Sarah Baumann
Wake Forest
Summary
Dynamic professional with expertise in staff management, strategic planning, and conflict resolution. Proven ability to enhance operational efficiency and foster collaborative environments, driving improved engagement and satisfaction. Recognized for strong communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to build meaningful relationships, and effectively lead diverse teams in fast-paced settings.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director
Young Scholars Academy of Cary
Apex, NC
03.2026 - Current
- Supported curriculum development to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Assisted in organizing educational events and activities to promote student participation.
- Collaborated with teachers to implement innovative teaching strategies and resources.
- Monitored student progress, providing feedback and support as needed.
- Coordinated communication between parents, staff, and administration to foster a positive environment.
- Contributed to budget planning by researching resource needs and cost-effective solutions.
- Ensured compliance with state education standards by regularly reviewing curriculum materials and teaching practices.
- Planned and executed successful special events, such as mystery reader, reading logs, library cards, and parent-teacher conferences.
Business Consultant
Savvy Business Consultants
Ridgefield, CT
06.2023 - Current
- Analyzed client needs to develop tailored business strategies and solutions.
- Facilitated workshops to identify process improvements and operational efficiencies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project goals.
- Conducted market research to inform strategic recommendations for clients.
- Developed comprehensive reports detailing findings and proposed action plans.
- Implemented best practices for project management to enhance team productivity.
- Evaluated industry trends to guide clients in achieving competitive advantages.
- Increased client satisfaction by implementing tailored solutions for their unique business needs.
- Delivered successful projects within tight deadlines, ensuring consistent client satisfaction and timely project completion.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders for growth opportunities and successful partnerships.
- Identified growth opportunities for clients by conducting thorough financial and risk assessments.
- Developed complete business plans and operational strategies for new and existing business.
- Evaluated existing business models, identifying areas of improvement to increase revenue generation potential.
Assistant Director
KinderCare Learning Centers
Ridgefield, CT
12.2024 - 02.2025
- Developed training materials for staff workshops on effective instructional practices.
- Implemented data tracking systems for monitoring student performance metrics effectively.
- Streamlined communication between teachers, parents, and administrators to foster a collaborative learning environment.
- Oversaw the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding process for new educators to maintain a high-quality teaching staff.
- Implemented effective conflict resolution strategies for resolving issues among faculty members or between students.
- Assisted the Director in developing innovative programs to improve students'' academic performance and retention rate.
- Fostered a positive school culture by promoting open communication among staff members and celebrating successes together as a team.
- Ensured compliance with state education standards by regularly reviewing curriculum materials and teaching practices.
- Monitored student progress, providing feedback and support as needed.
- Assisted in organizing educational events and activities to promote student participation.
- Managed senior-level personnel working in marketing and sales capacities.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Organized professional development workshops for staff, enhancing skills and boosting team capabilities.
- Streamlined report generation processes, improving accessibility to critical business insights for decision-making.
- Improved internal communication with introduction of monthly newsletter, keeping staff informed and engaged.
Senior Director of Finance
Foot Locker Inc.
New York, NY
05.2000 - 11.2019
- Directed cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth.
- Developed strategic initiatives to optimize inventory management and reduce excess stock.
- Led market analysis to identify emerging trends and inform product assortment strategies.
- Fostered partnerships with key vendors to negotiate favorable terms and improve supply chain reliability.
- Mentored junior directors, promoting professional development and enhancing team performance.
- Spearheaded budget planning and resource allocation for multiple high-impact projects simultaneously.
- Optimized project timelines by effectively delegating tasks and prioritizing workload among team members.
- Cultivated a culture of innovation by promoting creative thinking and encouraging employees to take calculated risks in pursuit of solutions.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities.
- Directed design and execution of business transformation initiatives to drive performance, profit optimization and growth opportunities.
- Created an agile working environment, enabling rapid response to changing business needs without sacrificing quality or performance standards.
- Managed risk effectively by identifying potential threats, developing contingency plans, and implementing mitigation strategies in line with overall business objectives.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence within the organization.
- Led cross-functional teams to successfully launch new products, meeting deadlines and budgets.
- Grew talent pool by actively recruiting top-tier candidates from diverse backgrounds while implementing robust training programs for skill development across all levels of staff members.
- Implemented cost-saving measures through effective resource allocation and budget management.
- Revamped operational plans to refocus staff and align processes with business objectives.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
Education
High School Diploma -
Bronx High School of Science
New York, NYBachelor of Arts - Political Science
Barnard College of Columbia University
New York, NY05-1983
Skills
- Staff management
- Strategic planning
- Program coordination
- Meeting facilitation
- Operations management
- Financial administration
- Problem resolution
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Excellent communication
- Conflict resolution
- Multitasking Abilities
- Interpersonal relations
Accomplishments
- Received Buyer of the Year Award at Foot Locker, Inc.
- Received Planner of the Year Award at Foot Locker, Inc.
- Supervised team of 15 staff members.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Timeline
Assistant Director
Young Scholars Academy of Cary
03.2026 - Current
Assistant Director
KinderCare Learning Centers
12.2024 - 02.2025
Business Consultant
Savvy Business Consultants
06.2023 - Current
Senior Director of Finance
Foot Locker Inc.
05.2000 - 11.2019
High School Diploma -
Bronx High School of Science
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Barnard College of Columbia University