Change Management Human Resource

Aundra Richards

***********@*****.*** • 510-***-****

linkedin.com/in/aundra • Oakland, CA

Goal-oriented and knowledgeable contracts expert with 25+ years of demonstrated proficiency.

Experience directing administrative and support services. Skill with accounting, budgeting, and finance. Able to make effective human resource decisions. Comfortable with multi-billion dollar contracts and strict deadlines affecting thousands of stakeholders. Confident communicator with all stakeholders, including executive leadership, subordinates, and the public. Decision-maker adept at recommending, developing, and evaluating goals, objectives, and procedures aligned with internal policy. Deep understanding of change management.

Areas of Expertise

Ability to work under pressure

Staff development

Performance management

Program management

Vision and planning

Strategizing

Change management

Adaptability

Time management

Negotiation and persuasion

Regulatory Compliance

Problem solving

Conflict management

Team building

Written and oral communication

Cross-functionality

Customer service

Project deadlines

Reporting

Staff leadership and training

Professional Experience

Housing Authority of Alameda County

Procurement & Purchasing Manager 2021-2023

Hayward, CA

Consistent with the strategic priorities of the Authority, organized, directed and supervised the procurement activities for the entire organization. Responsibilities included managing contracts including both pre-award and post award administration, negotiating, price, delivery schedules, and contract terms. Provided procurement advice and guidance to stakeholders. Established standards for the Authority’s Acquisition Management System to ensure compliance with Public Housing Authority (PHA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) procurement policies. Developed formal Requests for Proposals (RFP), Information For Bid (IFB) and Requests For Quotes (RFQ) templates used to procure services, materials, supplies and equipment. Conducted outreach to local small, women owned and minority owned businesses. Responsible for negotiation and award of contracts, purchase orders, change orders and other sales and lease agreements within delegated authority.

Served as the principal public procurement official for the Authority responsible to ensure purchasing practices were consistent, open, and designed to encourage maximum competition and best value procurements. Delegated authority to assign work to subordinate staff.

AC Transit

Assistant Director, Procurement & Materials 2018 – 2019

Oakland, CA

Supervised 13 contract specialists and buyers. Worked alongside Director to coordinate and supervise daily operation. Researched and collated forecasted funding needs for annual budget. Reviewed and approved expenditures. Provided expert advice to stakeholders and collaborated on procurement strategies, approaches and requirements. Managed relationships with key stakeholders to provide strategic insights on business needs and resolve complex procurement issues. Provided leadership, direction, and effective management of the procurement team to achieve a high level of performance and deliver quality support and services. Wrote and presented weekly reports on organizational performance and progress towards business objectives. Monitored staff performance and recommended appropriate training. Ensured compliance with regulations and internal procurement policy and procedures. Authored, edited, and submitted new procurement policies in alignment with Federal guidelines.

Spearheaded district-wide 2018 Federal Transit Agency procurement systems review. Developed Corrective Action Plan to resolve deficiencies and implement recommendations identified by audit.

Organized and funded off-site training for contract specialists through the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University School of Planning and Public Policy, resulting in 90% of team completing 3 of the 4 required NTI Procurement courses.

Drafted, edited, and submitted new Procurement Manual aligning with the FTA Regulations, California Contracting Code, and FTA Best Practices and Lessons Learned Manual. Updated policies and manual addressed system and contract administration deficiencies identified in the District’s 2018 Federal Transit Agency (FTA) Procurement System Review.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 1993 – 2014

Site Office Manager 2005 – 2014

Office of Science (SC) Berkeley Site Office

Berkeley, CA

Senior DOE executive responsible for administering the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) management and operating contract and all Federal activities at the site. The site consists of 70 + buildings owned by DOE on 200 acres of land owned by the University of California. The Laboratory’s staff population numbers ranges between three and four thousand working at the site performing research and performing site operational support.

Managed a 21 member Federal workforce comprised of cross-functional teams of subject matter experts that provided oversight of the Laboratory’s management, security, quality assurance, environment, health, safety, and security missions. Established polices, plans, and procedures for site office operations and set performance expectations for the staff. Prepared the Laboratory’s annual Performance Evaluation Plan and presented the appraisal results to SC at the conclusion of each fiscal year.

Supervised laboratory operations as site met (B+) or exceeded (A/A+) SC’s eight (8) performance goals and objectives each year between 2005 and 2014.

Alongside senior leadership, planned and implemented budget and spending schedule for $334 million dollars in funding from DOE, other national laboratories, federal agencies and sponsors. Created 2,000+ jobs, completed 134 ARRA projects on time and without safety incidents, and met fiscal reporting regulations and deadlines.

Collaborated with Environmental Management (EM) executive leadership to bring third-party investment to the laboratory and improve safety and infrastructure with the demolition of seismically challenged facilities and the remediation of soil and ground water at the “Old Town” site. Approved Memorandum of Understanding between EM and the Berkeley Site Office regarding key roles, responsibilities, communications, and interfaces necessary for project execution.

Manager, Acquisition & Financial Assistance Department 2003 – 2005

Office of Business Services, NNSA Service Center

Oakland, CA

Managed annual contracts worth $1.5B with a staff of 47 procurement professionals and administrative support. Managed pre-award and post-award strategy and administered acquisition and financial assistance awards, including acquisition planning, solicitation, evaluation, selection, award, administration, and closeout.

Special assignment as Management Analyst with NNSA Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Program Office. Negotiated 2 power plant contracts, for a $387M refurbishment and a $570M new construction. Supervised 2 contract specialists, paid invoices, tracked deliverables, defined change orders, and executed funding modifications.

Additional Experience

Director of Contracts, Acquisition, & Property Division: Supervisory Contract Specialist, DOE, Oakland, CA

Acquisition Team Leader, DOE, Oakland, CA

Management Analyst, Office of Field Services and Liaison (FM-10), DOE, Washington, DC

Branch Chief, Operational Support and Review (OSR), DOE, Oakland, CA

Education

Business Studies Certificate

California State East University East Bay

Master of Arts in History

University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA

Bachelor of Arts in History

University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA

Awards

Secretary of Energy Excellence Award, 2008

“Ms. Richards is recognized for her extraordinary dedication, commitment and leadership role as Berkeley Site Office Manager and her willingness to take on a dual role as the Stanford Site Office Manager for virtually all of 2007. Ms. Richards commitment to excellence drove contractor performance improvement and improved safety performance at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Ms. Richards engagement in complex and difficult negotiations has brought third-party investment to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Ms. Richards direction and commitment effected exceptional changes in Laboratory leadership and improvement in safety and infrastructure.” Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy, April 2008

Training & Development

10 years of experience as a member of the Senior Executive Service with a civilian Agency. Decision-making abilities that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Experience leading people toward meeting an organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Passionate about providing an environment that supports an inclusive workforce that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

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