Accomplished Leader Resume Template

ANDRÉ FERRERO

Rotterdam, Netherlands                           Email: [email protected]

Phone: +31 6 1125 6673

Citizenship: EU

Security Clearance: POS Confidence

Highest Federal Grade: GS-14

Announcement Number TRANS-GLOBAL-2024-0020, Senior Transportation Specialist

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Accomplished leader at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA/DOT) offering 19+ years’ expertise in transportation infrastructure management, financial planning and implementation, program oversight, and interagency coordination. Adept at driving federal, state, and local collaboration to deliver impactful solutions, earning accolades for financial discipline and teamwork excellence. A recognized policy and regulatory authority, skilled in risk assessment, financial accountability, and program development. Proven success in leading multidisciplinary teams, optimizing processes, and negotiating strategic partnerships.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA/DOT)
National Directorate for Mobility & Infrastructure (NDMI) | Rotterdam, Netherlands
June 2022 – Present | 40 hours per week

Series: 0340 Program Management | Pay Plan: GS – General Schedule (Ch. 51, 5 U.S.C.) | Grade: 14

Supervisor: Richelle Takara, (808) 541-2311 (Contact for permission)

• Assisted the Division Administrator in overseeing the Federal-aid Highway Program across Hawaii Guam the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa to ensure compliance with federal regulations and efficient program delivery.
• Supervised a team of 16 staff members from various disciplines through subordinate supervisors to drive successful program and project delivery while providing technical assistance and professional development opportunities.
• Conducted process reviews aimed at improving decision-making and enhancing the quality of transportation project outcomes by identifying areas for refinement and implementing best practices.
• Engaged with internal and external stakeholders to communicate organizational goals strategies and priorities while building collaborative relationships with state and local government partners.
• Created and implemented tools for monitoring and tracking the Division’s Annual Performance Plan which included conducting risk assessments and adjusting program strategies as needed to align with evolving objectives.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• The team faced challenges aligning their work with the Federal Highway Administration’s strategic goals which negatively impacted employee engagement and program outcomes. Initiated one-on-one sessions and regular check-ins with staff, shared agency mission, and aligned team efforts with the strategic plan. Emphasized diversity and inclusion by incorporating staff input into decision-making. Conducted discussions on the impact of risk appetite changes on planning processes. Improved alignment between personal and organizational goals, enhanced staff understanding of program objectives, and identified areas needing immediate improvement. Strengthened the link between daily work and program impact which successfully increased staff engagement and performance.
• Communication barriers hindered effective collaboration and understanding among team members and led to trust issues and engagement problems. Worked with team leaders to identify and implement communication strategies tailored to individual preferences, promoting flexibility in communication styles. Conducted listening sessions and prepared actionable follow-ups during weekly meetings. Strengthened working relationships, improved engagement, and cultivated a culture of open communication. This approach contributed to a more cohesive team and facilitated better decision-making.
• The division faced challenges filling job openings while meeting diversity and inclusion objectives. Assessed job vacancies in collaboration with division leadership to develop hiring strategies. Participated in outreach initiatives with universities and affinity groups to establish Pathways/PDP opportunities. Conducted individual sessions with new hires to support onboarding and ensured completion within 90 days. Improved workforce diversity and inclusion with successful onboarding processes and ensured new hires quickly adapted to their roles. Regular communication with new employees maintained progress tracking and supported their professional development.
• The Division needed to optimize resource use and ensure adherence to budget constraints. Monitored the General Operating Expense (GOE) budget, reviewed purchase requests, and supported the finance role during staffing vacancies. Updated the Time and Attendance SOP and Delegation of Authority processes to align with agency guidance. Maintained the division’s budget within constraints, streamlined financial processes, and enhanced internal controls.
• The Hawaii Division’s Stewardship and Oversight Agreement required updating in line with new agency guidance. Developed a project management tool with a milestone timeline, reviewed new guidelines, and created a draft document using automated systems. Conducted walkthroughs with division staff and HDOT partners, held bi-weekly progress meetings, and addressed any concerns. Successful update and implementation of the Stewardship and Oversight Agreement, ensuring compliance with federal standards and improved coordination with state partners.
• The Division’s All Employee Survey indicated low scores in areas related to trust, communication, and staff empowerment.Analyzed survey results and conducted a presentation to highlight strengths and weaknesses. Engaged staff in discussions about improvement areas, attended webinars, and collaborated with performance offices to develop solutions. Redirected team leaders’ focus toward employee-centric discussions to improve the work environment. Initiated changes that targeted the root causes of low survey scores, including increased transparency, recognition of employee skills, and better communication strategies.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TEAM LEADER
European Infrastructure Authority (EIA), Southern Regional Division
November 2015 – June 2023 | 40 hours per week

Series: 0501 Financial Administration and Program | Pay Plan: GS – General Schedule (Ch. 51, 5 U.S.C.) | Grade: 13

Supervisor: Michael Avery, (202) 258-3615 (Contact for permission)

• Led a six-member team of finance and program development experts to deliver over $1 billion in federal highway aid programs across territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by developing targeted strategies to overcome logistical challenges which resulted in successful implementation of the GARVEE and Tiger programs
• Coordinated 20 distinct operational areas to ensure compliance with objectives set by FHWA headquarters and implemented a structured approach to streamline processes which enhanced program efficiency and aligned with organizational priorities
• Directed comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation activities for various federal aid initiatives including planning civil rights realty finance project development and construction by conducting annual quality reviews which enabled the agency to consistently meet key performance indicators
• Managed all essential aspects of program financial oversight such as contract funding cost analysis and expense reporting by implementing systematic review processes to provide accurate financial updates to senior leadership and state authorities
• Maintained updated documentation tools and schedules to accurately inform four critical national program metrics by monitoring data on obligations expenditure rates project inactivity and closeout timelines which supported data-driven decision-making
• Led annual efforts to assess technical assistance needs and collaborated with the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority Federal Liaison Office to coordinate the delivery of necessary resources which improved project support and stakeholder engagement
• Evaluated team capabilities identified skill gaps and coordinated professional development initiatives focused on federal compliance enterprise risk management data analytics and internal auditing which led to increased team proficiency in these key areas
• Analyzed requirements under Title 23 highway aid policies and contracts to identify necessary financial controls by establishing tracking and reporting mechanisms that ensured compliance with Department of Transportation standards
• Developed executive summaries using Power BI analytics to provide insights to the FHWA Division Administrator regarding operational efficiencies and projected delays which informed strategic planning in line with DOT standards
• Regularly engaged with government officials in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to review the progress of transportation infrastructure projects identify emerging challenges and discuss contract management updates which strengthened interagency collaboration

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Created and implemented seven new standard operating procedures to resolve cost control deficiencies in workforce management which resulted in Puerto Rico achieving zero deficiencies in the 2020 and 2021 audits.
• Co-organized the Statewide Transportation Finance Summit with FEMA staff, and developed and delivered seven finance training seminars to 200+ personnel from various agencies.
• Designed a project funds management training program and delivered it to 400+ new project managers across five DOT regions which improved their financial management capabilities and ensured consistent project fund use.
• Conducted a thorough review of the Department Manual and submitted recommendations for updates, leading to the adoption of revised 2019–2022 audit standards, which enhanced program compliance across federal aid areas in the territories.
• Maintained strong relationships with three successive political administrations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands over seven years; secured consistent support for federal highway programs and enabling smooth program execution.
• Led FHWA’s emergency response efforts following Hurricanes Maria and Irma, coordinating with local and federal agencies to restore essential transportation networks; earned the DOT Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Teamwork for exceptional leadership.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SENIOR MANAGER (DETAIL ASSIGNMENT/GS14)
Ministry of Transport | Innovation Exchange Directorate, The Hague, Netherlands
January 2021 – June 2021 | 40 hours per week

Series: 0501 Financial Administration and Program | Pay Plan: GS – General Schedule (Ch. 51, 5 U.S.C.) | Grade: 14

Supervisor: Melissa King, (202) 366-8897 (Contact for permission)

• Led a 14-member team in providing contracting and human capital management services to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and DOT partners.
• Designed logistics plans for timely delivery of personnel, services, and resources at key program milestones.
• Promoted diversity by applying EEO knowledge to enhance organization-wide inclusion initiatives.
• Implemented risk controls to improve business insights and inform senior leadership decisions.
• Negotiated agreements to clarify responsibilities between OIE, FHWA, and NHI.
• Facilitated collaborative systems contract management with FAA and Office of the Administrator leadership.
• Led SharePoint redesign to standardize interfaces with public sites, and improved user experience and data management.
• Launched a web portal for employee ideas and enabled profile management and analytics for leaders.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Identified the need for increased productivity within the OIE and developed strategic plans that integrated resources from various stakeholders to improve coordination and lead to more effective program execution.
• Recognized limited capabilities in content production, built networks to integrate contract vehicles from different stakeholders, which expanded the organization’s capacity for website and video production services.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (DETAIL ASSIGNMENT/GS14)
Provincial Directorate for Mobility | Harrisburg, EU Region
February 2020 – May 2020 | 40 hours per week

Series: 0501 Financial Administration and Program | Pay Plan: GS – General Schedule (Ch. 51, 5 U.S.C.) | Grade: 14

Supervisor: Keith Lynch, (717) 221-4545 (Contact for permission)

• Supervised a seven-person team of technical experts to establish performance objectives and metrics for a diverse range of environmental and safety programs for U.S. highways.
• Applied expertise in risk assessment and mitigation to identify vulnerabilities in ongoing state transportation infrastructure projects considering new national transportation technologies and emerging challenges to enhance project resilience.
• Directed efforts to promote a Department of Transportation initiative to create the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program by leading discussions with multiple metropolitan planning organizations to improve coordination between city state and federal agencies and brokered agreements on mandates and requirements that ensured the consideration of economic environmental and social impacts of transportation infrastructure.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Spearheaded the team in analyzing planning processes within Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation programs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to identify redundancies efficiencies best practices and areas for improvement and collaborated with federal and state partners to develop short- and long-term plans for highway development in a resource-constrained environment.
• Delivered a strategy to improve transparency and fiscal discipline in the long-range planning of transportation infrastructure with a focus on advancements in heavy vehicle transport autonomous vehicles and emerging security requirements to meet future needs effectively.

SENIOR SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT & FINANCIAL SERVICES TEAM LEAD
European Volunteer Service Commission | Office of Financial Oversight
December 2014 – November 2015 | 40 hours per week

Series: 0510 Accounting | Pay Plan: NY – Public Law 103-82, Subtitle G, Section 195(B) | Grade: 04 (GS14/15 equivalent)

Supervisor: Unknown (See SF50) (Contact for permission)

• Directed all operations within the Accounts Payable Group to ensure the efficient processing of payments and compliance with organizational policies and financial regulations.
• Developed continuous process improvement strategies to optimize accounting procedures and created programs to implement these changes effectively across the organization.
• Led risk assessment efforts to identify potential vulnerabilities in financial systems as accounting requirements evolved to ensure the organization’s adaptability to regulatory changes.
• Authored a new policy directive to overhaul the management of finances involved in interagency agreements to enhance financial oversight and accountability.
• Developed improved tracking systems to increase accountability in financial processes and provide greater transparency in financial reporting.
• Established procedures for interpreting financial data and validating inputs to align with accounting best practices and federal regulations to maintain data accuracy and integrity.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Led the Financial Services Team in conducting the annual risk assessment of the grants’ integrated financial management and payment systems, which supported 240K+ grantees and managed more than $760M in formula and discretionary funds to ensure compliance and financial stability.

INTERAGENCY PAYMENT AND COLLECTION (IPAC) TEAM LEADER (ACTING), SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT
European Education Directorate | Brussels, Belgium
August 2010 – January 2014 | 40 hours per week

Series: 0510 | Pay Plan: GS | Grade: 13

Supervisor: Retired (Contact for permission)

• Directed a team of system accountants to maintain and monitor the payment modules of the financial management information system.
• Executed transaction approvals and oversaw the interagency development process to ensure compliance with financial standards and regulations.
• Supported financial and internal audit activities to identify areas for improvement and ensure the accuracy of financial records.
• Co-led a pilot project on the Central Accounting Reporting System and implemented the Treasury Accounting Symbol and Business Event Transaction Code in the Department’s collection and disbursement systems to enhance financial reporting.
• Developed and managed a financial innovation contract task order to evaluate and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the intergovernmental procurement process.
• Conducted general and subsidiary ledger analyses for accounts payable the suspense account and administrative vendor payments to maintain accurate financial reporting.
• Led an education institution outreach program as a committee member for the Equal Opportunity Office to promote diversity and equal opportunity initiatives.
• Participated in projects including the Data Analytics Working Group Credit Reform Analytics Financial Statement Post Audit Resolution Cash Management Reporting Treasury SF 224 Preparation Suspense Account Reconciliation Internet Payment Platform Knowledge Sharing Program Strategic Plan and Combined Federal Campaign to support the organization’s financial objectives.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Spearheaded updates to outdated Chief Financial Officer Standard Operating Procedures with the IPAC team to improve documented processes and the efficiency of contractor payments.
• Shaped and implemented agency-wide guidance for inter-agency agreements to strengthen financial governance.
• Organized and led workshops for the Northern Virginia Community College student veterans association on key executive leadership skills.
• Served as a council member for multiple agency-wide associations and led annual awareness conferences to advance organizational initiatives and policies.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE/OPERATIONS (KABUL)
Global Trade & Development Group | Kabul, Afghanistan
May 2009 – November 2009 | 60 hours per week

• Directed a multinational and interdisciplinary team of professionals to manage finance and procurement activities for in-country operations, ensuring efficient financial management and compliance.
• Managed all aspects of corporate accounting and federal procurement processes for U.S. Department of Defense contracts, maintaining strict adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Analyzed general ledger accounts including cash, accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, accounts payable, revenue, and expenses to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Prepared financial statements, cost projections, project analyses, in-country budget reviews, month-end reports, and sales performance reports to drive data-informed decision-making.
• Optimized operational support by overseeing warehouse staff, customer leasing operations for housing and vehicles, retail store personnel, and refined purchase order processes across all program areas to enhance overall efficiency.

Leadership Accomplishments:

• Recovered $1.5M+ in lost revenue and increased retail sales by 150% through strategic financial oversight and targeted process improvements.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

SENIOR INTERNAL AUDITOR/SPECIALIST | Global TelCom Group | June 2008 – May 2009

CORPORATE AUDITOR | PwC (Netherlands) | June 2006 – January 2008

FIGUEROA LLC BROKER AND OWNER | FERRERO Logistics | January 1996 – August 2002

EDUCATION

• BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING) | Pontifical Institute for Economics & Management, Ponce | 2007
• CERTIFICATE IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY | Liberty University | August 2024

Relevant Coursework: CDL Training, Funds Management, Financial Manager Certification, Federal Program Manager Certification, Federal Aid, Innovative Finance, BUILD, INFRA, Access Database, Advanced Excel, Advanced COGNOS, Check-Free (Frontier), IPAC ADMN, Advanced Oracle, SAP User, Experience administering and building workflow templates for SharePoint (i.e., SharePoint 2010), Experience using Microsoft Office business suite applications (PowerPoint, Excel macros, InfoPath Designer, Visio, MS Project), Automated Document Record Databases; Business Object Reports, Project Planning and Business Requirement Elicitation, Agile/Iterative Software Development Methodology, Life Cycle Processes, Section 508 Compliance Requirements.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Pursuing – Berkley ExecED / Artificial Intelligence
• Business Strategies and Applications Program
• Training for Civil Rights, Realty, and Right of Way, Roadside Safety Program
• Program Manager Training Course | 2021
• Highway Safety and Security Training | 2020
• Leadership Academy Training for Emotional Intelligence | 2019
• Senior Executive Service Training, Office of Health and Human Services | 2019

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Association of Public Accountants
• Association of Certified Internal Auditors
• S. Army Gulf War Veteran, “Desert Storm” | Cavalry Scout | 1989 – 1993

HONORS AND AWARDS

• FHWA Administrator Diversity and Inclusion Team Award | 2024
• Secretary Award for Excellence in Teamwork | 2024
• FHWA National Financial Discipline Peer Award | 2018

LANGUAGES

• Spanish (Fluent)
• English (Fluent)