Julie Childers
Springfield
Summary
Results-driven professional in project management, known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Skilled in strategic planning, collaborative engagements, and stakeholder communication. Excel at leadership, time management, and adaptability, ensuring projects meet objectives seamlessly. Dedicated and adaptable professional with a proactive attitude and the ability to learn quickly. Eager to lead and contribute to a dynamic team and support organizational goals.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
National Program Liaison, OEJECR
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington
11.2022 - Current
- Forged ongoing collaborative relationships as a National Program Liaison assigned to support the Office of Water (OW), Region 3 and OEJECR's Community Engagement and Assistant Division to provide recommendations and troubleshoot concerns or challenges to support the NPM efforts through review of materials, facilitated internal engagement efforts, provide planning and coordination on specific issues or concerns, and creatively support the identification of next steps or successful conclusion of identified challenges or barriers
- Successfully facilitated internal coordinated efforts between OW and OEJECR in development of the OW and OEJECR NEJAC charge response letter
- Interim Project Officer for EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving grant and provided guidance during the pre-award process, involving extensive collaboration with the grantee in region 3
- Led or co-led the 2023 OEJECR National Program Managers Workshop, the 2024 OEJECR All-Staff (HQ) Workshop, and the 2024 National Program Managers' Workshop
- These multi-day meetings required months of strategic planning and development, extensive collaboration with OEJECR Immediate Office, Lead Region Coordinator and collaboration with external contractors
- Planned and implemented two OEJECR Management Retreats in 2024 to support change management efforts within the national program
- These workshops required intense collaboration with OEJECR's IO, Sr
- Management, off-site facility engagement and oversight of external Contractor
- Provided oversight of external contractors and managed a multi-month effort to support the development of OEJECR's eight offices and divisions' Logic Model and Functional Statement reports
- Staff coordinator along with Senior Political Lead for the cross-Agency collaboration and task force to complete the Agency EO directed Action Plans
- Collaborated with Senior Leadership from all NPMs and Regions to develop, review, revise and submit the Action Plans directed by White House EO
- Efforts included representing the Agency at White House Interagency Workgroup meetings when asked, oversight of multiple red-flag and general reviews, presentations and briefings for internal and external stakeholders, and organization of internal monthly meetings
- Strategic oversight included troubleshooting concerns, providing creative solutions, developing materials and internal tracking mechanisms to successfully submit two final Action Plans to the White House Domestic Policy Council
- Acting Division Director on two separate occasions for the Program Development and Learning Division (PDLD) in 2024 and provided support and guidance to newly onboarded National Program Liaisons when PDLD was without a Division Director in early 2024
- Developed and implemented a monthly webinar series engaging EPA subject experts and external organization stakeholders
- These public webinars provided awareness to faith-based communities on best practices for an improved environmentally healthier community
- Supported OEJECR's national hiring effort in 2023 and 2024 as a subject matter reviewer of over 200 applications, providing feedback and recommendations for interviews
- Provided support and recommendations on potential interviewees and hiring of National Program Liaisons in 2023, of which all were ultimately hired and onboarded successfully
- Successfully completed a 3-day Training and Facilitation Certificate course through the Association for Talent Development in September 2024
Co-Founder and Executive Director
TrailsforYouth.Org
Springfield
03.2002 - 09.2024
- Community organization leader and advocate for equitable access to nature areas for underserved economically distressed, environmentally overburdened communities
- Facilitated partnerships and teams with a community-based approach of community revitalization programs for at-risk youth and families
- Develop technical outreach materials through analysis of environmental policies and regulations for community-based environmental education programs
- Led community stakeholders in an environmental coalition to reduce diesel emission exposures for at-risk youth and families in impacted community
- Prepared written briefing outreach materials and talking points for elected officials and internal stakeholders for environmental education events
- Commanded teams for program implementation on environmental education in 3 low socioeconomic environmentally overburdened communities in the DMV
- Directed organization planning, coordination and onsite activity at roll-out event of former First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign at The White House
- Community advocate often asked to speak at international, national, and regional conferences on environmental and nature-based activity programs for economically distressed youth
- Created social media and outreach to raise awareness and revenues for company sustainability
- Developed and implemented events and provide more than 50,000 nature-based opportunities for underserved youth
- Hire, train and supervise staff and volunteers
- Generated financial and program reports and presentations to the Board of Directors and Sponsors
- Multi-tasking of project management and work plan implementation in fast paced environment
Regional Program Director
Safe Routes to School National Program
Springfield
05.2010 - 08.2013
- Created infrastructure changes through analysis of transportation policies and regulations to enhance environmentally sustained mobility options for low socioeconomic communities
- Provided technical program oversight and assistance for the first Safe Routes to School program in Fairfax County Public Schools engaging community members and stakeholders with a key focus on title-1 schools
- Expanded programming to 12 additional schools in the Alexandria Public School System
- Coordinated with school officials and community advocates to create and provide technical policy and education materials to thousands of diverse community members and students
- Introduced and educated title-1 schools for implementation of the EPA Air Quality Flag Program
- Developed standard operation procedure manual for sustainability of the SRTS program and disseminated to stakeholders in 2 Northern VA school districts
Grant and Program Coordinator
Safe Youth Coalition
Fairfax
06.2006 - 06.2008
- Implement substance abuse prevention education programs for 21 schools and 17,000 students at Fairfax County Public School System
- Collaborate with teachers on programmatic goals of the grant work-plan and ensure adherence to policies and procedures of grant requirements
- Plan, coordinate and execute area-wide substance abuse prevention conferences for educators
Production Manager
Export Today Global Business Magazine
Washington
11.1994 - 05.2000
- Directed final technical production details of monthly magazine with 76,000 circulations
- Coordinated with internal team members to meet the needs of clients prior to final monthly production
- Managed administrative staff
- Represented Magazine at technical conferences
Education
BA - English
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA01.1992
Skills
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Collaboration techniques
- Policy analysis
- Data presentation
- Technical reporting
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Meeting facilitation
- Relationship building
- Cross-functional team management
- Deadline driven
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving abilities
References
Available upon request.
Hobbies and Interests
- Nature-based activities: hiking, biking, kayaking, pickleball
- Photography
- Reading
Professional Awards
- IMBA Hero Award
- NOVA Woman of the Year
- PBS Hometown Hero
- CBS Harris' Heroes
- NBC4 What's Working
- VA Governor's Award for Transportation and Safety
- EPA Children's Environmental Health Award
Core Competencies
- EPA Certifications, FAC-COR Level 1 (2025), Project Officer (2023) and DFO (2025)
- Certified facilitator, Training and Facilitation course from the Association for Talent Development (2024)
- Led IO effort, Plan and implement three OEJECR National Program Workshop convenings (2023, 2024) and two OEJECR All-Management Retreats (2024)
- Key coordinator, Oversight of GDIT Contractor work for eight offices and divisions to develop logic models and organization strategic planning
- Key contributor, Growth and development of the Program Development and Learning Division, including Acting Division Director for an interim period
- Coordination and collaboration, Develop and support completion of EPA's 2023 and 2024 Equity Action Plans as directed by White House EO
- Coordinated with external stakeholders, Design and develop a multi-month webinar series for internal and external audiences
- Created and implemented, Environmental education programs and policies for diverse at-risk youth and families in overburdened communities
- Implemented community revitalization programs, Infrastructure improvements for economically distressed underserved communities
- Developed technical outreach materials, For overburdened communities and facilitated peer sharing of publications
- Directed internal stakeholders, At public festivals focusing on environmental education and protection
- Panel speaker and/or facilitator, Various conferences and meetings to discuss improving access to nature areas
- Collaborated and coordinated, With diverse Board of Directors to support increase in revenue streams, grants oversight, strategic planning and staffing of Washington area non-profit
- Co-founder and Executive Director, Of an award-winning community non-profit organization serving at-risk youth and families in the DC-Metro area for over twenty years
Accomplishments
- Distinguished high performance reviews exceeding expectations.
- Successful publication of yearly Agency-wide Action Plan in coordination with the White House Domestic Policy Council.
- Interim Acting Division Director in PDLD.
- Virginia Governor's Award for Safety.
- NOVA Business' Woman of the Year winner.
- IMBA Hero Award.
- PBS Hometown Hero.
Affiliations
- Outdoor activities - hiking, mountain biking, pickleball
- Reading and card making
Certification
- Federal Acquisitions Certification Contract Officer Representative Level 1 (FAC COR Level-1 Federal Government)
- Project Officer Certification (Federal Government)
- Designated Federal Officer (DFO - Federal Government)
- Training and Facilitation Certification
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
National Program Liaison, OEJECR
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
11.2022 - Current
Regional Program Director
Safe Routes to School National Program
05.2010 - 08.2013
Grant and Program Coordinator
Safe Youth Coalition
06.2006 - 06.2008
Co-Founder and Executive Director
TrailsforYouth.Org
03.2002 - 09.2024
Production Manager
Export Today Global Business Magazine
11.1994 - 05.2000
BA - English
George Mason University
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