Public Affairs & Project Management Leader

Richmond, VA 202-***-**** ***********@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/tiarasmithgovcon

TIARA D. SMITH, PMP

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

PMP-certified communications and public affairs professional with 7+ years of experience supporting federal agencies through clear, accurate, and audience-focused written and visual communications. Proven ability to research, write, edit, and produce professional materials including briefs, reports, presentations, and internal communications. Experienced in translating complex technical and policy information into accessible content for diverse audiences while supporting modernization initiatives in regulated government environments.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & SOFTWARE PROFICIENCY

Project Management & Collaboration: Smartsheet, Kahua, SmartPM, Cora Systems PPM, Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, Excel & SharePoint Workspaces.

Methodologies: Agile (Scrum/Kanban), Waterfall, Hybrid Project Delivery & Governance: Contract Operations, Compliance Tracking, KPI Monitoring, Risk Management, SOP & Framework Development

Reporting & Visualization: MS PowerPoint, Tableau, Data Analysis, Executive Briefings EXPERIENCE

Strategic Planning & Policy Analyst, Active Top-Secret June 2022 – Present, Remote Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA)

. Serve as Acting Project Manager, leading a 9-person team to deliver mission-critical initiatives during the 2024-2025 presidential transition, ensuring alignment between operational tasks and technical deliverables.

. Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including timelines, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and risk registers.

. Liaise between government stakeholders and contract teams to synchronize business and technical objectives, ensuring compliance with contract requirements and regulatory standards.

. Track progress and provide transparent reporting via Monthly Status Reports (MSRs) and executive briefings, enabling informed decision-making at all leadership levels.

. Support public affairs efforts by creating written and visual content that promotes awareness, adoption, and understanding of government programs and services.

. Assist with maintaining and updating internal websites and SharePoint pages to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely dissemination of information.

. Coordinate cross-functional engagements including executive briefings, workshops, town halls, and steering committee engagements, translating complex program data into actionable insights for senior leadership.

. Translate complex requirements into actionable plans, policies, and governance artifacts, supporting leadership in high- visibility initiatives.

IT Governance Analyst, Active Top-Secret February 2022 – June 2022, Remote Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Joint Service Provider (JSP)

. Partnered with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to define and drive enterprise business initiatives.

. Collaborated with technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to lead working groups with government stakeholders, resulting in increased accuracy and timeliness of deliverables.

. Implemented standardized procedures for documenting datasets, including the classification of data and identification of authoritative source, which enhanced data accuracy and streamlined data management processes.

. Monitored Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and governance maturity, driving improvement in data quality metrics and an increase in governance process efficiency.

. Developed and delivered comprehensive briefings and data visualization for colleagues, government leads, and stakeholders. Records Consultant, Active Top-Secret April 2021 – February 2022, Virginia Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Contractor

. Reviewed and analyzed 50,000+ FBI records to determine retention, transfer, or disposal.

. Streamlined case file processing across 56 field offices, reducing turnaround time by 25%.

. Utilized Excel and Tableau to analyze case classifications and enhance data accuracy.

. Developed stakeholder briefings, improving efficiency and reducing data entry defects by 85%

. Served as communications liaison, managing project updates within the Information Management Division. Background Investigator, Active Top Secret January 2019 – April 2021, Remote Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA)

. Processed and verified electronic background investigation (e-QIP) forms, initiating investigations in compliance with federal standards.

. Maintained investigation records and provided status updates to government personnel security officials.

. Coordinated with legal, law enforcement, and government agencies to obtain employment, education, residence, fingerprint, polygraph, and credit history records.

. Conducted federal background investigations and compiled detailed Reports of Investigation (ROIs) for adjudication, ensuring compliance with laws and agency regulations. EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Project Management Professional Certification (PMP) Project Management Institute – January 2026

Six Sigma White Belt

Six Sigma White Belt Certified – May 2025

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Bachelor of Arts, Behavioral Sciences, Sociology

Prince Georges Community College, Largo, MD

Associates of Arts, Mass Communication, Journalism AFFILATIONS

Project Management Institute, PMI Member

National Society of Black Engineers, NSBE Member

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