Shannon White-Benson
Contract & Grants Management Leader | Leading Multi-Billion-Dollar Portfolios, Interagency Programs, and Digital Acquisition Transformation
- Role
- Division Lead at USAID
- Location
- Alexandria, VA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Shannon White-Benson
I am Shannon M. White-Benson, a contract and grant management leader with experience overseeing high-value portfolios across federal agencies and international development programs. My work has included directing global contracts and grants, leading inter-agency transfers of active awards, and advancing digital transformation initiatives across e-procurement platforms.I specialize in streamlining acquisition and assistance workflows through process optimization, standardized guidance, and strong stakeholder collaboration. I’ve partnered closely with technical teams, program leadership, and external partners to translate complex requirements into sound procurement strategies, prioritize system enhancements, and design innovative, scalable programs, including public-private partnerships and blended finance instruments across multiple countries.I’m known for building resilient teams, accelerating evaluation timelines, and positioning contracting functions as strategic enablers of mission delivery rather than administrative checkpoints.Core Focus Areas:• Contract & Grants Management (Federal & International)• Risk Mitigation, Compliance & Financial Oversight• Acquisition Process Optimization & Digital Procurement• Stakeholder Coordination & Organizational Change• Team Leadership, Mentorship & Capacity BuildingOpen to connecting with leaders working in contracting and procurement, international development, or institutional transformation.
Experience
Division Lead
Sep 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US
Lead mission-critical acquisition operations, manage a large and complex awards portfolio, and help design the governance needed to wind down agency activity.• Direct an active awards portfolio exceeding $800M, ensuring FAR compliance while sustaining IT and critical support services during large-scale transition. Sustained core agency operations by managing all acquisition vehicles required for continuity during closure and transition.• Lead synchronized execution across legal, finance, HR, IT, and senior leadership to support contract, system, and workforce offboarding.• Reduce procurement cycle times by streamlining workflows, applying risk-based sequencing, and embedding category management practices.• Restore operational capacity by onboarding 500+ contractor personnel within 30 days through coordinated acquisition and HR execution.• Maintain performance and morale by reinforcing recognition, communication, and resilience during sustained high-pressure operations
Education
William & Mary
M.P.P, Public Policy
2006 — 2008
UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business
BSBA/BS, Finance/Economics
2002 — 2006
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