Kara Alice Pitek
Built on Principle.
Driven by Impact.
Phone:
347.224.4485
Email:
Location:
Alexandria, VA
Hello! I’m Kara
I am a strategic and systems thinker who leads with integrity, clarity, and purpose. For nearly two decades, I have worked across federal agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations to build structures that function better for the people who operate them and the communities they serve. I bring a deep command of process, policy, and public accountability, matched with an unshakable belief that bureaucracy doesn’t have to be a barrier to justice, it can be a tool for it.
My work is grounded in the conviction that doing things the right way doesn’t mean slowing things down. It means designing processes that reflect our values, deliver real outcomes, and respect the dignity of every stakeholder. Whether I’m building procurement frameworks, mentoring teams, or supporting equity-focused policy reform, I move with a clear goal: to make systems more human, and to make mission more actionable.
At my core, I am here to serve; with discipline, creativity, and a relentless drive to make things work better than we found them.
EXPERIENCE
May 2023-present
Consultant
September 2022-October 2024
Program Manager
August 2019-May 2023
Task Order Manager
December 2016-August 2019
Team Lead
September 2014-December 2016
Procurement Analyst
SELF-EMPLOYED
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Advise federal clients on the evaluation and improvement of acquisition and program strategies, aligning implementation with executive priorities, legal frameworks, and performance management goals.
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Assess organizational compliance and operational risk through detailed reviews of procurement policies and systems; deliver strategic recommendations to senior leaders that enhance internal controls and audit readiness.
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Develop policy guidance, process improvement initiatives, and briefing materials used to inform interagency coordination and regulatory compliance.
GOLDBELT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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Directed a team of 14 direct and subcontractor contract specialists delivering full acquisition lifecycle support for 250+ annual actions (~$50M) at CDC, advising senior leadership, Contracting Officers, and PMs on strategy, contract type, regulatory alignment, and risk mitigation.
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Implemented enterprise-level SOPs and a CDC/HHS policy dashboard that reduced procurement cycle times and cut resubmissions by 40%, driving greater efficiency and compliance.
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Led procurement policy reviews and revisions, ensuring alignment with FAR, HHS guidance, and emerging acquisition priorities.
GARUD TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
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Managed multiple FEMA enterprise-wide BPA task orders, leading direct and subcontractor teams of up to 19 and supporting a $2B high-visibility program through tools that tracked contractor performance and informed follow-on procurements.
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Conducted PMO workforce assessments, creating targeted training and a community of practice that measurably improved intra-agency consistency and knowledge transfer.
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Designed and launched FEMA’s first Acquisition Help Desk, increasing PMO staff confidence, reducing rework, and streamlining collaboration with Contracting Officers.
ASI GOVERNMENT
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Solely planned and coordinated USDA’s annual training for 120+ contracting staff, developing and presenting modules, managing all event logistics, and accommodating special accessibility needs.
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Planned and executed comprehensive contract audits at USDA, identifying gaps and authoring/revising dozens of procurement policies to strengthen compliance and operational clarity.
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Managed a 7-member team supporting GSA’s multi-billion-dollar telecom BPA transition, assisting four major agencies, small agencies, and tribes with solicitation development, pricing structures, and contract migration.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
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Authored procurement policies aligning FAR, DOI requirements, and Executive Orders, improving consistency and reducing audit findings across NPS contracting offices.
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Managed the nationwide DLA interagency agreement for fuel purchases, training staff on Wide Area Workflow to ensure timely, accurate transactions.
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Conducted contract audits for NPS and DOI agencies, identifying trends and implementing corrective policy changes that improved compliance and operational efficiency.
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration
Major in Inspector General Studies:
Political and Regulatory Oversight
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Political Science
High School Diploma
Major in Vocal Music
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Master of Public Administration Inspector General (MPA IG) program is a track of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice MPA degree program and is unique among MPA and public policy programs nationally because of its concentration on the assessment and oversight of performance and integrity in public and independent agencies.
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
Binghamton University’s Political Science program focuses on American politics, political theory, comparative politics, and international relations. The core courses address various topics in American or comparative political systems and institutions, international conflict and civil war, repression, and foreign policy.
LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART AND PERFORMING ARTS
The mission of this extraordinary specialized high school is to provide all students with conservatory-level arts training coupled with rigorous academics
FORMER EMPLOYERS & CLIENTS
SKILLS
Strategic Program Leadership
Operational Process Improvement
Stakeholder Collaboration
Policies and Procedures
Risk Management & Mitigation
Data-Driven Decision Making
EXPERTISE
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
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Financial & performance federal contract audit
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Federal & corporate policies & procedures
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Recommendations & roadmaps for procedural guidance, corrective action, workforce development
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
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Workforce assessment & analysis scoping & execution; feeds into strategic portfolio planning
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Acquisition Workforce training programs, Communities of Practice, & oversight/accountability tools
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Live agency policy tracking
COMMUNICATION
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Facilitate mission success by bridging cognizance gaps between stakeholders with varied interests
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Develop common definitions to ensure universal understanding of teammate roles and responsibilities through collaboration
SERVICE
Eliminated over $700,000 in actual medical liabilities for families across Virginia since 2023.