Catherine Baker Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Supports new business efforts from capture planning through to proposal submission, with particular emphasis on conflict prevention, stabilization, and transition.

Proposal recruitment support for priority and strategic bids and project vacancies for initiatives that provided innovative post-crisis assistance to support political transition, ensured short-term stability operations, prevented and countered violent extremism (P/CVE), and laid the foundation for long-term development in fragile, crisis-stricken states. Collaborated closely with the Conflict, Stabilization and Peacebuilding Practice to inform technical and operational approaches, and to design programming that responds to donor priorities.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Managed personnel needs for Creative’s Political Transitions Practice Area and supported full cycle business development efforts in response to solicitations from donors such as USAID and OTI. Oversaw recruitment for HQ, field-based expatriate/third country national, and proposal positions for the practice area in compliance with Creative policy. Evaluated and screened candidate resumes, interviewed and vet candidates, and made staffing and organizational structure recommendations to the proposal team. On behalf of PT, worked with and provided quality assurance to the proposal team, HR, legal, and finance departments on local compensation plans, benefits, labor law requirements, personnel budgets, and other proposal-related HR issues. Served as the lead writer for the personnel section of proposals, formated CVs for submission, and ensured that personnel documents were received in a timely manner, compliant with solicitation requirements, and consistent with Creative policies. Supported practice area leadership with technical presentation preparation and coaching for OTI proposals, including coordinating international travel logistics when necessary. Served as the default Start-Up Recruitment/HR Manager on all new PT programs, traveling to the field to initiate local staff hiring and onboarding. Managed PT’s consultant roster by developing and monitoring consultant agreements, assuring coordination of travel and logistics, and overseeing the facilitation of payment requests. Supported PT’s Technical Director and Practice Area Director to track OTI trends and watch-list countries and to prioritize capture efforts. Conducted desk research and analysis to inform program design and operational approaches, serving as Capture Manager when needed. Provided periodic HQ project management support.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Served as the lead recruiter for Creative’s Communities in Transition Division, encompassing five technical practice areas: Governance and Community Resilience, Citizen Security, Political Transitions, Stabilization, and Elections. Managed proposal and international project recruitment, as well as DC-based positions on an as-needed basis. Partnered with hiring managers to develop strategic recruitment strategies and managed the sourcing, screening and interviewing for all applicants for positions funded by donors such as USAID, OTI, and the U.S. State Department. Ensured consistency in recruitment processes including writing job descriptions, coordinating interview panels, providing appropriate interview questions and maintaining recruitment documents. Negotiated all offers of employment and prepared allowance and benefits packages for all expatriate, third country national, and host country national candidates. Served as the Start-Up Recruitment/HR Manager for the $20 million USAID/Honduras Proponte Mas Project (in-country), and for the $38 million USAID/Eastern Caribbean Community, Family, and Youth Resilience Project (remotely). Responsibilities included host country recruitment, development of local compensation and benefit packages, and training project HR Managers in Creative polices. Developed the HR/Recruitment Team’s standard operating procedures and recruitment templates and provided regular training for the team.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Served as an International Recruiter supporting Creative's technical divisions and departments, with particular focus on proposal and project recruitment for the Communities in Transition Division.

Bethesda, Md

Provided recruitment support for Abt's International Economic Growth and International Health Divisions. This included recruitment for proposals, positions for existing projects overseas, and HQ-based positions. Conducted searches and networking to identify and screen highly qualified technical candidates for the international divisions’ proposal, home office, and in-country program positions. Evaluated candidates with technical capabilities in a variety of areas, including: climate change, agriculture, food security, monitoring and evaluation, natural resource management, health systems strengthening, health financing, maternal and child health, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Worked closely with proposal development teams, division technical staff, and managers to help identify personnel needs for the home office, ongoing contracts and new business proposals for donors such as USAID, DFID, MCC, and the ADB.

Bethesda, Md

Generated reports and analysis on recruiting metrics such as top hire sources and the average time-to-fill for positions.Managed and updated company LinkedIn page, LinkedIn group, and Recruiting Twitter account.Conducted international candidate interview scheduling, performed reference and background checks, and obtained additional application information.Assisted with and attended career fairs, conferences, and other recruitment events throughout the country.Posted open positions on company website and on external pages.

Washington, Dc

Led the foundation's holiday calling campaign to lapsed donors and managed a team of seven individuals. Ninety-seven out of the 351 people called gave $93,500 to the foundation by the end of 2011.Entered gifts into the Talisma database and generated tax letters for donors Conducted prospect research for international individuals and foundations using Guidestar and WealthEngineResponded to e-mail inquiries from donors and other individuals on behalf of the foundationRepresented the foundation at Combined Federal Campaign events

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Performed prospect research on potential foundation, corporate and individual donors using Guidestar and WealthEngineAuthored regular donor acknowledgments and other communication including foundation Letters of Inquiry and grant proposalsAided the development team with the planning and execution of events for audiences as large as 170 attendeesAssisted with the composition of large-scale mailings to over 500 donors and constituents including newsletters and holiday greeting cardsResponsible for entering and organizing large quantities of donor and prospect data in a Common Ground/Salesforce database and, as a result, developed advanced proficiency with the Salesforce platform

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Raised over $20,000 used to build or renovate university buildings, grant academic scholarships, support extracurricular activities, etc. by making fundraising telephone callsServed as a university representative to alumni, parents and other sponsors by informing them as to new academic programs and achievements

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Monitored key political races in the months leading up to the 2010 Midterm Elections. Routinely wrote analytical reports and briefed the political affairs team, the Deputy Chief of Mission, and the Venezuelan Ambassador. Provided additional administrative assistance through the organization and launch of the embassy’s first-ever library, and consolidated embassy documents for digitalization and recordkeeping purposes.

B.A., Magna Cum Laude, International Development & European Studies, Minor In Spanish & Latin American Studies

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