting organizational participation in local and state conferences. This task included the following trainings: o Integrated Services Model (ISM) Planning Tool

o Emergency Planning Considerations for People with Access and Functional Needs

• Developed and designed event support materials such as invitations, programs, and briefing materials.

• Developed strategic plans to publicize events and target appropriate audiences.

• Interpreted findings resulting from reviews and proposed possible courses of action for resolution.

• Provided advice, guidance, and management assistance, emphasizing organizational efficiency and effectiveness/productivity.

• Served as the Social Services and School Branch acting director when necessary. As an acting branch director, I made executive decisions on programmatic and administrative issues, reported on the branch projects' status, outcomes and issues, and allocated resources to each project according to the expected results.

EXPERIENCE

Feb 2021 - Apr 2022 Stakeholder Relations Specialist, 0301, GS-12 Grant Management Services,

Horne PR

- San Juan, P.R.

•Researched and developed strategic priorities to align public policy, science, funding, and capacity initiatives that lend to community resilience, adaptation, and sustainability.

•Conducted extensive research and prepared memorandums, presentations, one-pagers, and additional related products to inform the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) on critical mitigation and climate adaptation topics such as coastal erosion and solid waste management.

•Contributed to developing work plans, conducted literature reviews, analyzed data, wrote content for plans and publications, and supported stakeholder engagement.

•Developed Program documents, including Program Guidelines (PGs), Scope of Work

(SOW), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Planning Framework, notifications, presentations, and document templates.

•Prepared public-facing engagement and outreach materials, presentations, and talking points regarding the program goals and status.

• Edited and review documents to ensure compliance with federal plain language guidelines.

•Prepared progress reports and presentations on a scheduled and ad hoc basis.

•Identified and managed project risks and opportunities within areas of responsibility.

•Developed, organized, monitored, and maintained detailed Program document files on different digital platforms.

•Drafted, formatted, and filed notifications, letters, memos, and all required meeting documents (agendas, meeting summaries, sign-in sheets). August 2022-present Program Support Specialist

LANGUAGES

SPANISH

ENGLISH

FRENCH

PORTUGUESE

Native/highly proficient in both spoken

and written Spanish

Highly proficient in both spoken and

written English

Basic communication skills

Basic communication skills

J&M Global Solutions -

Health and Social Services,

Recovery Support Function

(HHS RSF), DR-4339

Hurricane Maria

- Guaynabo P.R

• Developed and translated into Spanish guides, presentations, questionnaires, and outreach materials for various workshops and planning sessions on different topics related to disaster recovery, social services, and behavioral health.

• Researched and analyzed data on strategies and best practices to inform local communities and government agency staff on disaster recovery.

• Engaged with stakeholders from different agencies and organizations to collaborate in the recovery of services related to children, youth, and other vulnerable populations.

• Developed strategies to coordinate behavioral health and general health and well-being services to local communities recovering from a disaster.

• Drafted template for regional long-term recovery plans for the Puerto Rico Department of Education

• Documented, in collaboration with Arecibo’s Regional Educational Office (ORE, by its Spanish acronym) staff members, their region’s long-term recovery plan.

• Facilitated regional planning meetings with school communities and regional staff to inform the long-term recovery plans for Puerto Rico's public educational system.

• Drafted a School-Based Health Center (SBHC) whitepaper to inform the Federal Affair Office (FAO) of Puerto Rico Department of Education on resources available to implement this model. Disaster Recovery Specialist (2020-2021), Lead Planner (2019-2020), Analyst & Translator (2018-2019)

Jul 2018 - Feb 2021 787-***-****

adxsc4@r.postjobfree.com

San Juan, P.R.

TRAINING

Department of Health

and Human Services

•Health and Human Services

Recovery Introduction

•Cybersecurity Awareness

Training Certificate

•Accessibility Content for Everyone

(ACE) Training: Microsoft Word

•Accessibility Content for Everyone

(ACE) Training: Microsoft PowerPoint

•U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services Plain Language

Training

• Partnered with the Puerto Rico Children and Youth Task Force (CYTF) to amplify the scope of support to their multisectoral efforts, including emergency preparedness focused children and youth population and children and youth poverty as their long-term recovery mission.

• Partnered with the CYFT and the National Center for Disaster Preparedness to implement their Resilient Children Resilient Communities disaster preparedness initiative in Mayagüez and Humacao regions.

• Consulted by IsraAid to review their Disaster Risk Reduction Curriculum to adapt it to Puerto Rican Spanish, as well as to tailor it to Puerto Rican school communities’ culture.

• Translated into Spanish Veteran Affairs Office’s PTSD Coach App so it could serve as a tool for Puerto Rican and other Spanish-speaking populations to manage their trauma symptoms after surviving a disaster or any other trauma-inducing event.

• Collaborated on the development and distribution of Reverdece tú También, a mental health media campaign to create awareness on the impact of a disaster on the general populations and strategies to overcome it and recover.

• Collaborated with the HSS RSF Healthcare Services Branch by co-authoring a media toolkit for the Hubs and-Spokes model to share with the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

• Supported HSS RSF Healthcare Services Branch by acting as a controller on San Juan Emergency Operation Center for Bayamón’ Region Hubs-and-Spokes functional exercise. National University College

Corporate Online Division

- Guaynabo P.R

Jun 2013 - Apr 2019 Editor and English-Spanish Translator

• Proofread and translated a high volume of academic texts.

• Evaluated all Spanish documents to comply with the latest rules of the Real Academia Española.

• Reviewed all citations and referenced texts according to the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

• Improved content of courses, syllabus, and tutorials so they can meet rigorous academic standards.

• Verified that each course's objectives, rubrics, and evaluation methods meet the institutional criteria.

• Researched online academic resources to improve the content of each course.

• Collaborated on developing a wide range of distance education programs for different institutions such as National University College, Instituto de Banca y Comercio, Florida Technical College, and Ponce Paramedical College.

• Collaborated on a continuing education project for the Puerto Rico Police Department regarding new laws, protocols, and standard procedures.

• Executed administrative tasks such as personnel training, coordinated new projects and was accountable for the assigned team's performance.

Federal Emergency

Management Agency -

Emergency Management

Institute

•Introduction to Incident Command

System, ICS-100

•Basic Incident Command System for

Initial Response, ICS-200

•An Introduction to the National

Incident Management System,

ICS-700

•FEMA EEO Employee Course 2019,

IS-00018

•Civil Rights and FEMA Disaster

Assistance 2019, IS-00021

•FEMA Safety Orientation 2020,

IS-00035

•Multihazard Emergency Planning

for Schools, IS-00362.a

•National Response Framework,

An Introduction, IS-800

University of Puerto Rico

•Towards Full Inclusion Through

Universal Design (Rumbo a la plena

inclusion mediante el diseño universal)

Promotores de Paz

(Peace Advocates)

•Certification to offer workshops

on Dating Violence

Puerto Rico Chaplain Corps

•Skills for Psychological Recovery

SKILLS

•Experienced in project conceptualization,

development, and resource managing.

•Experienced in editing, designing, and managing

online education platforms such as Canvas and

BlackBoard, social media platforms,

and blogging tools.

•Proficient in research and analytic tools,

OS Windows, OS Mac, and MS Office, internet,

and mobile technologies.

•Analytical, and problem-solving skills

•Professional knowledge in disaster management,

grant writing, and management,

•Research, writing, adaptation, translation,

and proofreading skills.

•Experienced in community engagement, training,

and facilitating discussions and work sessions for different audiences.

Contact this candidate