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Work Background
State of WashingtonDirector, Department of Enterprise Services
Sep. 2021 - Jan. 2025Olympia, Washington, United StatesGovernor Jay Inslee appointed Tara C. Smith as Director of the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) September 7, 2021, and she was confirmed by the Washington Senate on March 2, 2022. As a member of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, Tara drives the mission of DES to strengthen the business of government. With more than 1000 employees across many diverse business lines, DES delivers cost-effective central support services that meet the needs of customers throughout state and local governments, so they can focus on their core missions. Tara oversees DES’s $280 million operating budget, and a capital program of $1.2 billion through many different programs, including centralized procurement, facilities management, real estate, printing and mailing, surplus equipment disposition, public works capital projects, risk management, fleet management, workforce support and development, care and custody of the country’s largest state capitol campus, and the support of small agencies. Tara worked directly with the Governor’s office and other Cabinet agency heads in strategic support of major statewide projects - including the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises, Department of Labor and Industries, Employment Security, Healthcare Administration and more; supported key statewide projects like replacement of the state’s enterprise-wide financial and human capital systems as a member of the Executive Steering Committee, deployment of the Governor’s mandatory DEI training, the state’s first supplier diversity procurement policy, acquisition of a hospital facility to increase capacity for urgent behavioral health needs, and more.
Miami-Dade CountyDirector, Internal Services Department
May. 2015 - Jul. 2021United StatesResponsible for the management of over 1,000 employees and an operating budget of $317 million in one of Miami-Dade County’s largest and most complex operational departments; directing the emergency response command center of the department in countywide emergencies; maintaining effective and ongoing communication with the County Mayor and administration, Department Directors, and 13 elected Board of County Commissioners to drive the approval of legislation and policy necessary to support countywide operations; creating a work environment that is inclusive and equitable for all employees and mentoring staff at all levels to grow into leadership roles; and more. Tara worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s office and other department heads on critical countywide projects, including replacement of the Dade County Courthouse, procurement of an automated traffic management system, multiple transit oriented developments, served on the Executive Steering Committee for replacement of the enterprise-wide financial system, replacement of the Fire Department’s fleet of trauma transport helicopters, replacement of the Transit Department’s rail cars and procurement of electrified buses, planning for redevelopment of a downtown master plan, and more.
Miami-Dade CountyChief Deputy Supervisor of Elections
Jan. 2007 - Jan. 2013Miami/Fort Lauderdale AreaSecond in command over a department of 91 permanent and up to 1,200 seasonal employees. • Managed the effective operational logistics of all elections for 1.3 million registered voters across 34 municipalities, more than 600 polling places, including the presidential elections of 2004, 2008 and 2012; • Directed policy and procedures for all divisions including voter registration, logistics, ballot coding and printing, candidate qualifying, public records retention, absentee ballots, budget and finance, community outreach, and poll worker training; development of departmental strategic plan and procedures; monitoring legislative impacts at federal, state, and local levels; working directly with County leadership in the performance of all duties.
Miami-Dade CountyAssistant to the County Manager
Jul. 2004 - Jul. 2007Miami, Florida, United StatesResponsible for the effective oversight of 20 different Miami-Dade County departmental operations in the areas of public safety, elections, human resources, procurement, and strategic planning, including but not limited to: • Coordination of countywide special events including SuperBowl XLI, NASDAQ-100 Open Tennis Tournament, and all countywide elections • Management of Board of County Commissioners agendas – coordinated legislative agenda process for County Manager; review, analyze, and brief County Manager on all legislation • Review, analyze, and track departmental legislation • Respond to multiple assignments by County Mayor, Manager, and Assistant County Manager; manage and track departmental assignments; provide assistance and guidance in County process and procedure; mediate and resolve citizen concerns; prepare executive summaries of complex governmental issues.
Florida Foster Care ReviewSenior Review Specialist
Jan. 1998 - Jun. 2004Miami, Florida, United StatesManaged the daily operations of a not-for-profit, volunteer based program designed to assist the juvenile court in the judicial review of children in the foster care system, including but not limited to: • Hiring, training and supervising Review Specialists to conduct judicial review hearings • Developing program outcomes, indicators and performance objectives • Recruitment and training of new volunteers and coordination of volunteer schedules • Analyzing monthly data and preparing summary reports; contract and grant compliance reporting • Interviewing legal parties and witnesses, and preparing comprehensive judicial reports with recommendations for the disposition of children in foster care • Conducting quality assurance review of all outgoing judicial reports • Drafting judicial review policies and procedures • Developing and conducting training of community partners
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