Manager Management

N ATASHA SHA H SYED

*** **** **., *********-***** Hall, Room 331, Graduate Life Center, Blacksburg, Vi rginia 24061 (Tempora ry/School)

Cell: 703-***-****

Email: ***********@*****.***; *******@**.*** ; LinkedIn: w ww.linkedin.com/in/natashashahsyed

PROFESSIONAL SUM MARY

U.S. national with 4 years of diversified experience in program, financial management and analysis, as well as, delivery

and implementation. Extensive experience of using online financial and records management databases, to monitor and

analyze program effectiveness and transparency. Experience in carrying out research, data collection and performing

statistical analysis to measure results and performance.

4 years of experience in Communications and Media and Finance. Hands-on knowledge of writing/editing program

reports/proposals in compliance with USAID/DFID reporting guidelines. Expertise in developing communications

material; t ranslating and interpreting; planning and executing national level events; program promotion, campaigning,

and marketing. Experience of providing administrative and logistical support.

E D UCAT IO N

Masters in Public Administration (2013 – 2015; GPA: 3.3) V irginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg,

V irginia, U.S.A

* Graduation: May 15, 2015

Masters of Sciences in Anthropology (2004 - 2006) Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Bachelor of Arts (2000 – 2004) F.G. College for Women, F-7/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

CO MP U TER SK I L LS

SPSS (statistical software), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint, Quest (records management

database), ARIES (financial management system), Web Content Management, Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop, Publisher.

WORK EXPER I E NCE

F ront Desk Officer (Work Study), V irginia Tech Women Center . B lacksburg, Virginia, USA. Sep 13 – present

i. First response officer; assist women in crisis and victims of harassment/abuse/assault

ii. Manage calendar appointments for counselors and answer phone calls

i ii. Assist the program staff in organizing, conducting events and disseminating program material

iv. Assist the Office Manager with administrative and logistical duties as assigned.

P rogram Officer Results and P rogram Planning, Effectiveness and T ransparency, Department for

I nternational Development . Pakistan. A pr 12 – Jun 13

i. Analyzed program and financial documents to ensure portfolio quality and t ransparency of published data.

i i. Monitored and analyzed performance for all DFID programs under the Continuous Audit and Financial Risk

M itigation program, to ensure program effectiveness.

iii. Assisted the Results & Planning Team in analyzing statistical data on Count ry results and t ranslated it into

g raphical presentations for program teams, to help them effectively plan future spending.

iv. Implemented financial controls and acted as a lead on analyzing and monitoring the use of financial systems.

v. Responsible for planning, organizing and executing monthly/quarterly program boards held to analyze and

approve/disapprove business cases/project proposals.

vi. Analyzed and reported against Annual Audited Statements as well as corporate returns for all programs.

v ii. Procured, managed, monitored and evaluated Consultant and Audit contracts.

viii. Liaised with the Foreign Commonwealth Office Security Team as well as UK Intelligence Teams to organize

h igh-level country visits for top UK government officials, such as, the Secretary of State and senior representatives from

Whitehall and Cabinet.

i x. Lead financial planning and management, as well as, SharePoint and online records management databases

for the team.

x. Acted as Secretary to Head of Office as and when required. Managed his calendar appointments, meetings,

confidential mailbox and provided logistical support.

P rogram Officer Education Out reach and I nnovation, Department for International Development . Pakistan.

N ov 11 – Apr 12

i. Acted as a lead on program and financial management for two major education programs in Pakistan;

Education Fund for Sindh, Benazir Income Support Program.

ii. Liaised with senior government officials to hold education policy discussions on improving and sustaining

p rimary school enrolment rates.

iii. Assisted the team during field visits to rural Sindh, to monitor and evaluate program implementation by

partners and collect beneficiary feedback.

i v. Analyzed progress, monitoring & evaluation as well as financial reports from implementing partners and

p rovided feedback as and when required .

v. Actively managed financial forecasting, invoicing and disbursement of funds to implementing partners.

vi. Lead on procurement and contracts, performance evaluations of consultants and monitoring and evaluation of

stakeholder deliverables.

vii. Analyzed business cases for both programs and contributed to business cases/proposals.

viii. Provided administrative/logistical support to the team and managed requisitions for the procurement of goods,

t ravel and events.

Assistant M anager Communications and Documentation/T ransition, Save the Children International .

Pakistan . J un 10 - Oct 11

i. Assisted Director Communications in developing and implementing communications strategy for Save the

Children US.

ii. Lead on the collection and analysis of program reports from Country teams in order to draft Annual/Quarterly

Reports.

iii. Lead on editing program reports and grant proposals in compliance with USAID reporting guidelines.

iv. Lead on internal and external communications: developing communications and IEC material; maintaining

media contacts; arranging for media coverage, briefings and interviews; issuing press releases; organizing national level

events; and, capacity building of field based communications teams.

v. Managed social media networks (Facebook, Youtube), SCI’s internal website and in-house communications

l ibrary database.

vi. Assisted Manager M IS in analyzing statistical data on program results as well as managing internal

communications databases for SCUS.

v ii. Acted as the Transition Coordinator and focal point of contact for post SCI-merger related activities: worked

closely with the SC Alliance communications working group.

v iii. Worked closely with the advocacy and campaigns coordinator on developing the advocacy strategy.

Communications Support Officer, Department for International Development . Pakistan. M a r 09 – Sep 09

i. Assisted the team as media liaison and in managing internal, external communications.

ii. Analyzed and edited business cases, program reports while ensuring compliance with DFID reporting

guidelines.

iii. Collaborated with the Press and Public Affairs Team for the issuance of press releases, media coverage,

b riefings, interviews etc.

iv. Managed the company’s Intranet & In ternet sites in liaison with the website team in London as an Information

M anager.

v. Designed and drafted the internal newsletter and provided inputs in the UK Ministers Newsletter.

vi. Assisted the team in financial planning, forecasting and management of budgets.

v ii. Supported the Communications Manager in managing the SharePoint site and Quest (online records

management database).

viii. Assisted the team in planning, organizing, and executing high-level visits for top UK officials.

ix. Provided administrative and logistical support to the team.

Executive Coordinator Finance and I T, B ESTWAY Cement Limited. Pakistan. J un 07 – Jun 08

i. Collected and analyzed monthly statements, financial t ransactions/invoicing for the Director, as well as

updated shareholder’s information at a quarterly basis.

i i. Assisted Directors for Administration and Finance in carrying out an inter-company merger by collecting and

consolidating documentation.

iii. Managed correspondence between company officials and local/international banks.

iv. Assisted the IT Team in developing the company website.

v. Designed and created yearly calendars, diaries, company brochures, IEC material.

vi. Maintained all documentation related to business reports and general correspondence for the Director.

Corporate Coordinator/Assistant Sales Consultant, A l Ghurair Giga Pvt Limited . Pakistan . A pr 06 – Apr 07

i. Lead the corporate operations team and managed all internal controls: administration, procurement, logistics

i i. Updated and implemented the Company’s Human Resource Policy and assisted HR in recruiting and briefing

p rogram staff.

iii. Managed orientation, grievance, staff exit procedures and human resource filing.

iv. Collaborated with other real-estate development companies to promote company sales

v. Assisted the marketing team in developing strategies and for product marketing.

vi. Liaised with customers and provided support to them on managing monthly/quarterly installments for

purchased property.

vii. Handled and responded to customer complaints and to ensure retention.

Communications and P rogram I n te rn, Concern Worldwide. Pakistan . Dec 05 – Ma r 06

i. Performed extensive research and quantitative as well as qualitative data analysis to write a thesis on water

and sanitary practices and their implications on health.

ii. Assisted program and communications teams in writing/editing reports/proposals and developing

d issemination material.

i ii. Assisted the monitoring and evaluation team in conducting a livelihood assessment of a rehabilitation program

i n earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan.

iv. Handled documentation and internal correspondence for the team.

v. Provided communication support for national level events such as workshops, seminars, conferences and

l iaised with the local media to issue press releases.

LANGUAGE PROF IC I E NCY

Native (Speaking, reading, writ ing, understanding)

English, U rdu, Punjabi

Fluent (Speaking, understanding)

H i ndi

Functional (Speaking, reading, writing, understanding)

Fa rsi, Arabic

PROFESSIONAL TRA I N I NGS

AR I ES (online financial management system); Quest (online

r ecords management database); P roject M anagement (2009 –

DFID Pakistan)

Media & Campaigning (2010 – Save the Children US)

PRL IS & Total Beneficia ry Count (TBC) (2011 – Save the

Children US)

Effective Communications; P rocurement (2012 – DFID Pakistan)

PROFESSIONAL RE FE RENCES

Shahzad Tahi r Aliya Usmani

D irector, Monitoring & Evaluation and Program Manager, Education – DFID Pakistan

Communications - Chemonics (USAID- E: *-******@****.***.** ; C: +92-300-***-****

FIRMS)

E: *********@*****.***; C: +92 344 448

7048

Nayyar I qbal I r fan Sheikh

Director, Field Operations - Save the Children US, Director Finance/IT & CFO, Bestway Cement Limited

I slamabad E: i ****@*******.***.** ; Ph: +92-51-265-***-***

E: N *****@************.***; C: +92-300-***-****

PERSONAL REFERENCES

William B. Dyer Sonia Sayyad

Team Leader, Counter Narcotics Training Visa Security Officer, Australian High Commission, Pakistan

Program - CACI International Inc. E: ***********@*****.***; C: +92-333-***-****

Email: ********@*****.***

Albert Kelly

Special Security Projects, Defense Logistics Agency

C: 703-***-****

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