Carmen Smith

I've led procurement operations at USAID Guatemala and the U.S. Embassy Guatemala, managing end-to-end acquisitions in high-pressure international environments. I reestablished USAID Guatemala's procurement operations, strengthened vendor relationships, and built a more accountable, collaborative team culture.

My work has protected resources and kept critical initiatives moving: I de-obligated more than $170,000 in expiring funds for future use, maintained procurement-cycle compliance to prevent fiscal-year fund forfeiture, and developed cost-estimate tools that improved planning for VIP visits.

At the U.S. Embassy Guatemala, I managed procurement from requisition through delivery, including vendor selection, price negotiation, invoice review, and installation coordination. I've also supported urgent diplomatic and Vice Presidential visits, coordinated more than 50 diplomatic visits in one year, and delivered a Fourth of July event at an active construction site.

I bring a customer-service mindset to team leadership, stakeholder coordination, and complex operational problem-solving. Fluent in English and a native Spanish speaker, I value responsive support, regulatory compliance, and practical results under tight deadlines.