Summary

Experienced leader with a career spanning over 18 years in non-profit and education sectors, both nationally and internationally. Proficient in project planning and management, grants administration, monitoring and evaluation, and business development. Skilled at fostering stakeholder relationships and collaborating with diverse teams to implement innovative solutions. Proven track record of driving organizational growth and achieving impactful outcomes through effective leadership and strategic planning.


Certifications:


• Google Project Management Certificate (Agile Project Management) – Ongoing


• Grants Management - (Save the Children Intenational)


• Needs Assessments Training - (RedR UK)


• Water Safety Planning Training for Disaster Responders - (RedR UK)


• Communication and Community Engagement – (RedR UK)


• Professional Writing for Development Professionals – (ELD Training, UK)


• Crafting Compelling Grant Proposals - (Candid, USA)


• Digital Advertising for Non-Profits From (Philanthropy University, UC Berkley, USA)


• Planning for Monitoring and Evaluation – (Philanthropy University, UC Berkley, USA)


• Theory of Change for Brand Communication - (Acumen Academy, USA)


• Neural Networks and Deep Learning - (Deeplearning.ai)


• Introduction to Data and Data Science - (365 Data Science)


• Standardized Testing – Cambridge Assessment and International Examination(CAIE)


• Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation - (GIZ, Pakistan) 


Major Achievements:


• Spearheaded a large-scale research study for Beaconhouse, in collaboration with the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), supervising research activities and administration of standardized tests to more than 70,000 students (grade 4 to A-levels) nationwide, facilitated accurate data collection and analysis to inform strategic educational initiatives.


• Led the strategic planning and seamless execution of Beaconhouse International Student Convention (BISC) 2018 in Oman, overseeing event logistics and coordination across campuses in 5 countries. Established strategic partnerships with Ministries of Education and Sports in Oman, securing 10% of total budget in funding from the Ministry of Education Oman.


• Managed a team of 43 individuals, facilitating the seamless disbursement of $2.3M in scholarships to 1351 grant recipients across 47 partner universities and colleges in Punjab, while maintaining comprehensive documentation to ensure compliance and transparency.


• Developed and implemented information management systems for partner universities and government departments, enabling efficient tracking and recording of scholarship grants from diverse donors, resulting in streamlined operations and improved accountability.


• Designed and executed a pioneering national academic and social mentoring program to develop students’ leadership and social skills in partner public universities and teacher training institutions across Pakistan.


• Facilitated the Government of Punjab in development of Reading Improvement Strategies (RIS) and initial implementation of academic mentoring program in public universities and colleges.


• Rectified discrepancies in the scholarship grant database received from USAID and managed a comprehensive grants database at the provincial level and ensuring data integrity and prompt retrieval of essential information for reporting and decision-making purposes.


• Conducted comprehensive profiling for 85 NGOs across Punjab, optimizing data-driven strategic planning and resource distribution.


• Created and expanded LEAD Pakistan's first-ever donor database, analyzing 300+ donor profiles; identified key programmatic and geographical areas of donor interest, empowering targeted fundraising efforts.


• Established 10-year strategic partnerships with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and Sungi Foundation Pakistan, driving implementation of climate resilient and sustainable development initiatives; resulting in substantial business growth for LEAD Pakistan.


• Coordinated and executed a high-impact international event,” IPCC SREX National Outreach – Pakistan”, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change, NDMA and IPCC India, LEAD Pakistan, disseminating critical information on mitigating upcoming climate extremes in South Asia and enhancing resilience, reaching a diverse audience of 500+ participants from around the world.


• Composed a comprehensive training report for GIZ RAHA's Monitoring and Evaluation program, resulting in recognition and subsequent award of the monitoring and evaluation consultancy contract. 

Projects

USAID Funded Pakistan Reading Project

Experience

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Programs and Implementation Manager
Research and Development Solutions (RADS)
Jun 2024 - Present | Islamabad, Pakistan

• Define and drive the strategic vision for RADS, ensuring alignment with the organization’s overall objectives. Develop and implement strategic plans for program funding, including writing proposals to secure necessary resources.• Oversee the execution of all ongoing programs, ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints and deadlines. Prepare and deliver detailed performance reports, offering actionable insights and recommendations for improvement.• Lead and mentor team managers, evaluating their effectiveness in managing their respective teams. Design and implement comprehensive monitoring systems to assess team performance against established OKRs.• Facilitate transparent communication with stakeholders to address project-related issues and decisions. Stay abreast of industry trends in performance monitoring and project management to continually enhance strategies.• Develop and enforce RADS policies, procedures, and regulations. Oversee compliance with internal and external policies, ensuring that all project operations adhere to legal and organizational standards.• Manage daily operations of implementation processes, providing technical support and resolving issues in a timely manner. Monitor implementation requests, administer management functions, and provide necessary training to ensure compliance.• Coordinate with team members to address implementation challenges, recommend policy adjustments, and evaluate changes. Review management information reports to assess team performance, support senior management, and ensure achievement of objectives.• Develop and optimize processes and tools for project implementation, collaborating with technical departments to address and resolve issues.

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Partner and Creative Director
Nomad Studio Furniture
Aug 2020 - Dec 2024 | Lahore, Pakistan

· Lead cross-functional teams blending creative design and technical engineering to develop innovative products aligning with consumer preferences and brand ethos.
· Stay at the forefront of the furniture industry trends and apply cutting-edge technological insights, using market research for strategic product innovation and identifying opportunities for growth.
· Work closely with sales and marketing to pinpoint and capitalize on new business opportunities, while building and maintaining strategic alliances with key players.
· Direct consistent brand representation and message integrity across all marketing platforms, ensuring a cohesive brand image.
· Manage quality control protocols to ensure production excellence, maintaining the highest standards of product quality.

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Lead Partner - SIQA (Monitoring and Evaluation Dept)
The City School Corporate Office, Lahore
Sep 2020 - Jan 2021 | Lahore, Pakistan

· Spearheaded the SIQA department in providing strategic guidance and support to more than 147 schools nationwide, ensuring the utilization of accurate and robust self-evaluation techniques, ultimately driving continuous improvement and growth in educational quality.
· Supervised a team of 18 SIQA partners across three regions, establishing clear roles and fostering a culture of high performance, adaptability, and innovation.
· Developed QA/M&E plans, set measurable performance targets, timelines, and resource needs to achieve critical milestones.
· Designed and implemented a performance metrics and tracking system to monitor progress regularly, identify performance gaps, and support data-driven decision-making, leading to the successful achievement of strategic objectives.
· Update and refine monitoring and evaluation frameworks, strategies, and systems to accurately measure progress towards organizational goals.
· Create and improve tools for collecting and analyzing data to assess the short-term and long-term impacts of educational initiatives implemented by the organization.
· Evaluated the progress of SIQA department initiatives through weekly performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement, holding parties accountable and adjusting strategies to achieve annual goals.
· Facilitated school leaders in devising strategic improvement plans using inquiry-based approaches, monitored and evaluated schools’ progress to drive academic improvement and achievement outcomes in alignment with organizational goals.
· Collaborated with cross-departmental teams to enhance school leadership capacity, focusing on developing school improvement plans, pedagogy, data analysis and impactful teacher training.
· Guided research efforts, overseeing design, implementation, and quality control; played a pivotal role in implementing company-specific learning agenda, driving learning generation and enabling evidence-based decision-making to achieve organizational goals.
· Initiated and nurtured a professional learning network among school leaders, fostering collaboration and exchange of best practices, driving improvements in schools’ performance.
· Introduced data-driven feedback and reporting mechanisms, presenting actionable insights to the Board of Directors and Regional Offices; ensuring timely allocation of resources to address schools\\\' needs.                               
 

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Manager Curriculum - Mathematics
Educational Services Pvt. Ltd. (Beaconhouse Corporate Office)
Apr 2015 - Aug 2020 | Lahore, Pakistan

· Led a team of 130 individuals in 35 clusters throughout Pakistan, driving initiatives to enhance mathematics education standards, through strategic planning, curriculum development, and implementation of innovative teaching methodologies.
· Executed a strategic overhaul of Mathematics department, aligning workplans with Theory of Change principles; employed data driven approaches to optimize ongoing and new projects to drive measurable impact and achieve organizational goals.
· Developed and implemented innovative Primary and Middle school Mathematics curricula across Beaconhouse campuses in Pakistan and the UAE, including comprehensive course of study and assessment frameworks.
· Conducted and administered educational research projects aligned with department's strategic plan; collaborated with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to analyze data and drive evidence-based decision making.
· Spearheaded the strategic planning and implementation of Mathematics curricula, integrating technology-based resources and interactive learning activities, ensuring improved student engagement and a smooth transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
· Streamlined curriculum implementation across the system by coordinating with stakeholders, facilitating regular risk assessment discussions, assigning risk ownership, and ensuring timely implementation of mitigating actions.
· Implemented and managed real-time M&E systems to drive continuous learning, and capture planned and emergent outcomes.
· Conducted annual review and evaluation of Mathematics curricula, analyzing assessment data, classroom observations, and feedback.
· Implemented evidence-based adjustments that optimized curriculum effectiveness, improved learning outcomes, and fostered student growth and achievement.
· Developed and delivered impactful training programs and workshops, both online and in person, for teachers, school leaders, and other staff members.
 

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Provincial Scholarship Grants Manager - Punjab
Creative Associates International - USAID Pakistan Reading Project
Sep 2013 - Nov 2014 | Lahore, Pakistan

· Led and managed the scholarship grant component in Punjab province, ensuring strategic execution and achievement of key objectives.
· Developed and implemented scholarship grant policies and procedures aligning with USAID guidelines, ensured appropriate disbursement of scholarship grant and fiscal accountability.
· Coordinated with officials from USAID, apex institutions, national and provincial project offices, and other stakeholders for efficient and effective implementation of the scholarship grant program in the province.
· Trained and guided partner institutions to improve their operational capabilities for the effective rollout of the ADE/B.Ed (Hons.) program.
· Conducted training need assessments, developed training manuals, and led training sessions in close collaboration with district education departments and the Provincial Institute for Teacher Training (PITE) for deans, heads of departments, and focal persons at partner institutions, addressing both pre- and in-service teacher training components of the program.
· Designed and executed training follow up mechanism and ensured need-based support and guidance to the teachers, head teachers, deans/HoDs, students and other beneficiaries.
· Directed comprehensive marketing efforts to promote the PRP scholarship program, emphasizing available scholarships and enrollment opportunities in remote areas for distance learning ADE/B.Ed. modules, driving enrollment growth in B.Ed. (Hons.) Elementary and ADE programs.
· Teamed up with PRP\'s niche partners and local counterparts to identify and overcome barriers impeding disabled and female representation in B.Ed. (Hons.)/ADE programs.
· Identified and recruited new grant recipients in accordance with USAID\'s policies and oversaw the documentation process to ensure grant awards are executed within prescribed guidelines.
· Implemented structured mentoring mechanisms and retention activities, coaching TTI faculty and peer advisors to support scholarship recipients in successfully completing their degrees.
· Spearheaded data collection, cleaning, and quality assurance efforts for the Training department\'s monitoring and evaluation activities; managed a team of 8 to ensure accurate and timely data submission to the monitoring and evaluation department.
· Developed and maintained a comprehensive scholarship grant database, enhancing data accessibility and information accuracy for 1000+ grantees annually.
· Executed the seamless coordination of provincial scholarship grant award and graduation ceremonies, ensuring flawless event logistics and memorable experiences for attendees.
· Identified and produced success stories and case studies to highlight the transformative impact of scholarship grants, boosting program visibility and engagement among stakeholders.
· Grant tracking, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor reports, adherence with project requirements and timelines, and timely submission of donor reports.
 

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Business Development Associate Coordinator
LEAD Pakistan (Leadership for Environment And Development Pakistan)
Jun 2012 - Feb 2013 | Islamabad, Pakistan

· Spearheaded the development of new partnership opportunities through strategic planning, market research, and relationship management with potential donors and stakeholders.
· Executed targeted marketing plans and communication strategies that led to increased business growth and expansion in the organization's network.
· Implemented and evaluated fundraising methodologies; leveraged advanced donor mapping algorithms to pinpoint key contributors, resulting in targeted engagement strategies and heightened fundraising success.
· Collaborated with cross-functional teams in the development of proposals and funding applications, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements.
· Assisted senior management in deal negotiations, contract development and due diligence.
· Developed budgetary projections, allocations, and progressive and comprehensive reports on regular basis.
· Organized policy seminars, focus group discussions, and consultative meetings at the national and provincial level for various projects.
· Established and maintained LEAD's donor database, ensuring effective communication streams.
· Coordinated with local press and media outlets to secure extensive coverage and recognition for organizational activities.
· Managed all societies and networks operated by LEAD Pakistan, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication.
· Monitored and evaluated LEAD's education and health projects, assessing progress and identifying areas for improvement.
· Edited and compiled brochures, policies, reports, meeting minutes, and project synopses, while overseeing event management, conducting budget analysis, and maintaining record-keeping protocols.
 

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M&E Consultant
Deutsche Gasellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Apr 2012 - May 2012 | Islamabad, Pakistan

· Organized training sessions on Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation (PM&E) for GIZ RAHA programme and its stakeholders.  
· Assisted the trainer in developing impactful training manuals, multimedia resources, and educational materials.
· Identified and reported M&E-related challenges and concerns, discussed during the training sessions, to the GIZ RAHA team to improve projects’ performance and data quality.  
· Composed and presented a comprehensive final report for M&E training program, outlining key insights and recommendations.
· Designed systematic and realistic M&E tools, effective data collection and reporting templates to facilitate the acquisition and aggregation of information in different projects.
· Developed a detailed M&E manual for GIZ RAHA projects, ensuring consistent monitoring and evaluation practices and improving project performance and outcomes across the board.
 · Implemented the initial rollout of updated M&E work plans for underperforming projects within GIZ RAHA, refining monitoring and evaluation processes to bolster project performance and optimize resource allocation.
· Undertook field missions to conduct final evaluations of closing projects, collecting data using updated templates, and compiled comprehensive final reports.

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Public-Private Partnership Officer
International Relief & Development (IRD)
Feb 2012 - Mar 2012 | Islamabad, Pakistan

· Explored alternative funding avenues to ensure the project's long-term sustainability, while leading the design of a PPP framework for the project.
· Cultivated and maintained relationships with potential public-private partners, negotiating partnership terms, budget allocations, and engaging in correspondence with partners to draft agreements and letters.
· Organized high-level meetings and represented IRD in negotiations with government departments and agencies, soliciting support for the project.
· Solicited corporate entities for participation in CSR programs supporting CVSP objectives, fostering strategic partnerships.
· Fostered collaborations with local NGOs and university student volunteer groups to enhance project impact and outreach.

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O/A Level Teacher
Headstart School (Private) Limited
Aug 2009 - Jan 2012 | Islamabad, Pakistan

-Working as the Overall In Charge of the Headstart SOS Village project maintaining the record of the donations made and monitoring the stock demanded and supplied. 
-Working as the Overall Examination and Evaluation Chief of O level Branch. 
-Working as the overall In charge of Math Club for O levels students.
-Working as the Mathematics coordinator, teacher and chief of the paper setting committee of O'Level branch contributing to the finalization of mid-term/final Mathematics papers.
-Counselling students in order to develop appropriate intellectual skills and social attitudes as a step toward their career-building process.
-Organized and supervised the establishment of a volunteer society, which employed students as volunteers in charity work to benefit the children in SOS Village and Kiran School.

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O/A Level Teacher
Beaconhouse School System
Sep 2008 - Aug 2009 | Rawalpindi, Pakistan

- Was involved in the development and implementation of enrichment programs for academically advanced students and remedial programs for students requiring extra assistance; the programs included internships in WWF, UNICEF and several NGOs as well.
-Was a member of the Paper Setting Committee of The Northern region contributing to the finalization of mid-term/final mathematics papers for the entire Northern region. 
-Worked as the Counseling Team member counseling students to develop appropriate intellectual skills and social attitudes as a step toward their career-building process and assisting them in making decisions regarding their educational and personal needs.
-Organized and supervised the establishment of a volunteer society named Sunrise which employed students as volunteers in charity work for benefiting the recently affected IDPs of the Swat region.
-Performed duties as in-charge of the overall Student Council, organizing the elections for the Student Council.
- Organized a Math Quiz for the Beaconhouse Satellite Town Chapter and coached the girls' team to victory over the opposing team from the boys' branch.
- Assessed, recorded and communicated student progress regularly.

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O/A Level Teacher
The City School Satelite town Branch
Oct 2004 - Aug 2008 | Rawalpindi, Pakistan

-Was a member of the Mathematics Curriculum Development Team of The Northern region of The City School contributing to the finalization of yearly curriculum breakups (grade 6 - O Level) for the entire Northern region.
-Was a member of Paper Setting Committee of The Northern region of The City School contributing to the finalization of midterm/final mathematics papers for the entire Northern region.
-Worked as the member of the Counseling Team counselling students in order to develop appropriate intellectual skills and social attitudes as a step toward their career-building process and assisting them in making decisions regarding their educational and personal needs.
-Was rated consistently as being among the best three teachers in the branch among all the faculty members.
- Worked as subject chief (for Mathematics) both in mid-year and final examinations during the session 2004/05.
- Worked as the Red House in-charge during the 2004/05 session being responsible for scrutinizing the house members for punctuality, academic ability, behaviour etc.
-Worked as the overall House System In-charge in 2005/06.
-Worked as the overall Coordinator of Mathematics for three consecutive years (2004 - 2008) from preparatory O Level to O Level classes being responsible for assessing the eligibility of students' term projects and monthly assessments.
-Worked as the overall Student Council in charge and organized the student council elections and remained in the same capacity continuously for three years (2005 - 2008).
-Worked as the Evaluation Chief in 2007 and in 2008 supervising the overall examinations in the branch (grade 3 till 11).
-Was the overall in-charge of Math Club and was responsible for arranging mathematical activities, quizzes and competitions among different levels/branches for three years (2005 - 2008).
-Worked as the broadcasting unit in-charge during the session 2007/08 being responsible for supervising the daily morning assemblies.
-Was a member of the Paper Setting Committee for my branch throughout my tenure in the school contributing to the finalization of mid-term/final mathematics papers for the entire Northern region.
-Organized school-based functions (Annual Day, Musical Evening, Spring Gala, Bonfire, Farewell Parties, etc) supervising creative presentations by the students on these occasions.
-Was a member of the Reception Committee and organized/supervised the closing ceremony during the Inter-Regional Games held in the session 2006/07
- Organized and attended Parent-Teacher Meetings regularly.

Education

University of the Punjab
Masters, Masters in Science, M.Sc in Mathematics‎
Mathematics
Percentage 60%
2006

Skills

Expert Social Media Managment
Expert Ability To Work In A Multicultural Team
Expert Academic Administration
Expert Academic Program Development
Expert Adaptive Leadership
Expert Adaptive Learning
Expert Administration Management
Expert Administration Skills
Expert Administrative Processes Command
Intermediate Admissions Counseling
Expert Affiliate Networks
Expert Analytic Reporting
Expert Analytical Review
Expert Analytical Skills
Expert Answering Inquiries
Intermediate Audit Assignment Handling
Expert Behavioral Counseling
Expert Boiler Components
Expert Budget Tracking & Reporting
Expert Budgeting
Expert Business developmebt
Expert Business Development
Expert Business Development Process
Intermediate C++
Expert Capacity Building
Expert Capacity Sharing
Expert Client Dealing
Intermediate Client Followup
Expert Close Attention to Detail
Expert Collaboration
Expert Communication and Writing Skill
Expert Communication Skills
Expert Communications
Expert Community Leadership
Expert Compliance
Expert Computer Profcient
Expert Computer Proficient
Expert Concept Planning
Expert Configuration Switches
Intermediate Content Writing
Expert Coordination Abilities
Expert Coordination Skills In Partnership Context
Intermediate Coordinaton Skills
Intermediate Costing Management
Expert Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
Expert Curriculum Mapping
Expert Customer Service
Expert Data Analysis
Expert Data Analytical Skills
Expert Data Analytics

Languages

Beginner German
Expert Urdu
Expert English

Muriyam Contacts

Raheel EHSAN QURESHI
cocacola beverages pakistan Ltd.